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News & Media

Amplifying Traditional Owner voices in the media, raising Traditional Owner concerns through advocacy and celebrating Traditional Owner vision through policy is at the core of our work.

We do this through publications, media and engagement.

Discussion Papers

The development of the Federation’s treaty Discussion Papers was funded by the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) to support Aboriginal Victorians with the transition to treaty.

The Federation released six papers, developed to align with the insights and questions posed during Traditional Owner treaty engagement meetings.

The discussion papers successfully stimulate ideas, discussion and debate about treaty and agreement making in Victoria.

View all Discussion Papers

Annual Reports

The Federation publishes its financial statements detailing the group’s financial performance and that of its subsidiary companies.

The accounts are prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting standards, and as a registered charity, the Federation is subject to regulation by the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission.

View all Annual Reports

Media Statements

Clean energy strategy investment respects Traditional Owners as partners and rights-holders (6 December 2024)

Traditional Owner groups welcome recommended reforms for economic self-determination (27 November 2024)

Law reform to power Indigenous economic development a welcome step towards self-determination (26 November 2024)

Traditional Owner groups welcome Treaty negotiations (21 November 2024)

Traditional Owners must be at the heart of managing culturally significant native species (25 September 2024)

Victorian Government must protect and respect native dingoes, say Traditional Owner groups (7 September 2024)

Federation celebrates Wamba Wemba Aboriginal Corporation’s formal recognition (13 August 2024)

Victorian Opposition must end racist blame and get the facts straight on cultural heritage (29 July 2024)

Victorian Traditional Owner groups ready for cultural management of Country through increased IPAs (12 July 2024)

Aboriginal dispossession must wind up with VicForests (30 June 2024)

Traditional Owner groups welcome dedicated education funding as a step towards self-determination (31 May 2024)

Stolen water wealth must be returned to Traditional Owners through Murray-Darling Basin buybacks (20 May 2024)

Governments must restore and respect Traditional Owners’ authority for Budget pledges to be meaningful (15 May 2024)

Historic Bakaru Wayaparrangu agreement will redress past injustice and enable Traditional Owners’ prosperity (14 May 2024)

Victorian Government ministers must follow Yoorrook Justice Commission testimony with action (2 May 2024)

Victorian Government doesn’t fully understand self-determination, Yoorrook Justice Commission hears (17 April 2024)

Victorian Government must commit to Aboriginal-owned water title for Murray-Darling Basin (12 April 2024)

Declaration of the Southern Ocean offshore wind area does not respect Traditional Owner rights and responsibilities for Sea Country (18 March 2024)

Aboriginal Culture and Healing Flood Recovery Grant Program (6 March 2024)

Governments must commit to the work of Closing the Gap (7 February 2024)

View all Media Statements

Strategic Plans

The Federation is the Victorian state-wide body that convenes and advocates for the rights and interests of Traditional Owners while progressing wider social, economic, environmental and cultural objectives.

We support the progress of agreement-making and participation in decision-making to enhance the authority of Traditional Owner Corporations on behalf of their communities. Together, our joint purpose is to facilitate and amplify a strong voice for Traditional Owners and progress our shared interests.

View all Strategic Plans

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Treatys changing the policymaking landscape.

And were right in the middle of it, as Ngaweeyan Maar-oo co-chair.

Today, our CEO Kaley is at a full-day transition workshop, where the 22 Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and 14 Victorian Government representatives that make up Ngaweeyan Marr-oo are agreeing to next steps for the Closing the Gap decision-making forum.

Weve engaged facilitators to help us build consensus and clarity, and are focused on making sure efforts to both Close the Gap and build Aboriginal self-determination through Gellung Warls representative and accountability functions complement one another.

Its connecting the dots, building on shared strength, and working together for efficiencies and good outcomes – exactly the way we like to operate.

Treaty's changing the policymaking landscape.

And we're right in the middle of it, as Ngaweeyan Maar-oo co-chair.

Today, our CEO Kaley is at a full-day transition workshop, where the 22 Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and 14 Victorian Government representatives that make up Ngaweeyan Marr-oo are agreeing to next steps for the Closing the Gap decision-making forum.

We've engaged facilitators to help us build consensus and clarity, and are focused on making sure efforts to both Close the Gap and build Aboriginal self-determination through Gellung Warl's representative and accountability functions complement one another.

It's connecting the dots, building on shared strength, and working together for efficiencies and good outcomes – exactly the way we like to operate.
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We’ve secured an exciting piece of work to help progress Traditional Owner game management!
 
We’ve been engaged by the Victorian Government’s Department of Jobs, Skills, Industries and Regions on a two-part project relating to the Traditional Owner Game Management Strategy.
 
First, we’ll review how the implementation of that strategy’s going, and prepare a report with analysis and actions.
 
Then, from mid-November, we’ll start work as the secretariat to a co-governance group overseeing that strategy’s implementation through a forum that matches the needs of Traditional Owners.
 
Together, these pieces of work support the role of Traditional Owners in holistically caring for Country, opens the door to economic opportunities on Country, and embeds the cultural practices of Traditional Owners articulated in their strategy and practises for thousands of years.

We cant wait to get started.

We’ve secured an exciting piece of work to help progress Traditional Owner game management!

We’ve been engaged by the Victorian Government’s Department of Jobs, Skills, Industries and Regions on a two-part project relating to the Traditional Owner Game Management Strategy.

First, we’ll review how the implementation of that strategy’s going, and prepare a report with analysis and actions.

Then, from mid-November, we’ll start work as the secretariat to a co-governance group overseeing that strategy’s implementation through a forum that matches the needs of Traditional Owners.

Together, these pieces of work support the role of Traditional Owners in holistically caring for Country, opens the door to economic opportunities on Country, and embeds the cultural practices of Traditional Owners articulated in their strategy and practises for thousands of years.

We can't wait to get started.
... See MoreSee Less

Government grants usually go directly to recipients, with no middle-man. But for Aboriginal organisations, this approach brings high admin burdens and a risk to cultural safety.

Fortunately, in this program, Emergency Management Victoria was prepared to do things differently.

Our Sophie was onstage at AFAC News conference this afternoon to spruik the Aboriginal Culture and Healing Flood Recovery grant program – a grant program that put $2.5 million into the hands of 14 Aboriginal organisations to design and deliver exactly what their communities needed to heal, following the devastation of the October 2022 floods.

We loved administering this program, and we loved talking about it today. Its a terrific example of what can happen when funders listen to mob, work creatively within existing systems, and are prepared to prioritise the outcomes community want.

Thanks to Suzie and Bec from Emergency Management Victoria for both the presentation, and the entire program – as we said to each other at its close, its goodbye for now, but not forever.

"Government grants usually go directly to recipients, with no middle-man. But for Aboriginal organisations, this approach brings high admin burdens and a risk to cultural safety.

Fortunately, in this program, Emergency Management Victoria was prepared to do things differently."

Our Sophie was onstage at AFAC News' conference this afternoon to spruik the Aboriginal Culture and Healing Flood Recovery grant program – a grant program that put $2.5 million into the hands of 14 Aboriginal organisations to design and deliver exactly what their communities needed to heal, following the devastation of the October 2022 floods.

We loved administering this program, and we loved talking about it today. It's a terrific example of what can happen when funders listen to mob, work creatively within existing systems, and are prepared to prioritise the outcomes community want.

Thanks to Suzie and Bec from Emergency Management Victoria for both the presentation, and the entire program – as we said to each other at its close, it's goodbye for now, but not forever.
... See MoreSee Less

Happy Tuesday! Heres what were up to.

⚫ It’s a big week of presentations for us! Kaley will be speaking at the First Nations Clean Energy Conference, and Sophie at the AFAC26 disaster recovery conference.

⚫ Ken’s got us up-to-date with invoices and locked-in catering for a collaborative workshop we’re hosting next week with Environmental Justice Australia and First Nations Legal and Research Services. 

⚫ Our cultural fire team met with DEECA for a big feedback session on our latest policy paper – which we’re considering with Traditional Owner Corporations in a closed session of the Cultural Fire Leadership Group tomorrow!

⚫ Ben’s hosted two successful meetings of our Board’s sub-committees – in a big milestone, the Governance Alignment Sub-committee approved the project plan for our upcoming governance review, and we’ll go to market for a consultant shortly.

⚫ Steph’s continuing to fly the Federation flag at inland water target meetings – this week with DEECA – and has had good news about some funding for those legal workshops we’re hosting early next month with Environmental Justice Australia!

⚫ Kurt’s sending our submission to the public consultation on the Dyurrite Cultural Landscape management (we’re concerned Parks Victoria will implement statewide an approach that erodes Traditional Owners’ rights to protect their cultural heritage).

⚫ And Lisa’s clearing out actions from last week’s CEO Forum before heading on leave!

Happy Tuesday! Here's what we're up to.

⚫ It’s a big week of presentations for us! Kaley will be speaking at the First Nations Clean Energy Conference, and Sophie at the AFAC26 disaster recovery conference.

⚫ Ken’s got us up-to-date with invoices and locked-in catering for a collaborative workshop we’re hosting next week with Environmental Justice Australia and First Nations Legal and Research Services.

⚫ Our cultural fire team met with DEECA for a big feedback session on our latest policy paper – which we’re considering with Traditional Owner Corporations in a closed session of the Cultural Fire Leadership Group tomorrow!

⚫ Ben’s hosted two successful meetings of our Board’s sub-committees – in a big milestone, the Governance Alignment Sub-committee approved the project plan for our upcoming governance review, and we’ll go to market for a consultant shortly.

⚫ Steph’s continuing to fly the Federation flag at inland water target meetings – this week with DEECA – and has had good news about some funding for those legal workshops we’re hosting early next month with Environmental Justice Australia!

⚫ Kurt’s sending our submission to the public consultation on the Dyurrite Cultural Landscape management (we’re concerned Parks Victoria will implement statewide an approach that erodes Traditional Owners’ rights to protect their cultural heritage).

⚫ And Lisa’s clearing out actions from last week’s CEO Forum before heading on leave!
... See MoreSee Less

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