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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

Connect With Us on Social Media

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Our July newsletter is out!

Grants, jobs, scholarships, Traditional Owner news, and more – its in inboxes of the Traditional Owner Corporation staff members whove signed up.

Our July newsletter is out!

Grants, jobs, scholarships, Traditional Owner news, and more – it's in inboxes of the Traditional Owner Corporation staff members who've signed up.
... See MoreSee Less

Its Victorian Government funding for communities affected by the January 2026 bushfires, and Traditional Owner on-Country recovery and healing activities are explicitly mentioned in the guidelines.

📆 closing 31 August
⌛ activities delivered by June 2028
❓ Emergency Management Victoria
🔗 www.vic.gov.au/community-recovery-grants-2026-bushfires

It's Victorian Government funding for communities affected by the January 2026 bushfires, and Traditional Owner on-Country recovery and healing activities are explicitly mentioned in the guidelines.

📆 closing 31 August
⌛ activities delivered by June 2028
❓ Emergency Management Victoria
🔗 www.vic.gov.au/…
... See MoreSee Less

The Federal Government keeps talking about Closing the Gap – then failing to do what will *actually* close them.

Were proud to be part of Victorias work guiding Closing the Gap priorities, but were realists: the health outcome policy and programming initiative is just one tool in the toolbox.

Whats stopping the Government from pulling more out?

Closing the Gap isnt a silver bullet – real change needs rights.

The Federal Government keeps talking about Closing the Gap – then failing to do what will *actually* close them.

We're proud to be part of Victoria's work guiding Closing the Gap priorities, but we're realists: the health outcome policy and programming initiative is just one tool in the toolbox.

What's stopping the Government from pulling more out?

Closing the Gap isn't a silver bullet – real change needs rights.
... See MoreSee Less

Happy Tuesday! Heres what were up to this week.

🟡 Sophie’s writing this month’s newsletter (message us if you’re not on the list and would like to be!), and settling the structure of our annual report.

🟡 Kurt’s revisiting some of our past policy work on crown land water frontages, helping some environmental advocates ensure their upcoming campaigning promotes Traditional Owners’ rights and priorities.

🟡 Steph’s having a “water week”! She’s finishing our submission to the Commonwealth’s Water Act review, and providing feedback to the Victorian Government’s environment department on its approach to the Closing the Gap inland waters target.

🟡 Dan’s finished four big pieces recently: a submission to the inquiry into social license in the critical minerals sector, contribution to funding bids for a program of work to support Traditional Owners’ drought-resilience, a proposal to progress implementation of the Traditional Owner Economic Development Roadmap, and some next steps for our work in Traditional Owner Treaties. Plus, he’s started pottery classes!

🟡 Ben’s estimated 30 different papers he’s working across for various upcoming meetings of our governance structures – our Board, Federation Enterprises’ Board, and committees – and had a boring-sounding-but-ultimately useful win with our bank.

🟡 Lisa and Kaley are both deep in reviewing documents – highlights include a finalised workplan for our new project, some organisational strategic planning, and an upcoming cultural fire feedback workshop.

🟡 And Gabby’s focused on the implementation of the Workforce Development Framework – she had a great meeting with Traditional Owner Corporations’ human resources community of practice, and is planning a September meeting to progress some next steps.

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

🟡 Sophie’s writing this month’s newsletter (message us if you’re not on the list and would like to be!), and settling the structure of our annual report.

🟡 Kurt’s revisiting some of our past policy work on crown land water frontages, helping some environmental advocates ensure their upcoming campaigning promotes Traditional Owners’ rights and priorities.

🟡 Steph’s having a “water week”! She’s finishing our submission to the Commonwealth’s Water Act review, and providing feedback to the Victorian Government’s environment department on its approach to the Closing the Gap inland waters target.

🟡 Dan’s finished four big pieces recently: a submission to the inquiry into social license in the critical minerals sector, contribution to funding bids for a program of work to support Traditional Owners’ drought-resilience, a proposal to progress implementation of the Traditional Owner Economic Development Roadmap, and some next steps for our work in Traditional Owner Treaties. Plus, he’s started pottery classes!

🟡 Ben’s estimated 30 different papers he’s working across for various upcoming meetings of our governance structures – our Board, Federation Enterprises’ Board, and committees – and had a boring-sounding-but-ultimately useful win with our bank.

🟡 Lisa and Kaley are both deep in reviewing documents – highlights include a finalised workplan for our new project, some organisational strategic planning, and an upcoming cultural fire feedback workshop.

🟡 And Gabby’s focused on the implementation of the Workforce Development Framework – she had a great meeting with Traditional Owner Corporations’ human resources community of practice, and is planning a September meeting to progress some next steps.
... See MoreSee Less

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