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Welcome to the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

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.

About Us

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land we work on as the First Peoples of this Country.

Country

Healthy Country means healthy communities. Our work recognises Traditional Owners’ rights and responsibilities to care and make decisions for Country.

Traditional Owner groups have knowledge, rights and responsibilities, stemming from 65,000 years of experience on Country. The Federation works in the following areas to embed Traditional Owner voices in management of Country.

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Community

Community wellbeing means strong culture, people and place.

The Federation’s work recognises Traditional Owner groups as authoritative decision-makers with rights and power. Our advocacy, programs and services enable Traditional Owners to get on with the business of caring for Country, culture and community.

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Impact

The Federation’s advocacy shapes the landscape in which Victorian Traditional Owner corporations do their important work.

We have put cultural fire and cultural water on the agenda for government, sought greater protections for Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property, fought for a fair place in the expanding native foods and botanicals industry, championed treaty and self-determination, supported a drastic reconsideration of how our cultural heritage is approached at both state and national levels, and worked to have economic development considered as more than just small business grants.

 

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About

The Federation is the Victorian state-wide body that convenes and advocates for the rights and interests of Traditional Owner groups 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.

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Resources

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Hello 2026, were the Federation. 👋🏽

Hello 2026, we're the Federation. 👋🏽 ... See MoreSee Less

We’re back! Here’s how week one of the working year’s begun.

🔥 Lisa’s facing key deadlines for the Cultural Fire Leadership group, so is locking in dates and progressing the year’s first policy paper.

💧 Steph has cleared customs, home from Canada! She’s setting up for the TOC Caucus’ deliverables for the year ahead, diving deep into content for water and cultural heritage policy reforms.

🏠 Our office lease is up in March, and Ken’s out on the town, touring our two shortlisted replacement locations.

📣 Sophie’s planning a year’s worth of social media content and shaping up an idea for a Traditional Owner Corporation communications working group.

🎨 Gabby’s committed to both a year-long painting course and getting all content for the Workforce Development Framework done by the end of January: “I think it’s nearly there!”

✍️ Jill’s typing up loose ends: finishing up our final reports for the Nation Building Resource Pool program and Aboriginal Culture and Healing Flood Recovery Grant Program, with a February finish line in sight.

💎 Kaley’s all about minerals meeting: she met resources minister Lily D’Ambrosio over the break, and has lined up a meeting to align the Minerals Council of Australia on Traditional Owners’ interests.

🍠 And – as usual! – we shared our Tuesday team-meeting lunch break, at Afghan Kebab, and with Gabby’s dog, Kumera.

We’re back! Here’s how week one of the working year’s begun.

🔥 Lisa’s facing key deadlines for the Cultural Fire Leadership group, so is locking in dates and progressing the year’s first policy paper.

💧 Steph has cleared customs, home from Canada! She’s setting up for the TOC Caucus’ deliverables for the year ahead, diving deep into content for water and cultural heritage policy reforms.

🏠 Our office lease is up in March, and Ken’s out on the town, touring our two shortlisted replacement locations.

📣 Sophie’s planning a year’s worth of social media content and shaping up an idea for a Traditional Owner Corporation communications working group.

🎨 Gabby’s committed to both a year-long painting course and getting all content for the Workforce Development Framework done by the end of January: “I think it’s nearly there!”

✍️ Jill’s typing up loose ends: finishing up our final reports for the Nation Building Resource Pool program and Aboriginal Culture and Healing Flood Recovery Grant Program, with a February finish line in sight.

💎 Kaley’s all about minerals meeting: she met resources minister Lily D’Ambrosio over the break, and has lined up a meeting to align the Minerals Council of Australia on Traditional Owners’ interests.

🍠 And – as usual! – we shared our Tuesday team-meeting lunch break, at Afghan Kebab, and with Gabby’s dog, Kumera.
... See MoreSee Less

Late late year, governments asked: how can we better include First Nations in the agriculture economy?

We appreciated the question – but rejected the framing.

Our submission to the forthcoming National Statement on First Nations in Agriculture instead considered how First Nations can be supported to return to their their rightful, ancestral roles leading the farming of food and fibres on this continent.

Read it now 👉🏾 bit.ly/4992MwU

Late late year, governments asked: how can we better include First Nations in the agriculture economy?

We appreciated the question – but rejected the framing.

Our submission to the forthcoming National Statement on First Nations in Agriculture instead considered how First Nations can be supported to return to their their rightful, ancestral roles leading the farming of food and fibres on this continent.

Read it now 👉🏾 bit.ly/4992MwU
... See MoreSee Less

Were taking a short break and will be back bright and early on 5 January.

Have a safe, sunny and happy holiday break, from the whole Federation team 🌞

We're taking a short break and will be back bright and early on 5 January.

Have a safe, sunny and happy holiday break, from the whole Federation team 🌞
... See MoreSee Less

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