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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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A quick peek at what our team’s up to this week. 👀

💸 Daniel’s returned from leave to good news from Resources Victoria: its promised payments to support Traditional Owner groups’ involvement in critical minerals mining are on their way! 

✅ Steph’s sifting through actions from the last TOC Cacus meeting – the eight live actions span administration, research, funding and process, and every single one (!) has her initials next to it – and is preparing for a Closing the Gap inland water target meeting next week.

👷🏽‍♀️ Gabby’s writing case studies for the Workforce Development Framework and the final report of the Nation Building Resource Pool grant program, illustrating the impact of good practice through real-world examples.

📣 Jill’s synthesising the feedback Traditional Owner Corporations provided last year to Closing the Gap’s socio-economic targets for Victoria’s new Implementation Plan, and progressing the final Resource Pool report.

🔑 Ken’s locked in our new office and is locking in to making the move happen (more on this soon!).

🤝🏽 Kaley’s preparing for two big fora for Traditional Owner groups – expect announcements from us on cultural heritage policy and Traditional Owner Treaty-making very soon. 

📝 And Sophie’s writing our monthly newsletter, supporting with comms for those two events, and swimming in the Birrarung at Eltham. Have a great week!

A quick peek at what our team’s up to this week. 👀

💸 Daniel’s returned from leave to good news from Resources Victoria: its promised payments to support Traditional Owner groups’ involvement in critical minerals mining are on their way!

✅ Steph’s sifting through actions from the last TOC Cacus meeting – the eight live actions span administration, research, funding and process, and every single one (!) has her initials next to it – and is preparing for a Closing the Gap inland water target meeting next week.

👷🏽‍♀️ Gabby’s writing case studies for the Workforce Development Framework and the final report of the Nation Building Resource Pool grant program, illustrating the impact of good practice through real-world examples.

📣 Jill’s synthesising the feedback Traditional Owner Corporations provided last year to Closing the Gap’s socio-economic targets for Victoria’s new Implementation Plan, and progressing the final Resource Pool report.

🔑 Ken’s locked in our new office and is locking in to making the move happen (more on this soon!).

🤝🏽 Kaley’s preparing for two big fora for Traditional Owner groups – expect announcements from us on cultural heritage policy and Traditional Owner Treaty-making very soon.

📝 And Sophie’s writing our monthly newsletter, supporting with comms for those two events, and swimming in the Birrarung at Eltham. Have a great week!
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Just announced! Were thrilled to be convening a cultural heritage policy discussion with Traditional Owner Corporations next month.

First Peoples - State Relations approached us during their recent review of Victorias Aboriginal cultural heritage management system to convene a two-day workshop for Traditional Owner Corporation staff: an opportunity for frank feedback and discussion about their proposed new guidelines.

Weve just emailed Traditional Owner Corporation CEOs with a save the date for 4-5 February in Naarm (with accommodation and catering covered), and will be following up with a confirmed venue and agenda next week.

Starting the year in the same room as Traditional Owner Corporations teams and yarning about what matters: were really excited for this one.

Just announced! We're thrilled to be convening a cultural heritage policy discussion with Traditional Owner Corporations next month.

First Peoples - State Relations approached us during their recent review of Victoria's Aboriginal cultural heritage management system to convene a two-day workshop for Traditional Owner Corporation staff: an opportunity for frank feedback and discussion about their proposed new guidelines.

We've just emailed Traditional Owner Corporation CEOs with a save the date for 4-5 February in Naarm (with accommodation and catering covered), and will be following up with a confirmed venue and agenda next week.

Starting the year in the same room as Traditional Owner Corporations' teams and yarning about what matters: we're really excited for this one.
... See MoreSee Less

26 January is a day of mourning – and a chance for everyone to stand with strong, resilient Aboriginal communities.

26 January is a day of mourning – and a chance for everyone to stand with strong, resilient Aboriginal communities. ... See MoreSee Less

Up to $20,000 is available for eligible Aboriginal corporations seeking help to repair infrastructure after disaster.

Open now, with no closing date.

More information from the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation 👉🏾 bit.ly/4qn9CF9

Up to $20,000 is available for eligible Aboriginal corporations seeking help to repair infrastructure after disaster.

Open now, with no closing date.

More information from the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation 👉🏾 bit.ly/4qn9CF9
... See MoreSee Less

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