Home - Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

Welcome to the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

We’re the state-wide body fighting for the rights and interests of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations while progressing wider social, economic, environmental and cultural objectives.

About

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.

View our work for Country

Community

Community wellbeing means strong culture, people and place.

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

View our work for community

Economy

Strong and independent economies sustain Traditional Owner communities and enable self-determination.

The Federation’s research, grant administration, knowledge-sharing and advocacy promote rights-based economic development for Traditional Owner Corporations.

View our work for economy

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 Traditional Owners’ economic development considered as more than just small business grants.

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.

Founded in 2013 by Traditional Owner Corporations who recognised they could be stronger together, we are by and for Traditional Owners: their advocacy body, helping to enhance their authority on behalf of their communities.

Resources

Discussion papers

Information sheets

Publications

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Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

12 hours ago

Happy Thursday! Heres what some of our teams been up to this week.

📰 It’s monthly newsletter time, and Sophie’s drafting – if you’ve got a job, update, grant or collaboration for inclusion, send it our way.

🔥 Following a great meeting last week, the Cultural Fire Leadership Group’s tipped to the ‘doing bit’ from the ‘how we’re going to do it bit’, says Kurt – he’s focusing on the new legislative and policy reform working group and a second cultural fire policy paper.

✍️ There’s a TOC Caucus meeting next week! Steph’s on a Friday deadline for papers, an agenda, and work to present, and Gabby’s deep in structuring an information-sharing portal we’ll demo at the meeting.

⚡ Daniel’s learning about a new strategic plan for First Nations in renewable energy from DEECA’s First Peoples’ energy division – there’s engagement guidelines we’re keen to have a look at.

📆 Kaley’s still on leave, and Madi’s been keeping her calendar and inbox afloat – she’s preparing for an 8:30am meeting on Kaley’s first day back to brief the boss on 15 to-action items.

🌻 Ken’s at the paintings-and-pot plants stage of our office move – plus, he’s fixed the new office’s faulty split system and liberated our old filing cabinets.

✊🏽 We’ve been invited to pitch for a piece of work we should be able to talk about soon – in the meantime, Lisa’s leading this proposal, developing our methodology and budget for what sounds like an exciting piece of TOC-led accountability to government.

And weve found a Collins Street favourite lunch spot in Namoo Japanese Cafe!

Happy Thursday! Here's what some of our team's been up to this week.

📰 It’s monthly newsletter time, and Sophie’s drafting – if you’ve got a job, update, grant or collaboration for inclusion, send it our way.

🔥 Following a great meeting last week, the Cultural Fire Leadership Group’s tipped to the ‘doing bit’ from the ‘how we’re going to do it bit’, says Kurt – he’s focusing on the new legislative and policy reform working group and a second cultural fire policy paper.

✍️ There’s a TOC Caucus meeting next week! Steph’s on a Friday deadline for papers, an agenda, and work to present, and Gabby’s deep in structuring an information-sharing portal we’ll demo at the meeting.

⚡ Daniel’s learning about a new strategic plan for First Nations in renewable energy from DEECA’s First Peoples’ energy division – there’s engagement guidelines we’re keen to have a look at.

📆 Kaley’s still on leave, and Madi’s been keeping her calendar and inbox afloat – she’s preparing for an 8:30am meeting on Kaley’s first day back to brief the boss on 15 to-action items.

🌻 Ken’s at the paintings-and-pot plants stage of our office move – plus, he’s fixed the new office’s faulty split system and liberated our old filing cabinets.

✊🏽 We’ve been invited to pitch for a piece of work we should be able to talk about soon – in the meantime, Lisa’s leading this proposal, developing our methodology and budget for what sounds like an exciting piece of TOC-led accountability to government.

And we've found a Collins Street favourite lunch spot in Namoo Japanese Cafe! ... See MoreSee Less

Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

16 hours ago

This National Close the Gap Day, we’re sick of stalled progress – instead, we’re looking at solutions.

This National Close the Gap Day, we’re sick of stalled progress – instead, we’re looking at solutions. ... See MoreSee Less

Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

4 days ago

Lisa Hawkins leads the Federation’s new team: strategy, process and delivery. ✊🏽

We’ve spent six months carefully examining our strategy, structure and work allocation – with a changing work environment, Statewide Treaty context, and two large projects of ours wrapping up.

Late last year, we implemented a small reorganisation that collects all of our policy and secretariat work within one new team.

You’ll remember Lisa as our senior advisor in natural resource management, who was successful in an internal EOI process for the team leader position in January. She told us:

“I can’t wait to get started as team leader and to lead an awesome team in helping to shape the Federation’s future direction. This new structure will make us more streamlined, efficient and effective – delivering even stronger policy outputs, consensus positions, and collective advocacy in the best interests of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations.

Learn more 👉🏾 bit.ly/4upNg8d

Lisa Hawkins leads the Federation’s new team: strategy, process and delivery. ✊🏽

We’ve spent six months carefully examining our strategy, structure and work allocation – with a changing work environment, Statewide Treaty context, and two large projects of ours wrapping up.

Late last year, we implemented a small reorganisation that collects all of our policy and secretariat work within one new team.

You’ll remember Lisa as our senior advisor in natural resource management, who was successful in an internal EOI process for the team leader position in January. She told us:

“I can’t wait to get started as team leader and to lead an awesome team in helping to shape the Federation’s future direction. This new structure will make us more streamlined, efficient and effective – delivering even stronger policy outputs, consensus positions, and collective advocacy in the best interests of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations."

Learn more 👉🏾 bit.ly/4upNg8d ... See MoreSee Less

Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

7 days ago

Three days til registrations close! 🔔

We’ve just hit send on a speaker announcement and registration reminder email for the Traditional Owner Treaty Forum.

If you’re a Traditional Owner Corporation staff member working on Treaty and you haven’t seen your invitation – give us a message.

We’ll close registrations on Monday, 16 March.

This two-day forum is a dedicated space for Traditional Owner Corporations’ frank and strategic conversation about the Treaty opportunity. We’re proud to be joining forces with First Nations Legal & Research Services and The Mabo Centre to co-convene this event, which is free to attend for Traditional Owner Corporation team members.

📍 Melbourne, VIC
📅 31 March and 1 April 2026
🤝🏽 Deep conversation, expert insights and peer learning and collaboration on Traditional Owner Treaty

Well see you there.

Three days til registrations close! 🔔

We’ve just hit send on a speaker announcement and registration reminder email for the Traditional Owner Treaty Forum.

If you’re a Traditional Owner Corporation staff member working on Treaty and you haven’t seen your invitation – give us a message.

We’ll close registrations on Monday, 16 March.

This two-day forum is a dedicated space for Traditional Owner Corporations’ frank and strategic conversation about the Treaty opportunity. We’re proud to be joining forces with First Nations Legal & Research Services and The Mabo Centre to co-convene this event, which is free to attend for Traditional Owner Corporation team members.

📍 Melbourne, VIC
📅 31 March and 1 April 2026
🤝🏽 Deep conversation, expert insights and peer learning and collaboration on Traditional Owner Treaty

We'll see you there. ... See MoreSee Less

© 2026 Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations