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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 with Country. The Federation’s policy, advocacy and government relations work helps restore Traditional Owners’ authority in frameworks for managing of Country.

View our work for Country

Community

Community wellbeing means strong culture.

The Federation’s work recognises Traditional Owner Corporations as authoritative and representative decision-makers with rights, power, and responsibilities. Our advocacy and services support Traditional Owners to care 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 rights, 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.

See our impact

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 policy and advocacy body, helping to enhance their authority on behalf of their communities.

Our strategy

Resources

Discussion papers
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Information sheets
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Publications
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A multi-billionaire iwi Māori enters a landmark partnership with Indigenous Business Australia.

Its exactly the kind of big-thinking, long-term reform weve been calling for, and it has the potential to change the game for Indigenous communities on both sides of the Tasman.

Read more in our latest media statement πŸ‘‰πŸΎ bit.ly/4hrsotp

A multi-billionaire iwi Māori enters a landmark partnership with Indigenous Business Australia.

It's exactly the kind of big-thinking, long-term reform we've been calling for, and it has the potential to change the game for Indigenous communities on both sides of the Tasman.

Read more in our latest media statement πŸ‘‰πŸΎ bit.ly/4hrsotp
... See MoreSee Less

Potluck lunch and policy papers: heres what our teams up to this rainy week.

🟑 Gabby and Sophie are shepherding our cultural fire policy paper through its final stages – Gabby’s finalising content inputs, and Sophie’s proof-reading and finalising formatting.

🟑 Kaley’s preparing for a big transition workshop for Ngaweeyan Maar-oo, and filling the calendar with other high-level meetings.
 
🟑 Stephs working on some deliverables that came out of a big Inland Waters Target workshop last week...

🟑 Shes also progressing logistics for those workshops were running with Environmental Justice Australia – dates are now confirmed for morning sessions on Monday 31 August and Tuesday 1 September, reach out if youre interested in free legal analysis and advice on rights of nature, water rights, consultation and engagement in land management, and sea Country!
 
🟑 A couple of submissions are in the pipeline: Steph’s finalising our contribution on the Water Act review, and Kurt’s drafting our submission on the Dyurrite management consultation. 
 
🟑 Ken’s hunting invoices! Our annual audit is progressing well, and we’ve got the unearthed invoices to prove it.
 
🟑 And Lisa’s preparing for Thursday’s CEO Forum – external experts are on the agenda, speaking to economic development, game management, and digital tools to support Traditional Owner self-determination.

Potluck lunch and policy papers: here's what our team's up to this rainy week.

🟑 Gabby and Sophie are shepherding our cultural fire policy paper through its final stages – Gabby’s finalising content inputs, and Sophie’s proof-reading and finalising formatting.

🟑 Kaley’s preparing for a big transition workshop for Ngaweeyan Maar-oo, and filling the calendar with other high-level meetings.

🟑 Steph's working on some deliverables that came out of a big Inland Waters Target workshop last week...

🟑 She's also progressing logistics for those workshops we're running with Environmental Justice Australia – dates are now confirmed for morning sessions on Monday 31 August and Tuesday 1 September, reach out if you're interested in free legal analysis and advice on rights of nature, water rights, consultation and engagement in land management, and sea Country!

🟑 A couple of submissions are in the pipeline: Steph’s finalising our contribution on the Water Act review, and Kurt’s drafting our submission on the Dyurrite management consultation.

🟑 Ken’s hunting invoices! Our annual audit is progressing well, and we’ve got the unearthed invoices to prove it.

🟑 And Lisa’s preparing for Thursday’s CEO Forum – external experts are on the agenda, speaking to economic development, game management, and digital tools to support Traditional Owner self-determination.
... See MoreSee Less

We all know Australias a nation, because its got history, culture, governance, language and territory.

How are Traditional Owner Nations any different?

We all know Australia's a nation, because it's got history, culture, governance, language and territory.

How are Traditional Owner Nations any different?
... See MoreSee Less

Thanks for having us, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation!

Gabby, Lisa and Sophie headed west today to spend some time with staff at Eastern Maar – talking about cultural fire policy, communications collaborations, and how works progressing caring for and planting at Framlingham Streamside Reserve.

We had a fantastic day (even in the mud!) and were grateful to have the time in Warrnambool. Thank you, Eastern Maar 🫢🏾

Thanks for having us, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation!

Gabby, Lisa and Sophie headed west today to spend some time with staff at Eastern Maar – talking about cultural fire policy, communications collaborations, and how work's progressing caring for and planting at Framlingham Streamside Reserve.

We had a fantastic day (even in the mud!) and were grateful to have the time in Warrnambool. Thank you, Eastern Maar 🫢🏾
... See MoreSee Less

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