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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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Important news for Taungurung mob! ๐Ÿ“ฃ
 
Thereโ€™s a full-group decision-making meeting about Taungurung Treaty on Sunday 1 March, and all Taungurung people are welcome to attend. Kids are welcome, and travel cost contribution is available.
 
Contact Jen at treaty@tlawc.com.au to RSVP and for more information. 
 
And if youโ€™re a Federation member organisation with a notice to share through our channels, drop us a message โ€“ weโ€™re always happy to help.

Taungurung Land & Waters Council

Important news for Taungurung mob! ๐Ÿ“ฃ

Thereโ€™s a full-group decision-making meeting about Taungurung Treaty on Sunday 1 March, and all Taungurung people are welcome to attend. Kids are welcome, and travel cost contribution is available.

Contact Jen at [email protected] to RSVP and for more information.

And if youโ€™re a Federation member organisation with a notice to share through our channels, drop us a message โ€“ weโ€™re always happy to help.

Taungurung Land & Waters Council
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Another week, another Lygon lunch, another wrap-up from our team!

Heres what some of the Federations been up to this week.

๐Ÿ‘ท๐Ÿพ A huge milestone for Jill and the team: weโ€™ve submitted our final report for the Aboriginal Culture and Healing Flood Recovery Grant Program! 31 months, 16 projects, $2 million to 14 Aboriginal-controlled recipient organisations, and four very happy project team staff members.

๐Ÿ”ฅ Itโ€™s cultural fire crunch time, says Lisa: she and Kurt are finalising the first draft of a 20-page policy paper on cultural fire funding opportunities, and preparing the agenda for the yearโ€™s first closed session for the Traditional Owner Corporations on the Cultural Fire Leadership Group.

๐Ÿ“ž Danielโ€™s on the phone this week: heโ€™s yarning with Traditional Owner Corporation representatives to gauge their interest in and get input into the design of a Traditional Owner Treaty Forum, plus preparing a cultural heritage submission to support DJAARA and Yang Baluk clanโ€™s application for Lake Boortโ€™s heritage protection.

๐Ÿ’ญ Kurt, Gabby and Jill are meeting with Traditional Owner Corporations to hear final reflections as their self-determined Nation-building Resource Pool grant program-funded projects wrap up: weโ€™ve had great conversations this week with Barengi Gadjin Land Council, Taungurung Land & Waters Council, and Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.

โš™๏ธ On that: Jillโ€™s working with the steering committee that governs the Resource Pool administration to put in place the right settings to extend one projectโ€™s duration to May. 

๐Ÿ›Ž๏ธ Kenโ€™s roaming around with a ruler, figuring out how many more desks can fit in our new Collins Street office (and organising the furniture, relocation, accounts and keys for our first day in next month!).

๐Ÿ›ซ Kaleyโ€™s new executive assistant Madi is looking at Sydney travel for our participation in a national Indigenous labour conference, and corralling Kaleyโ€™s inbox to keep work moving smoothly.

๐Ÿ“† Steph, Sophie and Ken are working through the agenda, invitation and logistics for our upcoming cultural heritage feedback workshop (thatโ€™s 10-11 February in Naarm, and your CEOโ€™s invitation is in their inbox!).

And it was our old faithful fish-and-sushi-shop for lunch on our fourth-last Tuesday in Carlton (the artist formerly known as Sea Salt on Lygon Street).

Another week, another Lygon lunch, another wrap-up from our team!

Here's what some of the Federation's been up to this week.

๐Ÿ‘ท๐Ÿพ A huge milestone for Jill and the team: weโ€™ve submitted our final report for the Aboriginal Culture and Healing Flood Recovery Grant Program! 31 months, 16 projects, $2 million to 14 Aboriginal-controlled recipient organisations, and four very happy project team staff members.

๐Ÿ”ฅ Itโ€™s cultural fire crunch time, says Lisa: she and Kurt are finalising the first draft of a 20-page policy paper on cultural fire funding opportunities, and preparing the agenda for the yearโ€™s first closed session for the Traditional Owner Corporations on the Cultural Fire Leadership Group.

๐Ÿ“ž Danielโ€™s on the phone this week: heโ€™s yarning with Traditional Owner Corporation representatives to gauge their interest in and get input into the design of a Traditional Owner Treaty Forum, plus preparing a cultural heritage submission to support DJAARA and Yang Baluk clanโ€™s application for Lake Boortโ€™s heritage protection.

๐Ÿ’ญ Kurt, Gabby and Jill are meeting with Traditional Owner Corporations to hear final reflections as their self-determined Nation-building Resource Pool grant program-funded projects wrap up: weโ€™ve had great conversations this week with Barengi Gadjin Land Council, Taungurung Land & Waters Council, and Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.

โš™๏ธ On that: Jillโ€™s working with the steering committee that governs the Resource Pool administration to put in place the right settings to extend one projectโ€™s duration to May.

๐Ÿ›Ž๏ธ Kenโ€™s roaming around with a ruler, figuring out how many more desks can fit in our new Collins Street office (and organising the furniture, relocation, accounts and keys for our first day in next month!).

๐Ÿ›ซ Kaleyโ€™s new executive assistant Madi is looking at Sydney travel for our participation in a national Indigenous labour conference, and corralling Kaleyโ€™s inbox to keep work moving smoothly.

๐Ÿ“† Steph, Sophie and Ken are working through the agenda, invitation and logistics for our upcoming cultural heritage feedback workshop (thatโ€™s 10-11 February in Naarm, and your CEOโ€™s invitation is in their inbox!).

And it was our old faithful fish-and-sushi-shop for lunch on our fourth-last Tuesday in Carlton (the artist formerly known as Sea Salt on Lygon Street).
... See MoreSee Less

Elections for Assembly 3.0 are happening very soon! ๐Ÿ“ฃ

And Victorian Traditional Owners can vote, even if youโ€™re living interstate.

First Peoples Assembly of Victoriaโ€™s third iteration will be the elected representative arm of Treaty body Gellung Warl.

Candidates can nominate from 16 February to 2 March, with voting running from 21 March to 21 April โ€“ and Gellung Warl getting underway from 1 May 2026.

Enrol, check your eligibility, and update your details ๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿพ bit.ly/4a0Mp4o

See all important election dates ๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿพ bit.ly/3ZLzuP5

Elections for Assembly 3.0 are happening very soon! ๐Ÿ“ฃ

And Victorian Traditional Owners can vote, even if youโ€™re living interstate.

First Peoples' Assembly of Victoriaโ€™s third iteration will be the elected representative arm of Treaty body Gellung Warl.

Candidates can nominate from 16 February to 2 March, with voting running from 21 March to 21 April โ€“ and Gellung Warl getting underway from 1 May 2026.

Enrol, check your eligibility, and update your details ๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿพ bit.ly/4a0Mp4o

See all important election dates ๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿพ bit.ly/3ZLzuP5
... See MoreSee Less

Weve rescheduled this workshop and the invites in TOCs inboxes!

Were thrilled to be convening a cultural heritage policy discussion with Traditional Owner Corporations and the Victorian Government over 10-11 February in Naarm.

The Department of Premier and Cabinets First Peoples - State Relations team approached us during their recent review of Victorias Aboriginal cultural heritage management system to convene a workshop for Traditional Owner Corporations: an opportunity for frank feedback and discussion about their proposed new guidelines.

We were happy to help make it happen. 

The invitation hit Traditional Owner Corporation CEOs inboxes this morning (give us a message if yours didnt arrive!), and were looking forward to two days of workshop:

๐Ÿ“ Novotel Melbourne Preston, VIC 3072
๐Ÿ“… Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 February 2026
๐Ÿค๐Ÿฝ For frank feedback and discussion on proposed new cultural heritage management guidelines

Well see you there.

We've rescheduled this workshop and the invite's in TOCs' inboxes!

We're thrilled to be convening a cultural heritage policy discussion with Traditional Owner Corporations and the Victorian Government over 10-11 February in Naarm.

The Department of Premier and Cabinet's First Peoples - State Relations team approached us during their recent review of Victoria's Aboriginal cultural heritage management system to convene a workshop for Traditional Owner Corporations: an opportunity for frank feedback and discussion about their proposed new guidelines.

We were happy to help make it happen.

The invitation hit Traditional Owner Corporation CEOs' inboxes this morning (give us a message if yours didn't arrive!), and we're looking forward to two days of workshop:

๐Ÿ“ Novotel Melbourne Preston, VIC 3072
๐Ÿ“… Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 February 2026
๐Ÿค๐Ÿฝ For frank feedback and discussion on proposed new cultural heritage management guidelines

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

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