Membership
The Federation was established in 2013 by Traditional Owner Corporations who recognised they could be stronger together in advancing shared interests in policy, economic opportunity, and caring for Country.
We work across Victoria to progress the shared priorities of Traditional Owner groups statewide. Without the Federation, this work would fall to individual organisations, duplicating efforts, or not happen at all.
The Federation works with all 12 formally recognised Traditional Owner Corporations, at the direction of those who choose to become members. Federation members can each appoint up to two members to our Board of Directors.
Federation member organisations
Federation Board
The Federation’s Board of Directors is made up of representatives from each member Traditional Owner Corporations. The Board is guided by the following principles:
- In all dealings the Federation will respect the legitimacy, primacy and decision-making authority of the relevant Traditional Owner Corporation for a given area of Country
- The Federation will strive to ensure that the relevant Traditional Owner Corporation gives informed consent to and benefits from projects on Country
- The Federation will not duplicate or compete with the functions of its member corporations but rather, in furtherance of its objects, seek to amplify efforts of corporate members and promote mutually beneficial collaboration between them
- The Federation will not ‘speak for Country’ on behalf of its member corporations
- In its decision-making, the Board will be guided by the Federation’s strategic pillars and by the objects outlined in its constitution
- Before making decisions that will impact on member corporations, the Federation Board will ensure directors have sufficient time to canvass views at their home corporation
- The Federation Board will not operate as a forum for resolving disputes within member corporations
As a representative body the Federation recognises the importance of strong accountability to its members and the need to be transparent and robust in all its endeavours. In this regard the Federation will meet its legal requirements in reporting and accounting standards and adopt good governance practices by:
- holding annual general meetings and publishing an annual report
- requiring adequate information and reporting from secretariat staff, delivery agents and service providers to be assured of value, probity and alignment with strategy
- establishing sub-committees to provide added assurance including the use of external independent members (eg an audit and finance committee).
The Federation’s Charter, Constitution and Policies can be found here.
