Eighteen months of work mapped out, two Traditional Owners chosen to advise on bushfire risk management, and feedback given to turn a grant program co-designed: read on for the highlights from our second meeting providing secretariat support to the Cultural Fire Leadership Group.
01/ Getting the foundations right
Three key formational tasks were ticked off at the Cultural Fire Leadership Group’s meeting on 8 October: the group endorsed a refreshed Terms of Reference, set an 18-month plan to guide its work, and endorsed the first two of four projects (one will hunt for funding opportunities to sustainably grow Traditional Owner-led cultural fire practice, and the other will identify the policy and legislative reform needed to fully enable Traditional Owner-led cultural fire practice).
The Cultural Fire Leadership Group brings together representatives from the 12 formally recognised Traditional Owner Corporation with senior executives from DEECA, to identify and remove barriers to reinvigorate Traditional Owner-led cultural land and fire management practices. Stepping into our role as secretariat a few months ago, we felt it was important to refocus squarely on Traditional Owners’ rights and leadership – ensuring the group’s work promotes Traditional Owner leadership, decision-making and authority. The newly endorsed terms of reference and workplan reflect this ambition.
02/ Traditional Owners nominated to expert panel
The Office of Bushfire Management coordinates the implementation of bushfire risk management across all public and private land in Victoria. This month, it asked the Cultural Fire Leadership Group for Traditional Owner nominees to its 12-member advisory panel, which provides expert advice to the DEECA Secretary to inform bushfire risk management. The group nominated its chair, Matthew Shanks, from Taungurung Land and Waters Council, and Michael Bourke, who represents Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation at the Cultural Fire Leadership Group, and is additionally DJAARA’s deputy chair.
Our senior natural resources management advisors Lisa and Kurt are closely involved with this work, and Lisa told us:
“The nominations put forward by the CLFG will cover both strategic and operational perspectives of Traditional Owner knowledge and cultural fire practice. It will be great to have Traditional Owner expertise at the table providing advice to DEECA.”
03/ Co-designing cultural fire funding
The Cultural Fire Leadership Group provided feedback to help DEECA improve its Cultural Fire Grant Fund – it’s a grant program that supports Traditional Owner groups to lead cultural fire land management practices, implement County Plans and the Traditional Owner Cultural Fire Strategy, restore traditional knowledge and practices, provide employment opportunities, and enable two-way learning with emergency services. The fund is constrained by the money available, but there are some improvements to its current form that could be done – and the Cultural Fire Leadership Group provided advice on minor changes to this year’s program, before a co-design process begins early next year, to shape the program for FY26-27 and beyond This will hopefully give us a program that better responds to the needs and priorities of Traditional Owner Corporations.
04/ Final thoughts
The Federation supported the development of the Cultural Fire Strategy, and it’s really meaningful for us to continue pushing for the full implementation of this important work through the secretariat and policy support we provide to the Cultural Fire Leadership Group. Our senior natural resources management advisors Lisa and Kurt are closely involved with this work, and Kurt told us:
“Being the secretariat to the Cultural Fire Leadership Group is about a lot more than organising agendas and sending minutes. It’s an important opportunity to work alongside Traditional Owner groups towards a future where cultural fire on Country is business as usual. To lift up the voices and advance the priorities of Traditional Owner groups for cultural fire practice on their Country, and influence the systems and funding that enables cultural fire revitalisation all across Victoria.”
