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News & Media

Amplifying Traditional Owner voices in the media, raising Traditional Owner concerns through advocacy and celebrating Traditional Owner vision through policy is at the core of our work.

We do this through publications, media and engagement.

Discussion Papers

The development of the Federation’s treaty Discussion Papers was funded by the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) to support Aboriginal Victorians with the transition to treaty.

The Federation released six papers, developed to align with the insights and questions posed during Traditional Owner treaty engagement meetings.

The discussion papers successfully stimulate ideas, discussion and debate about treaty and agreement making in Victoria.

View all Discussion Papers

Annual Reports

The Federation publishes its financial statements detailing the group’s financial performance and that of its subsidiary companies.

The accounts are prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting standards, and as a registered charity, the Federation is subject to regulation by the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission.

View all Annual Reports

Media Statements

Clean energy strategy investment respects Traditional Owners as partners and rights-holders (6 December 2024)

Traditional Owner groups welcome recommended reforms for economic self-determination (27 November 2024)

Law reform to power Indigenous economic development a welcome step towards self-determination (26 November 2024)

Traditional Owner groups welcome Treaty negotiations (21 November 2024)

Traditional Owners must be at the heart of managing culturally significant native species (25 September 2024)

Victorian Government must protect and respect native dingoes, say Traditional Owner groups (7 September 2024)

Federation celebrates Wamba Wemba Aboriginal Corporation’s formal recognition (13 August 2024)

Victorian Opposition must end racist blame and get the facts straight on cultural heritage (29 July 2024)

Victorian Traditional Owner groups ready for cultural management of Country through increased IPAs (12 July 2024)

Aboriginal dispossession must wind up with VicForests (30 June 2024)

Traditional Owner groups welcome dedicated education funding as a step towards self-determination (31 May 2024)

Stolen water wealth must be returned to Traditional Owners through Murray-Darling Basin buybacks (20 May 2024)

Governments must restore and respect Traditional Owners’ authority for Budget pledges to be meaningful (15 May 2024)

Historic Bakaru Wayaparrangu agreement will redress past injustice and enable Traditional Owners’ prosperity (14 May 2024)

Victorian Government ministers must follow Yoorrook Justice Commission testimony with action (2 May 2024)

Victorian Government doesn’t fully understand self-determination, Yoorrook Justice Commission hears (17 April 2024)

Victorian Government must commit to Aboriginal-owned water title for Murray-Darling Basin (12 April 2024)

Declaration of the Southern Ocean offshore wind area does not respect Traditional Owner rights and responsibilities for Sea Country (18 March 2024)

Aboriginal Culture and Healing Flood Recovery Grant Program (6 March 2024)

Governments must commit to the work of Closing the Gap (7 February 2024)

View all Media Statements

Strategic Plans

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.

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. Together, our joint purpose is to facilitate and amplify a strong voice for Traditional Owners and progress our shared interests.

View all Strategic Plans

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Grants of up to $300,000 are available for Traditional Owner Corporations cultural tourism!

A just-announced Victorian Government grant program has $3.6 million available for Victoria’s 12 Registered Aboriginal Parties to to engage in tourism-related economic development activities.

We know investment in enterprises that benefit groups collectively creates enormous economic, social and cultural benefits – and in March will release research that steps out the billion-dollar benefits to the Victorian economy that could be brought by investing in Traditional Owner Corporations enterprises.

This grant program is a fantastic step towards strengthening Traditional Owners in culture and on Country, and driving economic sustainability for Traditional Owner groups across the state.

The First Peoples Tourism Industry Strengthening Program is open now until 10 April 2025. 

LEARN MORE | bit.ly/4barqfW

Grants of up to $300,000 are available for Traditional Owner Corporations' cultural tourism!

A just-announced Victorian Government grant program has $3.6 million available for Victoria’s 12 Registered Aboriginal Parties to to engage in tourism-related economic development activities.

We know investment in enterprises that benefit groups collectively creates enormous economic, social and cultural benefits – and in March will release research that steps out the billion-dollar benefits to the Victorian economy that could be brought by investing in Traditional Owner Corporations' enterprises.

This grant program is a fantastic step towards strengthening Traditional Owners in culture and on Country, and driving economic sustainability for Traditional Owner groups across the state.

The First Peoples Tourism Industry Strengthening Program is open now until 10 April 2025.

LEARN MORE | bit.ly/4barqfW
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Today is the anniversary of the Apology to the Stolen Generations.

It’s a sombre reminder of the harm caused by government intervention into First Peoples’ lives.

Between 1910 and 1970, thousands of First Nations children were stolen from their families – estimates range between one in 10 to one in three children forcibly removed.

These stolen children were exploited, neglected and abused, and raised without the vital lifeline of culture and Country.

In 2023, Yoorrook Justice Commission found that Stolen Generations survivors are more likely than other First Peoples to be living in hard conditions, including facing higher rates of poor mental health, disability, financial and housing insecurity, and discrimination.

Survivors told Yoorrook it took years to learn family and Country – connection that is vital to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity and wellbeing, and an internationally recognised right of Indigenous peoples worldwide.

Nothing will ever undo the harm caused by policies that tore families apart, destroyed culture and customs, and obliterated connection to Country. And we still see today government policies that doubt and limit First Peoples’ role as managers of our lands and affairs.

Big, systemic and structural change is needed.

A reimagined system that recognises First Peoples’ right to determine our own lives, supports communities to lead our own healing and be strong together on Country, and which restores rightful authority and power back to First Peoples, can address the legacy of the Stolen Generation and chart a new path forward.

Today is the anniversary of the Apology to the Stolen Generations.

It’s a sombre reminder of the harm caused by government intervention into First Peoples’ lives.

Between 1910 and 1970, thousands of First Nations children were stolen from their families – estimates range between one in 10 to one in three children forcibly removed.

These stolen children were exploited, neglected and abused, and raised without the vital lifeline of culture and Country.

In 2023, Yoorrook Justice Commission found that Stolen Generations survivors are more likely than other First Peoples to be living in hard conditions, including facing higher rates of poor mental health, disability, financial and housing insecurity, and discrimination.

Survivors told Yoorrook it took years to learn family and Country – connection that is vital to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity and wellbeing, and an internationally recognised right of Indigenous peoples worldwide.

Nothing will ever undo the harm caused by policies that tore families apart, destroyed culture and customs, and obliterated connection to Country. And we still see today government policies that doubt and limit First Peoples’ role as managers of our lands and affairs.

Big, systemic and structural change is needed.

A reimagined system that recognises First Peoples’ right to determine our own lives, supports communities to lead our own healing and be strong together on Country, and which restores rightful authority and power back to First Peoples, can address the legacy of the Stolen Generation and chart a new path forward.
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Ending disadvantage requires significantly increased access to the capital, markets and land that drive Indigenous economic development – more jobs opportunities are great, but unless you have economically independent groups supported to do business, meaningful change just won’t happen. 

That’s what we said in our latest media statement, which responded to yesterday’s Closing the Gap annual statement. A focus on economic development, and its importance to achieving all other Closing the Gap targets, is welcome, but more must be done.

READ MORE | https://bit.ly/3CM8abS

Ending disadvantage requires significantly increased access to the capital, markets and land that drive Indigenous economic development – more jobs opportunities are great, but unless you have economically independent groups supported to do business, meaningful change just won’t happen.

That’s what we said in our latest media statement, which responded to yesterday’s Closing the Gap annual statement. A focus on economic development, and its importance to achieving all other Closing the Gap targets, is welcome, but more must be done.

READ MORE |
... See MoreSee Less

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