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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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Lisa Hawkins leads the Federation’s new team: strategy, process and delivery. ✊🏽

We’ve spent six months carefully examining our strategy, structure and work allocation – with a changing work environment, Statewide Treaty context, and two large projects of ours wrapping up.

Late last year, we implemented a small reorganisation that collects all of our policy and secretariat work within one new team.

You’ll remember Lisa as our senior advisor in natural resource management, who was successful in an internal EOI process for the team leader position in January. She told us:

“I can’t wait to get started as team leader and to lead an awesome team in helping to shape the Federation’s future direction. This new structure will make us more streamlined, efficient and effective – delivering even stronger policy outputs, consensus positions, and collective advocacy in the best interests of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations.

Learn more 👉🏾 bit.ly/4upNg8d

Lisa Hawkins leads the Federation’s new team: strategy, process and delivery. ✊🏽

We’ve spent six months carefully examining our strategy, structure and work allocation – with a changing work environment, Statewide Treaty context, and two large projects of ours wrapping up.

Late last year, we implemented a small reorganisation that collects all of our policy and secretariat work within one new team.

You’ll remember Lisa as our senior advisor in natural resource management, who was successful in an internal EOI process for the team leader position in January. She told us:

“I can’t wait to get started as team leader and to lead an awesome team in helping to shape the Federation’s future direction. This new structure will make us more streamlined, efficient and effective – delivering even stronger policy outputs, consensus positions, and collective advocacy in the best interests of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations."

Learn more 👉🏾 bit.ly/4upNg8d
... See MoreSee Less

Three days til registrations close! đź””

We’ve just hit send on a speaker announcement and registration reminder email for the Traditional Owner Treaty Forum.

If you’re a Traditional Owner Corporation staff member working on Treaty and you haven’t seen your invitation – give us a message. 

We’ll close registrations on Monday, 16 March.

This two-day forum is a dedicated space for Traditional Owner Corporations’ frank and strategic conversation about the Treaty opportunity. We’re proud to be joining forces with First Nations Legal & Research Services and The Mabo Centre to co-convene this event, which is free to attend for Traditional Owner Corporation team members.

📍 Melbourne, VIC
đź“… 31 March and 1 April 2026
🤝🏽 Deep conversation, expert insights and peer learning and collaboration on Traditional Owner Treaty 

Well see you there.

Three days til registrations close! đź””

We’ve just hit send on a speaker announcement and registration reminder email for the Traditional Owner Treaty Forum.

If you’re a Traditional Owner Corporation staff member working on Treaty and you haven’t seen your invitation – give us a message.

We’ll close registrations on Monday, 16 March.

This two-day forum is a dedicated space for Traditional Owner Corporations’ frank and strategic conversation about the Treaty opportunity. We’re proud to be joining forces with First Nations Legal & Research Services and The Mabo Centre to co-convene this event, which is free to attend for Traditional Owner Corporation team members.

📍 Melbourne, VIC
đź“… 31 March and 1 April 2026
🤝🏽 Deep conversation, expert insights and peer learning and collaboration on Traditional Owner Treaty

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

What are your expectations for living entities law?

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action wants to hear from Traditional Owners, and has $20k per group to cover consultation costs.

What are your expectations for living entities law?

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action wants to hear from Traditional Owners, and has $20k per group to cover consultation costs.
... See MoreSee Less

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