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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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Do you talk about Treaty in your work? Heres training to build your confidence, land key messages, and debunk disinformation!

Were hosting a free, one-hour training workshop for Traditional Owner organisation spokespeople and communications staff talking about Treaty – drawing on research into what everyday Victorians think about Treaty, and how to communicate in ways that build confidence and support.

🗯️ learn how to use tested frames and messages that resonate with persuadable Victorians
🗯️ communicate in ways that engage supporters while ensuring everyday Victorians feel comfortable with Treaty  
🗯️ apply strategies to inoculate against misinformation and respond effectively to opposition narratives.

Theres online and in-person options over the next two weeks for the training, which will be offered multiple times on different days and at different times, for flexibility.

RSVP now to secure your spot 👉🏾 bit.ly/3HYSuV9

Do you talk about Treaty in your work? Here's training to build your confidence, land key messages, and debunk disinformation!

We're hosting a free, one-hour training workshop for Traditional Owner organisation spokespeople and communications staff talking about Treaty – drawing on research into what everyday Victorians think about Treaty, and how to communicate in ways that build confidence and support.

🗯️ learn how to use tested frames and messages that resonate with persuadable Victorians
🗯️ communicate in ways that engage supporters while ensuring everyday Victorians feel comfortable with Treaty
🗯️ apply strategies to inoculate against misinformation and respond effectively to opposition narratives.

There's online and in-person options over the next two weeks for the training, which will be offered multiple times on different days and at different times, for flexibility.

RSVP now to secure your spot 👉🏾 bit.ly/3HYSuV9
... See MoreSee Less

What’s our team working on this week? 💡

Here’s a glimpse into a working week for some of the Federation’s team.

Gabby’s leading the charge on our final report for the Aboriginal Culture and Healing Flood Recovery Grant program, distilling rich information about the impact of the 16 Aboriginal community-led projects in an easy-to-read way.

Kurt’s working with Lisa – our new senior advisor in natural resources management – on the agenda, policy papers and calendar invitation for the 25 attendees of the next Cultural Fire Leadership Group meeting in October.

Reece is working with the economists scoping out a piece of work that would figure out the core funding needed to sustainably operate as a Victorian Traditional Owner corporation.

Ken’s working with our new accountants on our payments schedule and bringing in armloads of homegrown lemons to the office.

Daniel and Steph are getting stuck into actions from Monday’s TOC Caucus meeting, progressing an approach to benefit-sharing in critical minerals mining and some work on water policy – and Steph’s resting her hands after diligently minuting eight hours of Caucus meeting!

And Jill’s just back from two weeks’ leave in north-west Victoria – we’re happy to have her and her photos (like this beautiful shot of Direl at sunrise) home!

What’s our team working on this week? 💡

Here’s a glimpse into a working week for some of the Federation’s team.

Gabby’s leading the charge on our final report for the Aboriginal Culture and Healing Flood Recovery Grant program, distilling rich information about the impact of the 16 Aboriginal community-led projects in an easy-to-read way.

Kurt’s working with Lisa – our new senior advisor in natural resources management – on the agenda, policy papers and calendar invitation for the 25 attendees of the next Cultural Fire Leadership Group meeting in October.

Reece is working with the economists scoping out a piece of work that would figure out the core funding needed to sustainably operate as a Victorian Traditional Owner corporation.

Ken’s working with our new accountants on our payments schedule and bringing in armloads of homegrown lemons to the office.

Daniel and Steph are getting stuck into actions from Monday’s TOC Caucus meeting, progressing an approach to benefit-sharing in critical minerals mining and some work on water policy – and Steph’s resting her hands after diligently minuting eight hours of Caucus meeting!

And Jill’s just back from two weeks’ leave in north-west Victoria – we’re happy to have her and her photos (like this beautiful shot of Direl at sunrise) home!
... See MoreSee Less

Grant alert! 🌱

If youre raising native plants and want to contribute to the Victorian Governments efforts to reforest 200,000 hectares of land across the state, good new: theres $3 million over three years for the successfully funded projects that will increase supply of Victorian woody native seeds and seedlings for BushBank reforestation.

Applications close 1 September.

Learn more 👉🏾 https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/grants/bushbank-seed-sector-grant

Grant alert! 🌱

If you're raising native plants and want to contribute to the Victorian Government's efforts to reforest 200,000 hectares of land across the state, good new: there's $3 million over three years for the successfully funded projects that will increase supply of Victorian woody native seeds and seedlings for BushBank reforestation.

Applications close 1 September.

Learn more 👉🏾 https://environment.vic.gov.au/grants/…
... See MoreSee Less

Goodbye for now (not forever!) to our lovely Tanya 🥲

Today was Tanyas last day at the Federation after more than four years dedicated to Traditional Owner-led care for Country.

Tanya was our principal advisor in natural resources management, and was integral in so much significant work: implementing and evaluating the Cultural Landscapes Strategy, overseeing the Traditional Owner Game Management Strategy, contributing visionary policy thinking on biodiversity, wildlife, conservation, and Indigenous Protected Areas, and persistently, stubbornly advocating for Traditional Owner groups to be resourced and respected to heal and manage Country, every day.

Where Traditional Owner worldviews guiding land management decision-making was a novel idea for governments five years ago, its now a perspective respected in land and waterway management. Tanyas played a part in that.

And shes been a wonderfully warm, supportive and fiercely feminist colleague, whose company well miss.

Tanya leaves the Federation to dedicate herself totally to her business, and well miss her – but suspect this might be a case of see you later, not goodbye for good.

Thank you, Tanya! 🤍

Goodbye for now (not forever!) to our lovely Tanya 🥲

Today was Tanya's last day at the Federation after more than four years dedicated to Traditional Owner-led care for Country.

Tanya was our principal advisor in natural resources management, and was integral in so much significant work: implementing and evaluating the Cultural Landscapes Strategy, overseeing the Traditional Owner Game Management Strategy, contributing visionary policy thinking on biodiversity, wildlife, conservation, and Indigenous Protected Areas, and persistently, stubbornly advocating for Traditional Owner groups to be resourced and respected to heal and manage Country, every day.

Where Traditional Owner worldviews guiding land management decision-making was a novel idea for governments five years ago, it's now a perspective respected in land and waterway management. Tanya's played a part in that.

And she's been a wonderfully warm, supportive and fiercely feminist colleague, whose company we'll miss.

Tanya leaves the Federation to dedicate herself totally to her business, and we'll miss her – but suspect this might be a case of see you later, not goodbye for good.

Thank you, Tanya! 🤍
... See MoreSee Less

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