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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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Wed love to see Victorian Traditional Owners knowledge and expertise recognised in Australias most prestigious science prizes.

Entries are open now!

👉🏾 $250,000 prize money
👉🏾 mob only
👉🏾 for individuals, teams or communities
👉🏾 solving big problems through traditional knowledge

Head to the Prime Ministers Science Prize website to learn more.

🔗 bit.ly/3LMXM7H | business.gov.au

We'd love to see Victorian Traditional Owners' knowledge and expertise recognised in Australia's most prestigious science prizes.

Entries are open now!

👉🏾 $250,000 prize money
👉🏾 mob only
👉🏾 for individuals, teams or communities
👉🏾 solving big problems through traditional knowledge

Head to the Prime Minister's Science Prize website to learn more.

🔗 bit.ly/3LMXM7H | business.gov.au
... See MoreSee Less

Illustrations, core funding, final reports: here’s what some of the Federation’s team is up to this week. 💡

🎨 We’ve put out a EOI for Traditional Owner illustrators for the Workforce Development Framework, and Gabby’s sifting through the beautiful samples we’ve just started receiving, while organising a workshop for TOC CEOs to provide further feedback on the overall Framework.

🌲 Kurt’s progressing well with the Nation Building Resource Pool grant program final reporting, and squeezed in a meeting with some environmental organisations, discussing the Cultural Landscapes Strategy and the future management of state forests.

👷🏾 Daniel’s pulling together a proposal for the Federal Government’s Strengthening Drought Resilience On Country program, which would see Traditional Owner groups leading place-based work to build drought and climate resilience – we’ve been encouraged to apply to be a regional delivery partner.

✍🏽 (Jill, who has overseen our more than five years of grant administration under the Nation Building Resource Pool and Aboriginal Culture and Healing Flood Recovery grant programs, is sharing insights with Daniel! And supporting Kurt with that final reporting effort.)

✍🏽 Reece is working with KordaMentha on the TOC core funding project, supporting First Peoples Assembly of Victoria’s Timber Creek compensation project, and working with the NNTCs Heritage Alliance on reforms to Federal cultural heritage legislation. 

🔥 Lisa’s deep in the first priority project for the Cultural Fire Leadership Group – sustainable funding! – and preparing for a workshop to discuss this with TOCs on 27 November.

✊🏾 And a few of us started the week on beautiful Taungurung Biik, at the Statewide Caring for Country Partnership Forum, supporting Traditional Owner groups’ priorities in that decision-making and accountability setting with Victorian Government leaders.

Illustrations, core funding, final reports: here’s what some of the Federation’s team is up to this week. 💡

🎨 We’ve put out a EOI for Traditional Owner illustrators for the Workforce Development Framework, and Gabby’s sifting through the beautiful samples we’ve just started receiving, while organising a workshop for TOC CEOs to provide further feedback on the overall Framework.

🌲 Kurt’s progressing well with the Nation Building Resource Pool grant program final reporting, and squeezed in a meeting with some environmental organisations, discussing the Cultural Landscapes Strategy and the future management of state forests.

👷🏾 Daniel’s pulling together a proposal for the Federal Government’s Strengthening Drought Resilience On Country program, which would see Traditional Owner groups leading place-based work to build drought and climate resilience – we’ve been encouraged to apply to be a regional delivery partner.

✍🏽 (Jill, who has overseen our more than five years of grant administration under the Nation Building Resource Pool and Aboriginal Culture and Healing Flood Recovery grant programs, is sharing insights with Daniel! And supporting Kurt with that final reporting effort.)

✍🏽 Reece is working with KordaMentha on the TOC core funding project, supporting First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria’s Timber Creek compensation project, and working with the NNTC's Heritage Alliance on reforms to Federal cultural heritage legislation.

🔥 Lisa’s deep in the first priority project for the Cultural Fire Leadership Group – sustainable funding! – and preparing for a workshop to discuss this with TOCs on 27 November.

✊🏾 And a few of us started the week on beautiful Taungurung Biik, at the Statewide Caring for Country Partnership Forum, supporting Traditional Owner groups’ priorities in that decision-making and accountability setting with Victorian Government leaders.
... See MoreSee Less

Our interim CEO Kaley had the privilege of witnessing Treaty become law today.

Treaty was signed, the Governor gave royal assent, and Victoria is now a state with a Treaty between First Peoples and Government.

Kaley told us:

“The mood was electric. I had goosebumps walking in, to witness history in the making.

I reflected on all those who walked before me on the journey; my Ancestors, Elders and peers, and children and those to come. Treaty is here!”

Our interim CEO Kaley had the privilege of witnessing Treaty become law today.

Treaty was signed, the Governor gave royal assent, and Victoria is now a state with a Treaty between First Peoples and Government.

Kaley told us:

“The mood was electric. I had goosebumps walking in, to witness history in the making.

I reflected on all those who walked before me on the journey; my Ancestors, Elders and peers, and children and those to come. Treaty is here!”
... See MoreSee Less

Victoria risks repeating the mistakes of the past if new critical minerals mines are rushed through without equitable involvement from Traditional Owners.

That's what we told ABC Wimmera, when our interim CEO Kaley Nicholson joined their breakfast show to talk benefit-sharing in critical minerals mining.

Hear the clip or read the transcript here 👉🏾bit.ly/3JWitNZ
... See MoreSee Less

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