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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

Traditional Owner groups welcome Treaty negotiations

Traditional Owners must be at the heart of managing culturally significant native species

Victorian Government must protect and respect native dingoes, say Traditional Owner groups

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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We watched history being made today as Treaty negotiations ceremonially – officially – commenced.

As First Peoples Assembly of Victoria co-chair Reuben Berg said in his remarks, Treaty is no longer an idea for the future: Treaty is happening now.

Federation staff were proud and honoured to stand alongside Traditional Owners, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Victoria, and the Assembly, in a crowd estimated up to 700 people strong at the beautiful Darebin Parklands on Wurundjeri Biik.

We strongly support Treaty as a way to enable self-determination and put Aboriginal decisions over Aboriginal lives back in Aboriginal hands.

READ MORE | bit.ly/40WMBz1

We watched history being made today as Treaty negotiations ceremonially – officially – commenced.

As First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria co-chair Reuben Berg said in his remarks, Treaty is no longer an idea for the future: Treaty is happening now.

Federation staff were proud and honoured to stand alongside Traditional Owners, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Victoria, and the Assembly, in a crowd estimated up to 700 people strong at the beautiful Darebin Parklands on Wurundjeri Biik.

We strongly support Treaty as a way to enable self-determination and put Aboriginal decisions over Aboriginal lives back in Aboriginal hands.

READ MORE | bit.ly/40WMBz1
... See MoreSee Less

Treaty negotiations open on Thursday 21 November 2024.

Its a history-making moment that can restore respect between Aboriginal people and the state of Victoria.

Well be there alongside First Peoples Assembly of Victoria.

Treaty negotiations open on Thursday 21 November 2024.

It's a history-making moment that can restore respect between Aboriginal people and the state of Victoria.

We'll be there alongside First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria.
... See MoreSee Less

New research into the Black Summer bushfires recommends Aboriginal cultural fire knowledge to reduce the severity of bushfires’ impact on biodiversity.

A new paper, published today in Nature, found the unprecedented severity of plant and animal biodiversity losses in the Black Summer bushfires depended largely on past fire history – greater loss occurred in areas subject to frequent, recent, and extensively burnt areas.

Aboriginal cultural fire practices are typically smaller and cooler than the prescribed burns conducted by governments to mitigate fire risks – and are increasingly becoming understood by land managers as an effective, holistic tool to heal and manage Country.

The Federation had the pleasure of facilitating development of the Traditional Owner Cultural Fire Strategy – a Victorian Traditional Owner plan to reintroducing cultural fire to the landscape, proposing achievable actions and clarifying the role of governments and other partners in a Traditional Owner-led approach to land and water management.

Traditional Owner groups have known for tens of thousands of years what Country needs, and are generous in sharing their expertise and experience today. 

LEARN MORE | fvtoc.com.au/sections/fire/

READ THE ARTICLE | bit.ly/40LEwgb

New research into the Black Summer bushfires recommends Aboriginal cultural fire knowledge to reduce the severity of bushfires’ impact on biodiversity.

A new paper, published today in Nature, found the unprecedented severity of plant and animal biodiversity losses in the Black Summer bushfires depended largely on past fire history – greater loss occurred in areas subject to frequent, recent, and extensively burnt areas.

Aboriginal cultural fire practices are typically smaller and cooler than the prescribed burns conducted by governments to mitigate fire risks – and are increasingly becoming understood by land managers as an effective, holistic tool to heal and manage Country.

The Federation had the pleasure of facilitating development of the Traditional Owner Cultural Fire Strategy – a Victorian Traditional Owner plan to reintroducing cultural fire to the landscape, proposing achievable actions and clarifying the role of governments and other partners in a Traditional Owner-led approach to land and water management.

Traditional Owner groups have known for tens of thousands of years what Country needs, and are generous in sharing their expertise and experience today.

LEARN MORE | fvtoc.com.au/sections/fire/

READ THE ARTICLE | bit.ly/40LEwgb
... See MoreSee Less

Finding out how the Victorian Government consulted with Traditional Owner groups over its decision to continue dingo killing is an important step towards our ultimate goal: restoring Traditional Owner group to their rightful place as decision-makers for culturally significant species.

Congratulations to our friends at Defend the Wild for their work with the Animal Justice Party to see this documents motion pass.

Finding out how the Victorian Government consulted with Traditional Owner groups over its decision to continue dingo killing is an important step towards our ultimate goal: restoring Traditional Owner group to their rightful place as decision-makers for culturally significant species.

Congratulations to our friends at Defend the Wild for their work with the Animal Justice Party to see this documents motion pass.
... See MoreSee Less

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