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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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We were so proud to join the Walk for Truth this weekend on Gunditjmara Mirring in Portland.

Yoorrook Justice Commission is just days away from delivering its final report, which will present the official record of the impact of colonisation on First Nations in Victoria.

Ahead of that report, Yoorrook’s deputy chair, Commissioner Travis Lovett, is walking 400 kilometres, from Portland – where the Henty brothers’ occupation of Gunditjmara land commenced the colonisation of Victoria – to Parliament House, where our political leaders have the means to implement Yoorrook’s recommendations and transform Victoria’s future.

Half of the Federation’s staff – Paul, Jill, Tanya, Daniel, Gabby and Sophie (plus Kumera the kelpie!) – joined the Walk for Truth’s first leg, which took us through significant Gunditjmara sites, including the Convincing Ground massacre site, the Tae Rak acquaculture centre, and the Indigenous Protected Area at Tyrendarra, where we saw the complex eel traps and stone buildings that provided permanent homes for thousands of generations of Gunditjmara families.

We’re so thankful to Gunditj Mirring and Yoorrook Justice Commission for the opportunity to step forward together for such an historic moment.

We were so proud to join the Walk for Truth this weekend on Gunditjmara Mirring in Portland.

Yoorrook Justice Commission is just days away from delivering its final report, which will present the official record of the impact of colonisation on First Nations in Victoria.

Ahead of that report, Yoorrook’s deputy chair, Commissioner Travis Lovett, is walking 400 kilometres, from Portland – where the Henty brothers’ occupation of Gunditjmara land commenced the colonisation of Victoria – to Parliament House, where our political leaders have the means to implement Yoorrook’s recommendations and transform Victoria’s future.

Half of the Federation’s staff – Paul, Jill, Tanya, Daniel, Gabby and Sophie (plus Kumera the kelpie!) – joined the Walk for Truth’s first leg, which took us through significant Gunditjmara sites, including the Convincing Ground massacre site, the Tae Rak acquaculture centre, and the Indigenous Protected Area at Tyrendarra, where we saw the complex eel traps and stone buildings that provided permanent homes for thousands of generations of Gunditjmara families.

We’re so thankful to Gunditj Mirring and Yoorrook Justice Commission for the opportunity to step forward together for such an historic moment.
... See MoreSee Less

A Victorian Government committed to self-determination won’t just fund programs round the edges – itll commit to properly supporting the Traditional Owner groups that hold collective rights and make decisions on behalf of their communities.

Thats what we said in our Victorian Budget media release. Read more 👉🏾 bit.ly/43CVM8s

A Victorian Government committed to self-determination won’t just fund programs round the edges – it'll commit to properly supporting the Traditional Owner groups that hold collective rights and make decisions on behalf of their communities.

That's what we said in our Victorian Budget media release. Read more 👉🏾 bit.ly/43CVM8s
... See MoreSee Less

Join our team!

If youre a big-thinking policy person dedicated to progressing First Nations rights, we want to hear from you.

New funding has enabled us to expand our small-but-mighty natural resource management and economic development team, which contributes policy insights, strategic thinking, and direct support to Traditional Owner Corporations as they progress their ambitions to heal and manage Country.

This is a full-time role (that could be four days, for the right person!), based between our Carlton office and home, with a salary ranging from $99,397 to $112,336. Applications close on 6 June.

Were flexible in our thinking and keen to find the best fit, so reach out even if you dont perfectly fit the paperwork. Mob strongly encouraged to apply.

LEARN MORE | bit.ly/43E3bEA

Join our team!

If you're a big-thinking policy person dedicated to progressing First Nations' rights, we want to hear from you.

New funding has enabled us to expand our small-but-mighty natural resource management and economic development team, which contributes policy insights, strategic thinking, and direct support to Traditional Owner Corporations as they progress their ambitions to heal and manage Country.

This is a full-time role (that could be four days, for the right person!), based between our Carlton office and home, with a salary ranging from $99,397 to $112,336. Applications close on 6 June.

We're flexible in our thinking and keen to find the best fit, so reach out even if you don't perfectly fit the paperwork. Mob strongly encouraged to apply.

LEARN MORE | bit.ly/43E3bEA
... See MoreSee Less

You can’t Close the Gap without centring Country.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have long understood health and wellbeing in a holistic, relational way – a way that understands a person’s physical, social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing is inextricably connected with Country’s.

If we’re serious about improving health outcomes for mob, we can’t overlook Country. And that means: we can’t overlook Traditional Owners.

The Federation is proud to contribute advice and expertise towards Victoria’s efforts to Close the Gap as an elected sector representative on Ngaweeyan Maar-oo (that’s the representative forum partnering with the Victorian Government on the design, implementation and oversight of Victoria’s Closing the Gap Implementation Plan). In this work, the Federation shares and uplifts the perspectives and priorities of Traditional Owner groups – who care for, and are deeply connected with, Country.

We’ve just finished a big round of detailed feedback on the draft Implementation Plan, and are firing up our role as economic development and employment sector representative as we start talking to Traditional Owner Corporations about strengthening the workforce on Country.

Learn more about this work 👉🏾 https://bit.ly/3HbegEc

You can’t Close the Gap without centring Country.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have long understood health and wellbeing in a holistic, relational way – a way that understands a person’s physical, social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing is inextricably connected with Country’s.

If we’re serious about improving health outcomes for mob, we can’t overlook Country. And that means: we can’t overlook Traditional Owners.

The Federation is proud to contribute advice and expertise towards Victoria’s efforts to Close the Gap as an elected sector representative on Ngaweeyan Maar-oo (that’s the representative forum partnering with the Victorian Government on the design, implementation and oversight of Victoria’s Closing the Gap Implementation Plan). In this work, the Federation shares and uplifts the perspectives and priorities of Traditional Owner groups – who care for, and are deeply connected with, Country.

We’ve just finished a big round of detailed feedback on the draft Implementation Plan, and are firing up our role as economic development and employment sector representative as we start talking to Traditional Owner Corporations about strengthening the workforce on Country.

Learn more about this work 👉🏾
... See MoreSee Less

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