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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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Our next Treaty messaging training is in-person, on Thursday!

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.

If you talk regularly about Treaty in your work, this training will help you build confidence, land key messages, and stop misinformation spreading.

Our first training happened this morning, and weve received some really positive feedback. Next up is an in-person session this Thursday, 4 September, 4-5pm at Aborigines Advancement League Inc. Vic.

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

Our next Treaty messaging training is in-person, on Thursday!

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.

If you talk regularly about Treaty in your work, this training will help you build confidence, land key messages, and stop misinformation spreading.

Our first training happened this morning, and we've received some really positive feedback. Next up is an in-person session this Thursday, 4 September, 4-5pm at Aborigines Advancement League Inc. Vic.

RSVP now to secure your spot 👉🏾 bit.ly/3HYSuV9
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We were thrilled to get out to visit Tati Tati Kaiejin’s flood recovery work along the Murray River near Robinvale a few weeks ago.

When the Murray River flooded near Robinvale in October 2022, it brought debris, asbestos, weeds and rubble up from the depths.

And it also brought a state-led emergency response that labelled flooding as only a bad thing – but for Tati Tati, flooding is a natural part of the river’s lifecycle, and an important aspect of the health of Country.

What wasn’t natural was the human-made destruction that followed the floods. So Tati Tati got to work. 

Under the Aboriginal Culture and Healing Flood Recovery Grant Program – which we administer on behalf of Emergency Recovery Victoria – Tati Tati employed mob as recovery officers, to help restore three key areas of Country.

The team cleared rubbish and fallen trees, replaced invasive weed species with endemic native plants, and cared for the landscape in the same way their ancestors did.

This wasn’t just about restoring the health of Country, it was about restoring the health of Tati Tati people as well.

Tati Tati told us it was a way to bring Elders on-Country, to hand down knowledge from generation to generation, to increase knowledge of plants and animals in the ecosystem, and to keep working for Country – like Tati Tati have done for thousands of years. 

Thank you for having us, Tati Tati Kaiejin – it was an honour to walk Country with you and learn more about this vital work.

We were thrilled to get out to visit Tati Tati Kaiejin’s flood recovery work along the Murray River near Robinvale a few weeks ago.

When the Murray River flooded near Robinvale in October 2022, it brought debris, asbestos, weeds and rubble up from the depths.

And it also brought a state-led emergency response that labelled flooding as only a bad thing – but for Tati Tati, flooding is a natural part of the river’s lifecycle, and an important aspect of the health of Country.

What wasn’t natural was the human-made destruction that followed the floods. So Tati Tati got to work.

Under the Aboriginal Culture and Healing Flood Recovery Grant Program – which we administer on behalf of Emergency Recovery Victoria – Tati Tati employed mob as recovery officers, to help restore three key areas of Country.

The team cleared rubbish and fallen trees, replaced invasive weed species with endemic native plants, and cared for the landscape in the same way their ancestors did.

This wasn’t just about restoring the health of Country, it was about restoring the health of Tati Tati people as well.

Tati Tati told us it was a way to bring Elders on-Country, to hand down knowledge from generation to generation, to increase knowledge of plants and animals in the ecosystem, and to keep working for Country – like Tati Tati have done for thousands of years.

Thank you for having us, Tati Tati Kaiejin – it was an honour to walk Country with you and learn more about this vital work.
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There’s an independent committee that advises the Victorian Government on climate change in agriculture – but it doesn’t have representation from Victoria’s first farmers.

That could change.

The Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change Council is seeking a Chair, Deputy Chair, and five members, to provide independent, expert, and strategic advice to the Minister for Agriculture on:

🌱 challenges climate change poses to agriculture
🌱 how agriculture can adapt and support emissions reduction
🌱 how agriculture can progress the Victorian Government’s climate change targets

There’s no designated Traditional Owner position on the Council, but one of the six selection criteria requires an “understanding of and commitment to Aboriginal self-determination, including recognition of Traditional Owner rights, sovereignty and assertions”.

And we know this Council, and the Government’s policies, will be better if Traditional Owners are involved in making decisions and setting the agenda.

Council spots are paid (between $12-23k for around four, six-hour meetings per year, plus possible out-of-session business) and applications close at 5pm on 9 September. Were happy to help with your application or references.

Learn more 👉🏾 bit.ly/4g2VX1z

There’s an independent committee that advises the Victorian Government on climate change in agriculture – but it doesn’t have representation from Victoria’s first farmers.

That could change.

The Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change Council is seeking a Chair, Deputy Chair, and five members, to provide independent, expert, and strategic advice to the Minister for Agriculture on:

🌱 challenges climate change poses to agriculture
🌱 how agriculture can adapt and support emissions reduction
🌱 how agriculture can progress the Victorian Government’s climate change targets

There’s no designated Traditional Owner position on the Council, but one of the six selection criteria requires an “understanding of and commitment to Aboriginal self-determination, including recognition of Traditional Owner rights, sovereignty and assertions”.

And we know this Council, and the Government’s policies, will be better if Traditional Owners are involved in making decisions and setting the agenda.

Council spots are paid (between $12-23k for around four, six-hour meetings per year, plus possible out-of-session business) and applications close at 5pm on 9 September. We're happy to help with your application or references.

Learn more 👉🏾 bit.ly/4g2VX1z
... See MoreSee Less

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