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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

Connect With Us on Social Media

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Theres a Victorian Traditional Owner helping mob manage Country, and hes a friend of the Federation – congratulations, Marcus Stewart!

Were thrilled to see our former CEO and Board Director, Marcus Stewart AM, appointed today to the Board of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation – the body helping Traditional Owner communities to acquire and manage land and water, to deliver enduring cultural, social, environmental and economic benefits. 

Marcus is a proud Nira iIllim bulluk man from the Taungurung Nation (Taungurung Land & Waters Council!) and a whip-smart, staunch, and strategic leader. Youd know him as the former First Peoples Assembly of Victoria co-chair and passionate advocate for Traditional Owners cultures, voice, authority and rights.

Congratulations, Marcus – and congratulations, ILSC. ✊🏽

There's a Victorian Traditional Owner helping mob manage Country, and he's a friend of the Federation – congratulations, Marcus Stewart!

We're thrilled to see our former CEO and Board Director, Marcus Stewart AM, appointed today to the Board of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation – the body helping Traditional Owner communities to acquire and manage land and water, to deliver enduring cultural, social, environmental and economic benefits.

Marcus is a proud Nira iIllim bulluk man from the Taungurung Nation (Taungurung Land & Waters Council!) and a whip-smart, staunch, and strategic leader. You'd know him as the former First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria co-chair and passionate advocate for Traditional Owners' cultures, voice, authority and rights.

Congratulations, Marcus – and congratulations, ILSC. ✊🏽
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Thanks, AIATSIS Summit!

Our CEO Kaley was up on the conference stage today talking about the unique barriers Victorian Traditional Owners face to participating in development on their Country, and their novel workarounds to ensure new industries do things differently.

We were joined by Taungurung Land & Waters Councils CEO Matt Burns, who shared the real-world example of how Taungurungs cultural, environmental, social governance certificate framework leads to partnerships that centre Country, share benefits with community, and grow a sustainable future. 

Our key message: its not just about making agreements to do mining nicely. Its about recognising and respecting Traditional Owners enduring and underlying rights and obligations to Country.

Thanks for having us, AIATSIS 🤝🏽

Thanks, AIATSIS Summit!

Our CEO Kaley was up on the conference stage today talking about the unique barriers Victorian Traditional Owners face to participating in development on their Country, and their novel workarounds to ensure new industries do things differently.

We were joined by Taungurung Land & Waters Council's CEO Matt Burns, who shared the real-world example of how Taungurung's cultural, environmental, social governance certificate framework leads to partnerships that centre Country, share benefits with community, and grow a sustainable future.

Our key message: it's not just about making agreements to do mining nicely. It's about recognising and respecting Traditional Owners' enduring and underlying rights and obligations to Country.

Thanks for having us, AIATSIS 🤝🏽
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Its cold, but still beach weather, according to our sandgropers. 

Heres what some of our teams up to this week.

🔴 Steph’s deep in preparation for next week’s TOC Caucus meeting – members, your paper pack just landed in your inbox!

🔴 Lisa’s leading the charge preparing agendas for the upcoming Cultural Fire Leadership Group meeting and CEO Forum.

🔴 Gabby’s meeting TOCs to learn how to overcome the legislative and policy barriers facing the practice of cultural fire, plus pulling together a new publication about the impact of the Nation Building Resource Pool program.

🔴 Daniel and Steph have had a constructive meeting with Resources Victoria, where we reiterated TOCs’ position on the critical minerals benefit-sharing model, and heard the clarity we’ve been seeking to progress the TOC Caucus’ work on critical minerals.

🔴 Kaley’s up on Gold Coast for the AIATSIS Summit conference, where she’s fitting in presentation rehearsal among networking and learning.

🔴 And Sophie had a great time at week’s meeting of our communications community of practice – it’s TOC comms teams talking strategies for maximising member engagement, finding new ways to fund our work, and sharing our wins – and, later, at Williamstown Beach, despite the chill of Bunurong beerreen (no sun) season beating down.

It's cold, but still beach weather, according to our sandgropers.

Here's what some of our team's up to this week.

🔴 Steph’s deep in preparation for next week’s TOC Caucus meeting – members, your paper pack just landed in your inbox!

🔴 Lisa’s leading the charge preparing agendas for the upcoming Cultural Fire Leadership Group meeting and CEO Forum.

🔴 Gabby’s meeting TOCs to learn how to overcome the legislative and policy barriers facing the practice of cultural fire, plus pulling together a new publication about the impact of the Nation Building Resource Pool program.

🔴 Daniel and Steph have had a constructive meeting with Resources Victoria, where we reiterated TOCs’ position on the critical minerals benefit-sharing model, and heard the clarity we’ve been seeking to progress the TOC Caucus’ work on critical minerals.

🔴 Kaley’s up on Gold Coast for the AIATSIS Summit conference, where she’s fitting in presentation rehearsal among networking and learning.

🔴 And Sophie had a great time at week’s meeting of our communications community of practice – it’s TOC comms teams talking strategies for maximising member engagement, finding new ways to fund our work, and sharing our wins – and, later, at Williamstown Beach, despite the chill of Bunurong beerreen (no sun) season beating down.
... See MoreSee Less

Honouring Mabo Day 💚💙

Our CEO Kaley had the privilege of hearing Gail and Kaleb Mabo – the daughter and grandson of the land rights pioneer Eddie Mabo – speak today at the AIATSIS Summit.

Powerful and sad, is how Kaley described it: hearing of the enormous burden the family carried, their struggle to have Meriam peoples land rights formally recognised, and the importance of solidarity in the ongoing struggle for land justice.

In the AIATSIS Summit setting its a reminder more powerful than ever of the force that drives all of our work – whatever policy-making, program delivery, research or storytelling were all sharing at this conference, its the drive for First Nations rights to be recognised and respected that unites us all.

Honouring Mabo Day 💚💙

Our CEO Kaley had the privilege of hearing Gail and Kaleb Mabo – the daughter and grandson of the land rights pioneer Eddie Mabo – speak today at the AIATSIS Summit.

Powerful and sad, is how Kaley described it: hearing of the enormous burden the family carried, their struggle to have Meriam peoples' land rights formally recognised, and the importance of solidarity in the ongoing struggle for land justice.

In the AIATSIS Summit setting it's a reminder more powerful than ever of the force that drives all of our work – whatever policy-making, program delivery, research or storytelling we're all sharing at this conference, it's the drive for First Nations' rights to be recognised and respected that unites us all.
... See MoreSee Less

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