Victorian Traditional Owner Cultural Fire Strategy

Aboriginal people across Australia have used fire as a tool to manage landscapes for millennia. Their knowledge and expertise are now being recognised by governments seeking to leave behind narrow, risk-averse fire management approaches, and centre holistic ways of balancing ecosystems that allow for healing and care for Country.

The Victorian Traditional Owner Cultural Fire Strategy articulates Victorian Traditional Owners’ long-term objectives for reintroducing cultural fire to the landscape, proposes achievable strategies and actions, and clarifies the role of governments and other partners in a Traditional Owner-led approach to land and water management.

The Strategy was developed by Traditional Owners in a process facilitated by the Federation and funded by the Victorian Government’s Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. A Project Control Group and Traditional Owner Cultural Fire Knowledge Group governed the project, to ensure its cultural safety and effectiveness.

Submissions

The Federation contributes Victorian Traditional Owner perspectives on fire with governments and decision-makers. Key submissions include:

• Submission to the Royal Commission into Natural Disaster Arrangements 2020
• Submission to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) Review 2020
• A Victorian Traditional Owner Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategy 2018