The October 2022 Victorian floods caused devastation across much of the State. In 2023, the Federation partnered with Emergency Recovery Victoria (ERV) to deliver the million-dollar Aboriginal Culture and Heritage (ACH) Flood Recovery Grant Program, to support Aboriginal communities affected by these floods.
The ACH Flood Recovery Grant Program seeks to recognise the disproportionate impact that natural disasters have on Aboriginal people and communities. Aboriginal organisations across Victoria were invited to develop recovery projects which would meet the needs of their flood-affected communities.
The objectives of the ACH Flood Recovery Grant Program are that:
- Aboriginal people’s unique experiences of trauma are addressed, and healing supported;
- Recovery and resilience are strengthened through Aboriginal culture, knowledge, and the connection between country and healing; and
- Aboriginal communities have increased capability to lead recovery and healing.
More information about the ACH Flood Recovery Grant Program can be found in the Funding Guidelines.
Six Aboriginal organisations received funding to deliver flood-recovery projects through the ACH Flood Recovery Grant Program.
Barengi Gadjin Land Council (BGLC)
- BGLC will rebuild damaged pathways and infrastructure at its Dalki Garringa Native Nursery, which was left in disarray after the October 2022 Victorian floods. The project focuses on renovating and stabilising the paths, refurbishing drainage systems, and controlling weeds. It will be delivered by a local Indigenous workforce.
Duduroa Dhargal Aboriginal Corporation (DDAC)
- DDAC will deliver workshops over two weekends at Ryan’s Lagoon, an important cultural wetland area that was impacted by the October 2022 Victorian floods. The workshops will focus on building the capacity and cultural knowledge of community members. The workshop agenda will include topics such as plant identification and use (including weaving), sharing of stories and protection of the native turtle species.
Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (DJAARA)
- DJAARA will undertake assessments of cultural heritage sites on Djandak (Country) to determine which cultural heritage places have been affected by the October 22 floods and the associated level of impact to these sites. The information collected will provide scope for DJAARA to plan for the management and healing of these sites and enable DJAARA to identify and mitigate the future flood risk to cultural heritage places.
Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC)
- EMAC will financially support 10 Eastern Maar citizens to undertake Certificate III units at South West TAFE relating to flood recovery, waterway management and rehabilitation. This will build the capacity of community to prepare for flood emergencies that will impact Eastern Maar Country/assets and equip them with the skills necessary to act in both emergency response and flood recovery.
Moogji Aboriginal Council East Gippsland Inc. (Moogji)
- Moogji’s project will repair and rehabilitate flood damage that occurred at its 40-acre Bonang Property, which is home to a nursery, a community garden and a cultural trail. Key activities include debris removal, topsoil replacement, weed control, water diversion and irrigation works, and revegetation. Community members will have the opportunity to work on-Country in delivering the project, building capacity in the process.
Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation (WWWCHAC)
- WWWCHAC will investigate flood-impacted areas of Wurundjeri Country, through remote sensing methods (flood data analysis and flood level mapping). Data gathered will inform targeted on-Country walks, for Wurundjeri people and staff to investigate and record impacted sites and landscapes. This will lead to updates of the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register. The project will be supported by the University of Melbourne.
To be eligible, an organisation must be:
- an Aboriginal organisation and/or social enterprise and may be supported by auspice organisations;
- in a listed Local Government Area (LGA) directly impacted by the October 2022 Victorian floods; and
- demonstrate that their project is relevant to the flood affected area.
The application process was open from 9 October to 19 November 2023.
The Funding Guidelines provides all relevant information regarding eligibility and other requirements.
If you have any questions about the program, you can email the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations Grants Administration team at [email protected]
To discuss your project, contact:
Jack Price, Partnerships and Engagement Officer on 0478 842 146, or
Samitha Rao, Policy and Legal Officer on 0411 128 028.
