The Andrews Labor Government is supporting the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations to engage more Aboriginal Victorians on the state’s historic Treaty process.

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Natalie Hutchins announced a $85,000 Treaty Circle Grant for the Federation through the Treaty Community Engagement Program.

The Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations will research current representative structures among Aboriginal Victorians and best practice examples of treaty-making.

This research will be used to prepare in-depth discussion papers for use by the Aboriginal community in the next stage of the treaty process. These papers will be presented at a forum held with the Victorian Aboriginal community.

The Treaty Community Engagement Program supports Traditional Owners groups and other organisations and businesses to engage with Victorian Aboriginal communities as well as non-Aboriginal Victorians on Treaty. This will provide further insight on how self-determination and treaty can strengthen Victorian Aboriginal communities.

The Program will also help ensure the treaty process continues to be guided by Aboriginal voices and prepare the Aboriginal community for the establishment of the Aboriginal Representative Body and eventual Treaty negotiations.

Insights obtained through the Program will be used by the Victorian Treaty Advancement Commission as it works to establish the Aboriginal Representative Body as part of the next phase of the treaty process.

A second round of applications for the Program have been received and are currently under consideration.

The Labor Government has provided more than $37.5 million to support the treaty process and promote self-determination among Victorian Aboriginal communities.

Quote attributable to Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Natalie Hutchins

“Treaty will have benefits for all Victorians – promoting reconciliation, fostering shared pride in Aboriginal culture and helping to heal the wounds of the past.”