The Andrews Labor Government is supporting Wadawurrug to engage more Aboriginal Victorians in the state’s historic Treaty process.

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Natalie Hutchins announced a $75,000 Treaty Engagement Grant for Wadawurrung through the Treaty Community Engagement Program.

The project will work with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, surrounding Traditional Owners and other Aboriginal Victorians across Wadawurrung Country to build a deeper understanding of the Treaty process and what the Wadawurrung would like to achieve.

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.

Today’s funding builds on the $370,000 in grants provided to Aboriginal organisations in the first round of the Program. Further rounds of Treaty grant funding will be announced soon.

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

“The voices of Aboriginal Victorians will always be at the centre of the Treaty process. This goes to the heart of self-determination.”

Quote attributable to Member for Geelong Christine Couzens

“The Wadawurrung know their community best and that’s why we’re supporting them to consult and engage on Victoria’s historic Treaty process.”