Victoria government logo
firstpeoplesrelations.vic.gov.au

Traditional Owner Nation-building Package

The Traditional Owner Nation-building Package (Package) supports Traditional Owners across Victoria to engage in nation-building and prepare for future treaty negotiations.

$11.124 million was committed in the 2021-22 Victorian Budget to continue funding nation-building activities and delivering programs to June 2024. This builds on the $13.6 million provided in 2019-2020.

The Package is delivered by the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations (Federation), First Nations Legal & Research Services (First Nations) in partnership with First Peoples – State Relations, Department of Premier and Cabinet.

What's in the Package?

The reshaped Package provides a stronger focus on supporting Traditional Owner groups without formal recognition (in the Mid North West, Central North, North East, and Far East Gippsland regions) to achieve formal recognition.

Support is now available across three streams:

  1. foundation
  2. formation
  3. nation.

Foundation (stream 1)

Create strong foundations and prepare to engage in group formation.

Strong Roots for Our Futures program

Foundational activities that build and strengthen Traditional Owner groups through healing, connecting to culture and country, strengthening cultural governance and decision making, engaging young people, and building relationships.

Find out more about the Strong Roots for our Futures program.

What can be accessed?

  • Training & workshops: Facilitation skills, Indigenous governance, and other training as requested.
  • Meetings & gatherings: Family/group meetings and gatherings up to $20,000 per meeting.
  • Small projects: Funding or support of up to $25,000 per project.
  • Large projects: Funding or support of up to $150,000.

Who can apply?

Traditional Owners without formal recognition of the Mid North West, Central North, North East, Far East Gippsland regions.

Who to contact

Jesse Williams or Nell Reidy, Senior Project Officers, First Peoples – State Relations, Department of Premier and Cabinet:

Formation (stream 2)

Agree on group identity and governance, establish representative corporate entities, and make successful formal recognition applications.

Formal recognition support program

Support for Traditional Owner groups to pursue formal recognition under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth)External Link , Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010 (Vic)External Link , and/or Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic)External Link .

What can be accessed?

  • Research and engagement with families and Traditional Owner groups.
  • Legal advice to pursue formal recognition.
  • Corporate governance advice to establishing representative entities.

Who can apply?

Traditional Owners without formal recognition in the Mid North West, Central North, North East, Far East Gippsland regions.

Who to contact

Nisha Jholl, Managing Lawyer, First Nations Legal & Research Services:

Nation (stream 3)

Activate self-determination and strengthen the group's capacity to identify and progress shared goals, including readiness to negotiate treaties.

Nation-building Resource Pool program

Resourcing for activities identified by Traditional Owner groups that align with nation-building outcomes. Funded projects will strengthen group capacity to work together towards shared goals.

What can be accessed?

Project funding of up to $530,000 for each eligible group to undertake nation-building and treaty readiness activities.

Who can apply?

Traditional Owner groups with formal recognition.

Who to contact

Contact Jill Webb, Manager Nation-building, Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations, or visit the Federation's website:

Traditional Owner Engagement Officers program

Continued funding for formally recognised Traditional Owner groups to continue engaging and involving members of corporations in nation-building and the treaty process.

What can be accessed?

Funding is available to formally recognised Traditional Owner groups, to extend the Traditional Owner Engagement Officers program until 30 June 2023.

Who can apply?

Traditional Owner groups with formal recognition.

Who to contact

Emily Maher, Senior Policy Officer, Nation-building, Grants and Training, First Peoples-State Relations, Department of Premier and Cabinet:

Reviewed 24 January 2023

First Peoples - State Relations

Was this page helpful?