Terms of Reference

1.1. The partnership forum will be referred to as the Victorian Partnership Forum on Closing the Gap (Partnership Forum).

1.2. The Partnership Forum’s Sector Representative Members and Aboriginal Governance Forum Delegate Members (Koorie Caucus) will be referred to as Ngaweeyan Maar-oo, which means voice of/from the people.

2.1. The Partnership Forum is the Victorian Government’s formal partner for implementing the National Agreement on Closing the Gap (National Agreement) and provides strategic guidance for the Minister for Treaty and First Peoples on the implementation of the National Agreement’s commitments.

2.2. The Partnership Forum operates in the spirit of the Partnership Agreement’s Preamble.

3.1. The Partnership Forum is established by the Minister for Treaty and First Peoples.

3.2. The Partnership Forum’s current term will operate until 30 June 2025, noting the long-term commitment to Closing the Gap implementation to 2031, as outlined in the preamble to this Agreement.

3.3. The Partnership Forum’s term may be amended by the Minister for Treaty and First Peoples.

Aboriginal Governance Forum Delegate Member means a member elected by their Aboriginal Governance Forum.

Co-Chairs means the Secretary, Department of Premier and Cabinet and a representative/s nominated by Nqaweeyan Maar-oo members.

Ngaweeyan Maar-oo means the Partnership Forum’s Aboriginal community members comprising Sector Representative Members and Aboriginal Governance Forum Delegate Members.

Sector Representative Member means a member elected by ACCOs and Traditional Owner groups through a community-based selection process.

Victorian Government Member means the Secretary or Head of Victorian Government departments and agencies outlined under ‘Membership.

5.1. Ngaweeyan Maar-oo members are selected through a community-based process where sector representatives are elected by ACCOs and Aboriginal Governance Forum delegates are internally nominated by Aboriginal caucuses.

5.2. Members are formally appointed by the Minister for Treaty and First Peoples. Ngaweeyan Maar-oo members are appointed based on the results of the community-based selection process and advice from Aboriginal Governance Forums.

5.3. As at 30 August 2023, there are 36 members of the Partnership Forum, with 22 being Ngaweeyan Maar-oo representatives and 14 being Victorian Government Members.

Sector Representative Members

5.4. In line with Clause 32 of the National Agreement, Sector Representative Members are chosen via an independent, transparent, community-based selection process. All Victorian ACCOs and formally recognised Traditional Owner Groups are invited to nominate and vote on representatives for each of the 14 sectors under the National Agreement. Chosen representatives are then appointed by the Minister for Treaty and First Peoples.

5.5. The Sector Representative Members were chosen via a community-based selection process in April 2022, in accordance with 5.1.

5.6. Current members comprise:

• Children and Families sector - Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency
• Culture and languages sector Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages (representing the)
  Disability sector - Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative
• Early childhood care and development sector – Bubup Wilam Aboriginal Child and Family Centre Incorporated
• Education and skills sector - Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
• Elders and aged care sector - Aboriginal Community Elders Services Inc
• Economic development and employment; and land and waters sectors - Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations
• Health sector - Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
• Housing sector - Aboriginal Housing Victoria
• Family violence sector - Djirra
• Justice and youth justice sector - Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service
• Social and emotional wellbeing sector - Victorian Aboriginal Health Service
• Youth sector - Koorie Youth Council.

Aboriginal Governance Forum Delegate Members

5.7. Aboriginal Governance Forum Delegate Members are selected by each of the Aboriginal Caucuses (or equivalent) from the existing nine Aboriginal governance forums:

• Aboriginal Children’s Forum
• Aboriginal Justice Forum
• Victorian Aboriginal Economic and Employment Council
• Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Forum
• Dhelk Dja Partnership Forum
• Aboriginal Strategic Governance Forum
• Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Partnership Forum
• Marrung Central Governance Forum
• Caring for Country Partnership Forum.

5.8. Aboriginal Governance Forum Delegate Members can be changed by a decision from that forum’s Aboriginal caucus (or equivalent) by a voting process.

Victorian Government Members

5.9. Victorian Government Members are ex-officio appointments being the Secretary or Head of the following Victorian Government departments and agencies:

• Secretary, Department of Premier and Cabinet
• Secretary, Department of Education
• Secretary, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
• Secretary, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
• Secretary, Department of Government Services
• Secretary, Department of Health
• Secretary, Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions
• Secretary, Department of Justice and Community Safety
• Secretary, Department of Transport and Planning
• Secretary, Department of Treasury and Finance
• Chief Commissioner, Victoria Police
• Commissioner, Victorian Public Sector Commission
• Chief Executive Officer, Family Safety Victoria
• Chief Executive Officer, Homes Victoria

5.10. In the event of machinery of government changes, Victorian Government membership will be updated to reflect the nearest equivalent of the above list, as approved by the Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

6.1. The Partnership Forum will be co-chaired by the Secretary, Department of Premier and Cabinet and Co-Chair/s nominated by Ngaweeyan Maar-oo.

6.2. Government and Ngaweeyan Maar-oo Co-Chairs will be responsible for facilitating meetings in accordance with this Partnership Agreement, including ensuring all members, regardless of position, uphold protocols and procedures outlined in the ‘Meetings and meeting procedures’ section.

7.1. In accordance with the principle of shared decision-making outlined in the Preamble, decisions of the Partnership Forum will be made through a consensus approach (that is, general agreement on issues), and all decisions must further the principles and objectives of the Partnership Forum.

7.2. To address historic power imbalances and enable self-determination, the voices of Sector Representative Members and Aboriginal Governance Forum Delegate Members will hold equal weight with Victorian Government Members.

7.3. A consensus decision must include a majority of Ngaweeyan Maar-oo members’ support.

7.4. The Partnership Forum will undertake to engage with positions put forward by Ngaweeyan Maar-oo members, in accordance with the shared decision-making principles articulated in the strong partnership elements of the National Agreement.

8.1. As the Partnership Forum is a departmental entity, the Victorian Government’s Appointment and Remuneration Guidelines do not apply.

8.2. As ex-officio members, Victorian Government Members are not entitled to remuneration.

8.3. Ngaweeyan Maar-oo members will receive funding through Funding Agreements with the Department of Premier and Cabinet to support their participation in the Partnership Forum.

9.1. Meeting procedures are in place to ensure meetings are fair, efficient and respectfully conducted and adhere to cultural protocols. Members agree to follow meeting procedures as set out in this Terms of Reference.

Quorum

9.2. Quorum requires half of Ngaweeyan Maar-oo members plus one (12 members) and half of Government Members plus one (8 members) to be present

Timing and frequency of meetings

9.3. Meetings will be held three to four times per calendar year, or as otherwise determined by the Partnership Forum.

9.4. Meetings will be timed to occur before meetings of the Joint Council on Closing the Gap (Joint Council) to allow the Partnership Forum to inform Victoria’s position on Joint Council matters.

9.5. If a member is unable to attend a meeting, they may send a delegate to act on their behalf. Members will ensure appropriate seniority of delegates and ability to make decisions on behalf of the sector, governance forum or government department.

9.6. Non-members may attend meetings as observers and to support members, unless otherwise determined by the Partnership Forum. Observers do not have the ability to make decisions or vote.

9.7. Out-of-session decisions may occur in instances where a Victorian position is required, but a meeting is not appropriate or possible. Decision making principles and these terms of reference still apply.

Agendas

9.8. All meetings will commence with a Welcome to Country where possible, or an Acknowledgement of Country as a minimum standard.

9.9. The agenda will be set by mutual agreement between the Co-Chairs, ensuring it aligns to reporting against the Implementation Plan.

9.10. A call for agenda items will be made four weeks before the meeting to ensure there is an opportunity for all members to raise an item.

9.11. Meetings will follow the order of the agenda, unless agreed by the Partnership Forum.

9.12. The Partnership Forum will adhere to agenda timings to the best of its ability, to ensure all items can be adequately considered.

Papers

9.13. Papers will be drafted by the Secretariat and/or the party tabling the item.

9.14. Papers will be circulated no less than one week before the meeting to ensure members have sufficient time to consider items.

9.15. Verbal reports will be discouraged. If a verbal report is provided, a written paper must accompany the minutes to ensure all members have adequate opportunity to review and provide feedback where appropriate.

Decisions

9.16. Co-Chairs will facilitate decision-making and will clearly announce when a matter is being put to the Partnership Forum for decision.

9.17. For matters requiring decision, members have the right to free, prior and informed decision making.

9.18. Shared decision making requires Co-Chairs to seek to find consensus in the first instance.

9.19. In the event that a vote is required, Co-Chairs will conduct the voting. Votes will transparent and be counted and announced in the meeting so that all members are informed of the outcome. To proceed, a decision must include a majority of Ngaweeyan Maar-oo members.

Minutes

9.20. Minutes will be taken by the Secretariat.

9.21. Draft minutes will be circulated for comment one week after the meeting and will be formally confirmed at the following meeting.

Attendance

9.22. Members acknowledge the important role of the Partnership Forum and will prioritise attendance where possible.

10.1. The Secretariat for the Partnership Forum will be auspiced by a Sector Representative organisation or another organisation as determined by the Partnership Forum, and be supported by the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

10.2. Together with DPC, the Secretariat will be responsible for:

• Calling meetings, on advice from the Co-Chairs
• Setting agendas, on advice from the Co-Chairs
• Coordinating collation of meeting papers
• Drafting meeting papers where required
• Circulating meeting papers
• Drafting and circulating minutes

10.3. The Secretariat will also act as a liaison point between parties of the Partnership Forum and facilitate communication between members.