It reports on the department’s progress toward embedding the VAAF self-determination enablers (figure 1) across all systems, processes and practices. It aims to measure where on the VAAF self-determination continuum (figure 2) our actions are landing and invoke reflection on how to move further along that spectrum.
Progress on current DPC self-determination actions and new 2025 actions
This year, the Report demonstrates some progress from across DPC. Key achievements and milestones towards each self-determination enabler are outlined below.
Prioritise culture
- DPC induction program revised to include a dedicated session on Treaty.
- All new infrastructure projects announced through the budget process will be considered for Traditional Owner naming where appropriate.
- The DPC Aboriginal Staff Network meets fortnightly.
- DPC will support 300 VPS places in Treaty Micro-Credential courses from March 2025 to June 2027.
Address trauma and support healing
- Two collective in-person apology events were delivered to Stolen Generations across 2024 and 2025, with continued support for written apologies.
- DPC is coordinating the State's final response to the Yoorrook Justice Commission, which will include a response to each of the 100 recommendations contained in Yoorrook for Transformation.
- FPSR continue to meet regularly with Ngaweeyan Maar-oo at various levels to discuss the Closing the Gap Partnership Forum.
Address racism and promote cultural safety
- Survey results show a high and growing proportion of staff reporting having a strong understanding of cultural safety and self-determination.
- The Diversity on Victorian Government Boards Guidelines have been implemented.
- Victoria's Anti-Racism Strategy publicly launched in November 2024.
Transfer power and resources to communities
- DPC currently exceeds the whole of government 2 per cent target for Aboriginal employees and a 2 per cent target for each group is sought moving forwards.
- Victoria supported the establishment of a national Data Policy Partnership by Joint Council decision in June.
- The VAAF data dashboard increased the amount of data visualised, specifically, in the amount of data disaggregated by geography.
- FPSR undertakes continued enhancements to the Victorian Government Aboriginal Affairs Report annually.
- DPC has provided resourcing for all Victorian Government departments for Treaty roles and Treaty Executive Coordinators.
Figure 1. Self-determination enablers
Barriers and opportunities
Common barriers to completing actions observed across groups include loss of institutional knowledge and momentum due to staff turnover, ongoing competition for Aboriginal staff and difficulty collecting relevant data to track performance against all VAAF goals.
Common opportunities identified across the groups include a strong interest in learning about Treaty, induction materials reflecting Victoria as a Treaty state, considering cultural safety as part of professional development and identification of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff during the onboarding progress to connect with relevant staff networks, peer mentoring and existing culturally safe organisational support.
DPC acknowledges that significant transformation is required to overcome the legacy of colonisation and dispossession. We must challenge existing ways of working to strive towards transferring decision-making control to First Peoples on the matters that affect their lives.
Figure 2. Self-determination continuum
DPC’s First Peoples workforce
DPC is on track to meet the Barring Djinang First Peoples employment target of 2 per cent for the Victorian Public Service. As of 30 June 2026, DPC’s workforce data indicated that 16 DPC staff identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. This is a reduction of 6 since the previous year, where 22 DPC staff identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
While the Aboriginal Staff Network continues to play an important role in supporting First Peoples staff, there is a significant need for DPC to increase the representation of First Peoples in DPC and across the VPS, while also improving the quality of the workplace and experiences of current and future First Peoples staff. This will in turn, build the capacity of the VPS to enable self-determination in all policies and programs.
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