The Treaty Community Engagement Program (the Program) was a grants program funded and run by the Department of Premier and Cabinet between 2018 and 2020. The Program supported Victorian Traditional Owners, and other Aboriginal organisations and businesses to consult with the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community on the treaty process in Victoria.
The Program formed part of phase one of the treaty process. Find information about the Victorian treaty process.
Information about the treaty process and the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, the body elected by the Victorian Aboriginal community to represent it in the treaty process, can be found at www.firstpeoplesvic.org
Program objectives
The Treaty Community Engagement Program was established to:
- engage with Victorian Aboriginal communities and non-Aboriginal Victorians on key matters relating to the treaty process
- gain practical insights into how self-determination and treaty can strengthen Victorian Aboriginal communities
- build capacity amongst Traditional Owners and other Victorian Aboriginal groups in preparation for the next phase of the treaty process
The Program sought to ensure engagement by all sections of the Aboriginal community, particularly Traditional Owners, Elders, and young people, in the treaty process.
About the program
The Treaty Community Engagement Program was launched in June 2018 by the former Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, the Hon Natalie Hutchins MP, and the former Victorian Treaty Advancement Commissioner, Ms Jill Gallagher AO. Applications for grants were sought in three rounds of assessment held in 2018 and 2019.
Only Victorian Aboriginal community‑controlled organisations were eligible to apply for grants under the Program. This included Traditional Owner groups and other Aboriginal organisations and businesses.
Two streams of grants were funded under the Program:
Treaty circle grants of up to $10,000 were available to support small, community-led consultations on key issues related to treaty.
Treaty engagement grants of up to $100,000 were available to support in-depth and ongoing engagement with Victorian Aboriginal communities, as well as research and planning, on treaty and self-determination
Program outcomes
The Treaty Community Engagement Program awarded $2 million in grants to over 30 Aboriginal organisations in 2018 and 2019. The following organisations received grants under the Program:
- The Aborigines Advancement League Inc
- Aldara Yenara Pty Ltd
- Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative
- Bangerang Aboriginal Corporation
- Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
- Bubup Wilam Aboriginal Child and Family Centre
- Bunjilwarra, auspiced by Victorian Aboriginal Health Service
- Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
- Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation
- Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation
- Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations
- First Australians Media Enterprises - 3 Kool n Deadly Radio (3KND)
- First Nations Legal and Research Services
- Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation
- Koorie Youth Council
- Nindi Ngujarn Ngarigo Monero Aboriginal Corporation
- Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation
- Spark Health
- Taungurung Land and Waters Council Aboriginal Corporation
- Toombak Indigenous Production (Marngrook Footy Show)
- Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency Cooperative Ltd
- Victorian Aboriginal Educational Association Inc.
- Victorian Traditional Owner Land Justice Group, auspiced by Dhudhuroa Waywurru Nations Aboriginal Corporation
- Wandarrah Action Committee, auspiced by Swan Hill Rural City Council
- Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative
- Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation
- Watnanda Consulting
- Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association Inc.
- Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation
- Wotjobaluk Elders Council, auspiced by Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
- Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation
- Yingadi Aboriginal Corporation
- Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation
Insights gathered through the Treaty Community Engagement Program will support the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria through the future phases of the treaty process in Victoria.
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