The Andrews Labor Government is engaging even more Aboriginal Victorians in the state’s historic Treaty process with a second round of Treaty grants.

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Natalie Hutchins today announced almost $1.3 million for 19 Aboriginal organisations as part of the second round of the Treaty Community Engagement Program.

The successful organisations include the First Nations Legal and Research Services, Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation, Aldara Yanera, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, the Victorian Traditional Owner Land Justice Group, Yorta Yorta, Koorie Youth Council.

Wantanda Consulting, Mangrook Footy Show, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation,  Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, the Willum Warrain Gathering Place, Yingadi Aboriginal Corportaion, Spark Health and Bunjilwarra were also successful.

The Program will support 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.

The Program offers two kinds of grants: Treaty Circle Grants and Treaty Engagement Grants.

Treaty Circle Grant will support small, community-led consultations on key issues related to treaty.

Treaty Engagement Grants will support in-depth, ongoing engagement with Victorian Aboriginal communities, as well as research on key issues relating to treaty and self-determination.

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 open soon.

The Labor Government has provided more than $37.5 million to support the treaty process and promote self-determination among Victorian Aboriginal communities.

Quotes 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.”

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