Australia's First Peoples

The MAV acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the traditional custodians of the land, and we offer our respects to their Elders past and present.

We advocate for Victorian councils to strengthen relationships with local Aboriginal communities and to encourage greater unity, knowledge, cultural awareness and respect for the first occupants of our land through their strong community links and local representation.

Current priorities

• Supporting constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Promoting reconciliation between councils and their local Aboriginal communities – see the Maggolee website for an outline of initiatives in every Victorian council. We have also collated examples of Council Reconciliation Action Plans and statements of commitment
• Promoting the Victorian Aboriginal and Local Government Strategy 2021-2026 and the Ministerial Good Practice Guideline for Councils Engaging with Aboriginal Victorians (Word - 858KB)
• Encouraging employment of Aboriginal people in local government. See our web-page for suggestions and useful links.

Voice, Treaty and Truth

The MAV’s June 2022 State Council, comprising representatives from all 79 Victorian councils, resolved:

That the MAV call upon all Victorian local government authorities to consider supporting the Uluru Statement from the Heart which calls on the Australian people to walk with First Nations in a people’s movement for Voice, Treaty and Truth, and encourage all Councils to write to their respective Federal Member of Parliament calling on the Australian Government to support Constitutional Recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the key principles of the “Uluru Statement from the Heart”.

The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) also supports constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, with its submission of endorsement provided to the Interim Report of the Federal Joint Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Recognition in 2018.

How local and regional voices could contribute to a national voice are outlined in the Indigenous Voice Co-design Process Final Report (PDF - 17.4MB) provided to the Australian Government in July 2021. The proposed design links the local and regional voice to the national voice based on involvement with all governments.

Keep up-to-date with the development of referendum proposals for an Indigenous Voice to the Australian Parliament:

• Uluru Statement (PDF - 262KB)
• Australian Government Voice webpage
• Indigenous Voice Co-design Process Final Report (PDF - 17.4MB)
• Proposed referendum questions
• Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Parliamentary Committees and Reports
• Australian Electoral Commission Information on Referendums
• Local Government Support Kit developed by the Uluru Dialogue, Indigenous Law Centre, University of NSW (PDF - 6.7MB)

Subscribe for Federal Government updates on the development of a referendum proposal via this link - https://voice.niaa.gov.au/#

Closing the Gap

The MAV is a member of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), which is proud to be a co-signatory of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. Key documents include:

• An Implementation Plan setting out the key actions ALGA commits to undertaking in each of the four priority reforms.
• ALGA’s 2022 Closing the Gap Annual Report

Acknowledging and Celebrating Victoria’s Aboriginal Community

There are many remarkable stories from Aboriginal people from south-eastern Australia – from the ancient traditions of family kinship and connection to land, to the struggles and hardships endured since British settlement of Victoria from the 1820s onwards. Dispossession of Aboriginal Victorians involved relocation to missions and reserves, removal from traditional lands and separation of families. Family break-up through forced removals of Aboriginal children from their families was more prevalent in Victoria through the 19th and 20th centuries than in other parts of Australia.

Throughout these times, many Aboriginal people have shown great leadership and diplomacy and continued working towards reconciliation. The Victorian Government's Aboriginal Honour Roll honours some of these notable people.

Many more stories from south-eastern Australia have been generously shared by people who have had to deal with extraordinary life events – visit the Banjilaka First Peoples Permanent Exhibition to access these. There are also important art and heritage collections from southern Australia on display at the Koorie Heritage Trust.

Councils can take practical steps to acknowledge the unique place of Indigenous people in our local communities.

The Maggolee website provides examples of Aboriginal and local government initiatives in each of Victoria’s 79 councils. Examples of Victorian council engagement plans and strategies have been collated, follow the link below:

• Local government Aboriginal engagement plans and strategies

Resources

Federal Government:

• General information
• National Indigenous Australians Agency
• Closing the Gap National Agreement
• Supply Nation

Victorian Government:

• Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Framework 2018-2023
• Treaty and Self determination Reform Framework 2019 (PDF - 8.64MB)
• Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council
• Victorian Aboriginal Business Directory
• Kinaway Business Directory

Victorian Aboriginal community links:

• First Peoples Assembly of Victoria
• Yoorrook Justice Commission
• Victorian Aboriginal Languages Corporation
• Koorie Heritage Trust

Engage with us

For further information, please email: humanservices@mav.asn.au

Wominjeka is the welcome used in the Woiwurrung language of the Wurundjeri people.