Lisa Briggs

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I am a Gunditjmara woman and First Peoples Assembly of Victoria (FPAV) Metropolitan Member. I have been in this role for 12 months and am a member of the following committees.

• FPAV Council Member
• Self-Determination Fund (SDF) Council Committee Chair
• Treaty Committee
• Yurpa Committee

Apart from being a FPAV Metropolitan Member, I am the Executive Director of Ngaweeyan Maar-oo (Gunditjmara dialect meaning ‘Voice of the People’) as the recognised partner with the Victorian government in delivering the National Agreement on Closing the Gap which has two targets: Priority Reforms 1-4 and socio-economic targets.

The National Agreement on Closing the Gap Priority Reforms 1-4 has a strong alignment and relationship with FPAV and Treaty outcomes. The Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation’s (ACCOs) practical outcomes co-designed by FPAV and the ACCO Sector reflects self-determining solutions and shared decision making, which are fundamental elements for transformation. A statewide Treaty will strengthen the transformation process.

Work priorities over the last quarter has seen;

• FPAV Business

The FPAV Council – regular and ongoing governance meetings that provide the oversight of the FPAV.

To date, this term FPAV have held the following number of Council, Committee and Chamber meetings that I am a member of, please find following along with my attendance record.

Overall Attendance since Assembly 2.0

• Meetings could attend: 63
• Meetings has attended: 62
• Percentage attendance at all meetings: 98.41%

Overall Attendance at Chambers 

• Chambers required to attend: 7
• Number of Chambers has attended: 7
• Percentage attendance at Chamber: 100%

The Yurpa Committee which is responsible for the cultural governance of the Assembly.  The Yurpa Philosophy and Principles are foundational to our ways of working both internally and externally.  I encourage everyone to read the Yurpa philosophy and principles as a guide on how you might also embed these within your own workplace. 

The Treaty Committee which has been in effect for six (6) years, as the working arm for Treaty negotiations.  A negotiations team has been assembled to work with the Victorian government in developing our nations first ever Treaty. A joint statement on Treaty negotiations was publicly released on 4 July 2025.  Negotiations on Victoria’s Statewide Treaty Bill are focussing on how to evolve the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria into an ongoing representative body to provide advice to Government and make decisions over matters that affect First Peoples.  To stay informed, review the statement click HERE.   

Self Determination Fund (SDF) empowers Victoria’s First People by driving economic prosperity and quality in Victoria through sustainable financial resources and support in Treaty negotiations.  In the last quarter I have had the privilege of undertaking the following obligations and activities in my role as the Chair of the SDF Council Committee:  

• Independent SDF Review: The First Peoples Assembly has engaged external consultants First Nations Co to undertake the review which is to be delivered by the end of October 2025.  The review is well underway with great uptake by our Traditional Owner groups.  We look forward to receiving the report to assist in the strengthening of the SDF. 

External Stakeholder/s engagement 

• MAV and 79 Victorian Local Government Areas (LGAs) 

To date I have successfully completed 55 LGAs engagements.  Since the last report engagement has expanded to working in collaboration with the peak body for Victorian local governments, the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) who provide business support and advocacy on behalf of their members.  This collaboration is to develop a shared vision and outcomes that will mobilise support across Metropolitan Melbourne and Victoria.   

The Key discussion points have been centred around: 

• Joint Statement on Treaty Negotiations to keep LGAs informed as part of our shared journey. 

• Alignment of Treaty and the National Agreement for Closing the Gap Priority Reforms  

• Aligning and promoting the Yoorrrook Justice Commission Recommendations 

• Bringing Local Government along on the journey 

• Creating Treaty Champions  

• Strengthening the LGAs role in the implementation of the National Agreement for Closing the Gap.  This Agreement is a Treaty with purpose and the Treaty process will strengthen the outcomes further for our people. 

There is a strong leadership role for local government to support the Treaty journey.  I have been invited by the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) to present at the Directors Forum.  The forum includes a Treaty session with the local governments from across Victoria. 

Community engagement/s 

The last quarter has involved engaging with 20 local governments across Victoria, this has included speaking with their executive and Aboriginal staff.  It is intended that engagement will occur with all 79 of the LGAs.   

I attended a Treaty consultation with other Chamber Members at Richmond Town Hall, and we are now looking at working with ACCO’s to attend their AGM’s to promote Treaty and how to become involved. 

Media publications: 

None for this period. 

Insights and looking ahead 

• Treaty Bill being presented in Parliament 

• Metropolitan engagement with Community Members and Local Government Aboriginal Advisory Committee Members and LGA Workforce Online Forums in September and October 2025. 

• Attending Annual General Meetings to promote Treaty. 

I encourage all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Victoria to get on board and stay informed.  The Treaty Pathway is about all of us.  For more information click TREATY. 

I am a Gunditjmara woman and First Peoples Assembly of Victoria Metropolitan Member. I have been in this role for three months and am a member of the following committees;

• FPAV Committee Member
• SDF Sub-committee Chair
• Treaty Committee
• Yurpa Committee

Apart from being a FPAV metropolitan member, I am the Executive Director of Ngaweeyan Maar-oo (Gunditjmara dialect meaning ‘Voice of the People’) as the recognised partner with the Victorian government in delivering the National Agreement on Closing the Gap which has two targets: Priority Reforms 1-4 and socio­ economic targets.

The National Agreement on Closing the Gap Priority Reforms 1-4 has a strong alignment and relationship with FPAV and Treaty outcomes. The Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation’s (ACCOs) practical outcomes co-designed by FPAV and the ACCO Sector reflects self-determining solutions and shared decision making, which are fundamental elements for transformation. A statewide Treaty will strengthen the transformation process.

Work priorities over the last quarter has seen;

• FPAV Business

FPAV Committee- regular and ongoing governance meetings that provide the oversight of the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria. To date we have held –

Overall Attendance since Assembly 2.0

• Meetings could attend: 54
• Meetings has attended: 53
• Percentage attendance at all meetings: 98%

Overall Attendance at Chambers

• Chambers required to attend: 4
• Number of Chambers has attended: 4
• Percentage attendance at Chamber: 100%

Attendance for this Quarter April – 12 June

• Meetings could attend: 13
• Meetings has attended: 13
• Percentage attendance at all meetings: 100%

Yurpa Committee works to strengthen the cultural governance of the Assembly. The Yurpa Philosophy and Principles are foundational to our ways of working both internally and externally. I encourage everyone to read the Yurpa philosophy and principles as a guide on how you might also embed these within your own workplace.

Treaty Committee has been in effect for six (6) years, as the working arm for Treaty negotiations. A negotiations team has been assembled to work with the Victorian government in developing our nations first ever Treaty. A joint statement on Treaty negotiations was publicly released on 18th June 2025. To stay informed, review the statement click here.

Self Determination Fund (SDF) empowers Victoria’s First People by driving economic prosperity and quality in Victoria through sustainable financial resources and support in Treaty negotiations. In the last quarter I have had the privilege of undertaking the following obligations and activities:

SDF impact: There has been seventeen (17) grants awarded totaling $3,237,005 for Equal Footing Phase 1, across Victoria to various Traditional Owner groups. This will enable Traditional Owner groups prepare in readiness for Treaty. Should you wish to enquire about the SDF and grants available click here.

Textbox 62, TextboxIndependent SDF Review: The SDF has been in operation for last 5 years and it’s now time to undertake an independent review process that will provide guidance and recommendations that strengthen the outcomes of Equal Footing and Wealth and Prosperity for our Traditional Owner groups/owners.

Strategic planning workshops in collaboration with SDF Trustees identifying key financial priorities over the next few years.

Invited and participated in the Australian National University (ANU) Indigenous Economic Empowerment in Australia Lessons and Insights from Canada. This forum aligns with advancing Indigenous economic rights and interests and will be beneficial in terms of advancement of the SDF. ANU has a host of resource sand if you are interested click here.

External Stakeholder/s engagement

• MAV and 79 Victorian Local Governments

Since the last report engagement has expanded to working in collaboration with the peak body for Victorian local governments, Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) who provide business support and advocacy on behalf of their members. The purpose is to develop a shared vision and outcomes that will mobilise support across Metropolitan Melbourne and Victoria.

The Key discussion points have been centred around:

• Joint Statement on Treaty Negotiations to keep LGA informed as part of our shared journey.
• Alignment of Treaty and the National Agreement for Closing the Gap Priority Reforms
• Bringing Local Government along the journey
• Creating Treaty Champions

There is a strong leadership role for Local Governments to support the Treaty journey. Engagement by my fellow Chamber members with Local governments are providing opportunities for them to explore what the Treaty landscape will look like for them locally, with more LGAs being open to advancement on the concepts of Treaty.

Community engagement/s

• The Yoorrook Justice Walk for Truth by Commissioner Travis Lovett and Aunty Eleanor Bourke completed their journey by handing the Yoorrook report and message sticks collected along the 500 km walk in the presence of Deputy Premier Ben Carol and Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins. I was privilege to participate in the Walk for Truth from Portland to Purnim (Framlingham Mission) and met the Truth Walkers on the steps of Parliament. I congratulate Commissioner Lovett for his foresight and leadership in bringing together an historic event that allowed Traditional Owners and allies to come together along the way and learn the true history of our country.
• With 10,000 walkers witnessing this historic moment. To view the media coverage of the historic handover click here
• The Yoorrook Justice Commission is the first formal truth-telling inquiry in Australia and provided testimonies from Elders, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), stolen generation survivors, experts and allies. If you want to learn more about the Yoorrook Justice Commission Reports click here.

• Individual engagement with Aboriginal community members that are seeking resource information, that can be shared within their families and workplaces. This has included encouraging Aboriginal community members that live across metropolitan Melbourne to attend the forums that will be occurring over the next couple of months. Social media has been a good platform to circulate metro forum information to expand our reach.
• ACCO Forum held at the Aborigines Advancement League to co-design ways of working as Statewide Treaty negotiations ramp up.
• National Indigenous Australia Agency (NIAA) made up of the Commonwealth heads of agency, to provide an overview of Treaty and discussion on what this means in terms of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap Priority Reforms and 17 socio-economic targets. These discussions are important as part of future Reform policy development and shaping.

Media publications:

• Interview with Marion Cincotta 3CR on Closing the Gap here
• Interview with Masafter Yatta 3CR Yoorrook Justice Commission “Walk for Truth” here
• Presentation Launch of the Close the Gap report-Aborigines Advancement League here
• Croakey Treaty Talks Lake Condah Mission -Walk for Truth presentation here

Insights and looking ahead

• Building Community Treaty Champions
• Self-determination Fund planning
• Celebrating Aboriginal excellence and success – our value proposition to Victorian society

I encourage all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Victoria to get on board and stay informed. The Treaty Pathway is about all of us. For more information click TREATY.

I am a Gunditjmara woman and First Peoples Assembly of Victoria Metropolitan Member. I have been in this role for three months and am a member of the following committees;

•  Treaty Committee
•  Yurpa Committee

Apart from being a FPAV metropolitan member, I am the Executive Director of Ngaweeyan Maar-oo (Gunditjmara dialect meaning ‘Voice of the People’) as the recognised partner with the Victorian government in delivering the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, priority reforms and socioeconomic targets.

The National Agreement on Closing the Gap has a strong alignment and relationship with FPAV and Treaty outcomes. The Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations’ (ACCOs) practical outcomes codesigned by FPAV and the ACCO Sector reflects as such.

Work priorities over the last quarter has seen;

• Metro regional forum – Ringwood. This was my first community engagement in my role as metropolitan member, which was well attended particularly by our Elders in receiving updates and progress on current activities. The presentation was well received, and I look forward to speaking with more community members in the first quarter of the new year. For more information on Treaty see ‘A path to Treaty’
• Victorian Local Governments. There are seventy-nine (79) Local Governments across Victoria, and I am currently working with them in creating a progress baseline against the National Agreement for Closing the Gap. To date I have engaged with twelve (12). This baseline will assist in strengthening relationships, investment and growth that will be beneficial to Local Governments, Traditional Owners and ACCOs. The response from Local Government CEO’s and Executive Directors has been invigorating and an opportunity to discuss how Treaty and Closing the Gap relate to each other both in policy development and practice. I look forward to sharing more about my progress with the Local government agencies.
• FPAV Business. The last quarter would see a lot of activity particularly leading up to the Treaty Negotiation process. The joint launch with the Victorian Premier and FPAV Co-Chairs of Treaty Negotiation provided a powerful cultural display of our clan groups across Victoria and the commitment and leadership by the Allen government in delivering a Statewide Treaty. Negotiations have started with the release of a Joint release – Negotiations for first statewide treaty underway. With Treaty negotiations underway has seen an increase in internal business participation particularly with Treaty and Yurpa Committees which assist in guiding and shaping direction.

Insights and looking ahead

Key considerations for influencing our Treaty journey are surrounded by the timing and building relationships. There are opportunities to educate and influence partners by assisting them in the developing their strategic and implementation that shapes our shared future. This is what the next quarters priorities look like from my point of view. Engaging with our own mob, allies and partners.

Future engagements

Over the next 3 months, I will be holding community forums that will provide opportunity to come and speak with myself and some other representatives about our pathway to Treaty. The statewide ACCO forum will be an opportunity to provide update on Treaty negotiations and outcomes.

Engagement with Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss – Informing The Agenda Consultations | Australian Human Rights Commission where the Commissioner will be seeking feedback and direction from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Traditional Owners Groups and ACCOs. Great opportunity to share experiencing of Victoria’s Treaty Pathway, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Peace Accord and other items. The Commissioner will be touring Victoria between the 3rd – 6th February 2025.

I encourage all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Victoria to get on board and stay informed. The Treaty Pathway is about all of us. For more information click TREATY.

Since commencing with the First Peoples Assembly Victoria (FPAV) in late August I have been fortunate to be part of a number of engagements and consultations and would like to acknowledge FPAV team for their support and also outgoing metropolitan representative Shane Charles for his commitment to Treaty.  

Inaugural Chamber Sitting (September – Swan Hill) 

I want to acknowledge fellow chamber members Lowana Moore and Jason Kelly for hosting the Chamber meeting in Swan Hill.  This provided a great platform for celebration on the success of the Wemba Wamba peoples in achieving their RAP and delivery of my inaugural speech.  It also set the scene for Chamber deliberations. 

Key highlights were: 

• Presentation from Elders Council  

• Feedback from the local Aboriginal community on how Treaty can support their growth and respond to existing priorities such as Youth. 

Treaty 

As we draw closer to commencing negotiations with the Victorian government, it is great to see the collective leadership and mobilisation of the Aboriginal community members, ACCOs and TO’s in strengthening our journey.  The Elders presence at the Eastern Metropolitan forum was sensational in providing their lived experienced, knowledge and support. 

More engagements across metropolitan areas are being scheduled and it is through these forums that our people can actively participate and engage in the Treaty conversations. 

Committee/s: 

• Self-determination Fund Committee member 

• Yurpa Committee member 

• Treaty negotiations committee member 

Engagements 

August 

• Statewide Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations Forum 
• Treaty and Truth Parliamentary Lunch 

September  

• Statewide Traditional Owners Forum 
• FPAV workstreams 

October  

• FPAV workstreams 
• Eastern Metropolitan Treaty Forum – Ringwood 

November  

• 2^nd Statewide Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations Forums 
• Chamber – Shepparton 
• Official opening of Treaty Negotiations 

Future events 

• Western metropolitan Forum (tbc) 
• Southern metropolitan Forum (tbc) 

Yana marrang in marrang – “Walk Hand in Hand”