Explainer for our friends and allies
Catch up on the shared journey to Treaty in Victoria
What is a Treaty?
Treaties are essentially agreements that set out the ground-rules for a relationship between different groups. They have often been used to help build peace and prosperity.
Here in Victoria, a process has been underway since 2016 to enable First Peoples and the Victorian Government to negotiate Treaties.
These Treaties will acknowledge the truth about what was done to Aboriginal people and make sure Aboriginal communities always have the freedom and power to come up with and deliver practical solutions at a local level.
How does it work?
Traditional Owner Treaties across Victoria will make sure local knowledge can inform decision-making at a community level. Meanwhile a Statewide Treaty will strengthen the First Peoples’ Assembly so it can drive meaningful reforms to improve the lives of Aboriginal people.
Why TREATY?
People thrive when they can set their own course in life and can make choices about what works best for them and their families based on their own needs, experiences, talents and aspirations.
When it comes to Aboriginal communities, cultures and lands, the experts are of course Aboriginal people. The more this fact is respected and embraced, the more our communities will thrive.
It’s also important that Victoria as a state acknowledges and reckons with the truth of what was done to Aboriginal people so we can all get on with creating a better future together.
What will the outcome be?
Treaty is a pathway to acknowledging the past and making real, practical change to achieve better outcomes for First Peoples in Victoria and close the gap. The Productivity Commission found governments haven’t fully understood the scale of change needed to meet their Closing the Gap commitments. It urged shared decision-making with First Peoples – and praised Victoria’s Treaty process as a leading example.
With Aboriginal communities thriving thanks to the improvements that Treaty will deliver, everyone will be able to celebrate and benefit from the wisdom and knowledge that the oldest living culture in the world has to offer. Treaty will bring everyone who calls Victoria home closer together.
What’s happened on the journey so far?
The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria (that’s us!) has been established to represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on the shared journey to Treaty. (If you’re mob and 16 years old or over, you can enrol with the Assembly to help choose the path forward.)
The Assembly is an independent and democratic body – it held elections in 2019 and 2023 and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Victoria have chosen 33 Traditional Owners to represent their communities.
The elected Assembly Members and the engagement team are constantly holding events and forums in every corner of the state to listen to ideas and aspirations for Treaty.
They’ve worked out a framework and process for Treaty negotiations, which began in November 2024. In September 2025, the first Statewide Treaty between The First Peoples’ Assembly and the Victorian Government was agreed upon, and Treaty legislation entered the Victorian Parliament. In October 2025, Treaty legislation passed both houses of the Victorian Parliament and on November 12th 2025 it was signed into law. On December 12th we will meet again — this celebration will be a chance for all who call Victoria home to mark this historic moment.
We’ve also had organisations, Unions, community groups and individual allies from across the state join this journey through our Friends of Treaty initiative, ally newsletter and events.
What does this framework involve?
The Assembly has negotiated the establishment of a number of building blocks to make sure the Treaty process is fair and grounded in our culture, Lore and law.
For example, we have:
Created a Self-Determination Fund to help Traditional Owners prepare for their Treaty negotiations at a local level.
Established the Treaty Authority to serve as the independent umpire to oversee the negotiation process and help navigate any related disputes.
Set up the Yoorrook Justice Commission, a formal Truth-telling process which concluded in June 2025 after four years examining the impact of colonisation and crafting practical solutions.
Reached agreement that there will be both a Statewide Treaty negotiated by the Assembly to drive ‘big picture’ reform and Traditional Owner Treaties that will reflect the priorities and aspirations of the relevant local areas.
OK, so where are things currently at?
Statewide Treaty is here! It’s focus is strengthening the Assembly so it can drive positive structural change to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
We have been at the table negotiating with the Victorian Government since November 2024, informed by the conversations we’ve had with First Peoples across the state. This had led to the current moment, where we are able to proudly announce that legislation for the first Statewide Treaty has passed both house of Parliament [link to news post].
Traditional Owner Treaties across Victoria will make sure local knowledge can inform decision-making at a community level. Those negotiations will unfold over the coming years at different paces – it’s not a case of one-size-fits-all.
In May 2025, the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (DJAARA) became the first Traditional Owner group to begin the journey towards a local Treaty.
What does the first Statewide Treaty include?
After nearly a decade walking the path to Treaty with our communities, and generations of resistance and activism from First Peoples, Australia’s first Treaty is here. This is a chance for all Victorians to acknowledge our past, heal and move forward together.
So, what’s next?
Legislation for the first Statewide Treaty has passed both houses of Parliament. It will come into effect later this year, following a public celebration event scheduled for December 12th.
It’s important to note that Statewide Treaty is just the first step of a longer process. The focus will turn to Traditional Owner Treaties so that Aboriginal communities across Victoria can start making decisions at a local level and coming up with practical solutions to the issues that matter to them.
Once Treaty is signed, we will be working hard to implement and transition into the Treaty era. The current term of the Assembly ends in the middle of next year, so we will be holding elections to elect new members to the Future Assembly. (So again, if you’re Mob, make sure you enrol with the Assembly and have your say!)
What is the role of allies in the Treaty process?
For the last 6 years, continuing on a journey that has been decades long, the First Peoples’ Assembly has been working to get Treaty done – and now Treaty is here and everyone invited to walk together in the Treaty era – with Traditional Owner Treaties and more Statewide Treaties in the future, ensuring Self-determination is realised across Victoria.
Allies are needed to make sure we can continue walking the Treaty journey by building and showing support for Treaty. You can get involved by educating yourself and spreading the word – inviting your families, friends, communities and workplaces along on the journey.
We want everyone to feel connected to and learn about Treaty – this is a process that will bring us all closer to each other and the place we call home, so your support and spreading the word means everyone who wants to join the Treaty journey is able to learn about it and be part of it.
Wow, that was a long read, but it sounds great!
What can I do to help?
If you want to be an ally, thank you – the journey to Treaty needs to be led by First Peoples, but it’s a journey best taken together and as just 1% of the Victorian population, we appreciate your solidarity.
First of all, make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up-to-date on our progress and know about any calls to action.
If you work for or are part of an NGO, community group or Union – formalise your support for Treaty thorugh our Friends of Treaty initiative.
And you can show your support with our ally-friendly Merch range of tees, stickers, beanies and more.
For the super keen, you can even make a contribution to our ‘fighting fund’ – every donation of $2 or more is tax deductible.
TREATY IS Here
Thanks for taking an interest and showing your support!