Member update not submitted.

This year I have attended FPAV Chamber Assembly Meetings held in March 2025 and June 2025 and August 2025.

I have attended all but three Metro Community Engagement meetings at West Footscray and Healesville and Hastings. Importantly, I did participate in the Glenroy Community Forum which was really well attended.

WWCHAC established Treaty Sub Committee (TSC) which has a representative from each of the Three family groups meets regularly and keeps minutes and actions. A ToR was established, and the WW Board confirmed the Sub Committee functions. The Sub Committee meets to discuss Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung community engagement strategies and progress to our TO Treaty. It has met 8 or 9 times since 2024.

Along with finalizing the phase one SDF funding and the application for phase two funding being authorized.

The TSC has met with the consultant about the effectiveness of the SDF in its two funding phases and what it has meant for WW community engagement and support for Treaty – Statewide Treaty process and our Local TO Treaty.

I have been allocated many Welcome to Country or Community Talks.  I take these opportunities seriously and relate in any way possible to inform people of the Statewide Treaty and the architecture that the Assembly has created; the Treaty Authority, Treaty Negotiating Framework and the Self-Determination Fund, as well as the Yoorrook Justice Commission and the Elder’s Voice Standing Group and the Youth Voice. That Treaty will add greater value to the existing economy of town and suburbs across Victoria.

I attended the Remembrance Day on 31 May 2025 at the Shrine to remember Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who went to WW1 and WW2 and other conflicts, without any proper recognition for those who returned. 

The Yoorrook Justice Commission (YJC) handed down its final report the Government on 30 June 2025.  It has 104 recommendations with only a few foreshadowed by the Government as accepted. 

From 25 May to 18 June Commission Travis Lovett walked for truth and many supporters and well-wishers walked with him from Portland to Parliament House Steps, over 3 and half weeks and 500 km walked through many country towns and cities.  He made an impassioned speech at the steps of Parliament that was fantastic and witnessed by thousands and many Government Ministers and Members. I attended the last leg from Kings Domain to Parliament House and delivered the WW Message stick to the Premier advising that PH was built on our traditional corroboree ground, where we discussed and made many decisions and so parliament does now, but they need to make good decisions for Treaty now. 

The Treaty Era is upon us and many Treaties will be made with the State.  The Statewide Treaty signing is being planned for December 2025, with a small cultural event and a large cultural event. 

The Treaty Bill 2025 begins its journey in State Parliament on Wednesday 27 August 2025.  It is estimated to take 2 months through the lower and upper houses, with accent in October/November 2025. 

The Assembly has word-smithed a Preamble to the Treaty Bill and the Treaty statement.  It is an exceptional mix of hope and expectation and mixed with a need to reconcile for the past genocides perpetrated against our people across the state. Thew Preamble to the Treaty statement has been requested to be in traditional language.  I have sought a copy so our Research team and Naming can provide the wording in Woi-wurrung. 

Phase two SDF has been hampered by the Fund negotiating down what they will or can approve.  We sought the $1.5 M on offer, but SDF have only approved $220K. 

The June FPAV Chamber was held in Halls Gap at Brambuk from 25 to 27 June.  I was not able to attend in person but attended mostly online.  WWCHA Board meeting was on 25 June so I had to attend that day. 

There have been two projects funded by the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) one in a Metro LGA and one in a Rural LGA.  The Metro LGA was Boroondara Council and that Community Engagement was held on 18 June 2025 at the Hawthorn Arts Centre.  It was expertly moderated by Uncle Charles Pakana and was very well attended and there was so many positive responses during and after the event.  The Q and A session was 30 minutes, and the panel consisted of A/Prof Andrew Gunstone, Treaty Authority Member Andrew Jackomos, Ms Nerita Waight (FPAV Member) and myself. It was also well attended. The Rural LGA will be with Mitchell Shire.  This event is still in the planning phase. 

The recent one day Chamber meeting held at the Royal Botanic Gardens on Friday 22 August 2025 finalized all the Treaty Bill elements and processes which required 33 separate Resolutions to be voted on from 10:15 am to 1:30 pm.  The Assembly had pre-reading and briefing sessions in the lead up. It was a significant achievement all the same. 

Member update not submitted.

Status Report on FPAV Work March 2025

• It is encouraging to see the Elders Standing Group have become more functional and engaged. We must engage with them on as much as wee can sothat the Cultural Authority is given to progress the key elements of the Negotiation Brief.
• The Youth Voice is doing similarly and needs to be fed into the same process as the Elders Standing Group. The Youth Voice is just as important, as they are the future that we are trying to plan and negotiate for.
• Wamba Wemba TOG actively engage in FPAV work and are in positive progress.
• FPAV will be negotiating Statewide Treaty with State Government in 2024/25. As the Recognised body to do so. This will cover Health, Housing, Education,Employment and Justice System reforms. It will also provide the umbrella in which local To Treaties will be negotiated.
• In late June 2025, there is approximately 3 months remaining for the work of the Negotiating team to prepare for and negotiate the ‘Yellow and Red’items in the comparative list between the Government’s Initial Proposal and the Assembly’s Negotiating Brief.
• There five Workstreams that Assembly Members are working on in preparation for Statewide Treaty negotiations and beyond.

Workstreams have become Negotiating streams. I have tried to participate in as many as possible. In December 2024, I indicated an intention to go possibly Full Time with the Assembly work, but there are significant limitations to this, and mobility is the key one. Being Full time without a vehicle would limit the capacity to engage with our community and organise and facilitate information sessions and provide updates in newsletter to the community, etc. So, I will remain in a part time role so I can engage with WWCHAC and progress things with our Treaty Sub Committee and the new role and use the new resources to expand our footprint with Wurundjeri descendants everywhere. Information packs are being developed, and a positive communication strategy has been set for engagement purposes

Engaging with the broader community is as important coz they are our allies who can put pressure and expectation on local MPs and then the Government to support our Statewide Treaty and local Treaties.

I have attended over a dozen community engagements in 15 months from Wyndham Vale to Ringwood and Thornbury to Hastings to inform and update community members where we are at with Treaty and how that could affect their community and families.

Acquitting the Initial tranche of SDF funding is finalising. Then we apply for the Second tranche of SDF funding with a detailed activity plan to get significant advancement internally on Treaty with greater awareness and understanding and numbers interested in Treaty aspirations and importantly self-determination for the future generations. A second officer level support is envisaged to support Treaty work and the Assembly Representative.

We have established a WWCHAC Treaty Sub Committee with funding from the SDF allocation to make it work. Meetings are recorded and thoughts are expanding. We have had four meetings and progress is ramping up. We are progressing deliberately looking at Djaara and Eastern Marr examples.

Any time I have an opportunity to speak at a function, I speak about Treaty and seek support for our people’s sovereign rights to self-determination.

I am currently engaged in a project on Treaty Awareness through the MAV, with selected LGA “Boroondara City Council”. We seek to inform the Councilors and Senior Staff on Treaty matters and ideas and what that means for Local Government and what they can be doing before a formal Treaty Agreement is established between them and WWCHAC.

Future Assembly

Black Parliament or future part 3 representative body. What that could look like and how we get that planned and established.

Member update not submitted.

Member update not submitted.

Member update not submitted.

Status Report on FPAV Work in 2024

FPAV 1:

• Elections for FPAV held in July 2019. Successful candidates announced in December 2019. 11 members were elected by Traditional Owner Groups and filled the Reserved seats, and 20 members were elected in general category representing communities in each five regions across Victoria.
• The Treaty Authority (the Dispute Resolution or Umpire) was created by an Act of Parliament in 2022.
• Treaty Negotiating Framework (the Rules) and Self-Determination Fund were signed off in 2022.

FPAV 2:

• State Government allocated $65M in budget for Self-Determination Fund. The SDF is now active and hold funds.
• Treaty Authority members were appointed and announced in December 2023: Dr. Petah Atkinson, Mr Jidah Clark (Chair), Ms Thelma Austin, Mr Andrew Jackomos, and Ms Duean White. They will resolve disputes and mediate where necessary.
• Working alongside the Assembly the SDF Trustee is managed by a Board of 5 directors: Lisa Briggs, Nadina Brockhurst, Chris Croker, Rohan Henry, Jason Mifsud, with CEO Sandra Jacobs announced. ‘Creating prosperity for Mob and getting Treaty ready.’
• Elders Voice and Youth Voice have been established in 2024. Setting the cultural protocols on how the Assembly must engage and work with those Voices. Self-nominated Elders from across the state were interviewed and accepted onto the Elder Voice. The Youth Voice is doing similarly.
• FPAV landmark decision to include Wamba Wemba TOG onto the Assembly from April 2024 without having to have RAP status. That can come down the track a bit, but shows the Assembly is actively seeking the right to select and accept.
• FPAV Co-chairs appeared at Yoorrook Justice Commission hearing April 2024 and gave evidence and statements for ATSI communities on Treaty progression in Victoria.
• The Premier of Victoria appeared at the Yoorrook Justice Commission on 28th April and gave evidence. A landmark appearance – the first of any political leader in the country to appear before an Indigenous led Commission.
• Traditional Owner Groups are accessing the SDF to develop nation building and local Treaty readiness.
• Involved in discussions at the Treaty Committee which has considered options and timing of a potential peace accord with the State, as part of the Assembly’s preparations for Statewide Treaty negotiations.
• FPAV will be negotiating Statewide Treaty with the State Government in 2024/25 as the Recognised body to do so. This will cover Health, Housing, Education, Employment and Justice System reforms. It will also provide the umbrella in which local Traditional Owner Treaties will be negotiated.
• AIATSIS Summit 2024 (3-7 June 2024 at MC&EC) co-led by FPAV. Shows cultural heritage with Smoking and WTC every day and cultural activities from Wednesday 5 June. Many sessions spotlighting Treaty and the frameworks that have been created in Victoria.

FPAV 3:

• Individual Traditional Owner Groups when ready will be able to negotiate their local Treaties with the State Government from 2025 onward, once registering with the Treaty Authority and having their representative group announced.

My name is Andrew Gardiner, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung representative in the Metropolitan region.

In the past few months I have been involved in a number of community engagement meetings (Wyndham and other places) discussing the three big pieces of work from the Assembly 1.0 and providing clarification and seeking feedback on that and looking forward for Treaty for the general Aboriginal community under a Statewide Treaty. The Statewide Treaty is going to be negotiated with the State Government in 2024/25 in the areas of Health, Housing, Employment, Education and the Criminal Justice System as these affect all ATSI people in Victoria. I have attended the Chamber meeting in November 2023 and the one-day Chamber meeting in January 2024. I have attended a number of Yurpa Business Committee meetings and one Treaty Committee meeting. I have had difficulty with my iPad with access to emails and the member portal. These system issues are being overcome. We are wanting to hear more advice from Elders attending these community engagement meetings so that we can test if we are on the right path. Most people want further engagements like these so that they can discuss and ask more questions and come to understand exactly what in Treaty is possible and as a collective we must continue to fight together. We will keep coming back to communities to talk with new community members to advise them and seek different opinions and ideas for Treaty. Further community engagement meetings are planned and we must attend and seek feedback.