Aunty Donna Wright, I am a proud Kerrupmara Gunditjmara and Kamilaroi woman, Reserved Seat Holder for Gunditjmirring Traditional Owner Aboriginal Corporation.

My report covers my Treaty work conducted during January, February and March 2025.

Assembly members have been busy planning and preparing ‘business as usual’ Chamber Meetings scheduled for 30 31 January – 3 February 2025. The next Chamber Meeting is scheduled for 26 27 28 March 2025 and will be held on the lands of the Gunnai Kurnai people in Traralgon.

Assembly members and staff have been planning and preparing for the Statewide Treaty Negotiations, the 2nd Statewide Treaty Gathering and Traditional Owner Forums, and our community engagements across the South West region.

Planning for meetings in the South West with local peak organisations; DWECH and Windamara arranged.

17 December 2024 the Assembly represented by myself and Reuben Berg and Assembly staff, met with Gunditj Mirring Chair Craig Molyneux, Chief Executive Officer Erin Rose and key staff, we discussed how the Assembly can best support and work more closely with Gunditj Mirring to progress Treaty in our local area, and across the South West region. Gunditj Mirring are in the process of appointing their new Treaty Officers.

Meetings with Dhauwurd-Wurrung Elderly and Community Health Service and Winda-mara Aboriginal Corporation to be arranged.

12 March Statewide Treaty Negotiations were held on Gunditjmara Country. Gunditjmara people came together with Assembly members in Ceremony and held a dawn Service at Convincing Ground, with State representatives invited to attend, ahead of the negotiations with the State, later that morning.

Traditional Owners have expressed they want to know more, about Traditional Owner Treaties and to be updated on the Assembly and key areas of work, community members raised have they are not across the progress of Treaty and would like to meet and be updated, as soon as can be arranged.

The Assembly is working with Traditional owners, to plan the type of gathering and engagements they would like undertaken in their communities, we have a deadly team of staff who can support our local organisations, also ensuring our communications are in plain english, we have a graphic artist providing documentation of meetings as a more creative way to promote Treaty, we love to include photos of Elders, Youth and children and include them on our flyers and meeting papers.

I am available to the community, our deadly Assembly staff and teams can support communities to organise meetings, community gatherings, engagement sessions at a suitable time for our mobs, and our organisations, if you would like the Assembly to have a yarn about engagement in your area and your organisation both locally and across the South West region, we are here to support and assist you and would love to yarn with you.

As an Assembly member we are here to support our communities, we have committed to ensuring no one is left behind, and nothing is off the table when it comes to our Treaty aspirations both now and into the future for our Elders, our Youth and our children. Im always available for a yarn or phone chat.

Member update not submitted.

Work priorities

Increasing community engagement within our community promotion of Statewide Treaty Negotiations, Negotiation Brief, the role of the Treaty Authority, Self Determination Funding and Presentations on Treaty for Generations and workshops at the Portland Forum. The Hamilton Forum was held at Windamara ahead of the community dinner.

Engagement activities

• 16 October Portland forum BudjBim Rangers Depot
• 21 October Treaty Traditional Owner Forum – Preston
• 22 October Hamilton forum Windamara
• 8 November Geelong forum

Insights

Gunditjmara Elders, Youth and community who attended the Portland Forum had gained a greater understanding of the Assembly’s Treaty work and expressed they ‘want to get on board’ be more involved in Treaty activities and preparations for future Treaty negotiations. Workshops at forums identified community ideas and mapping of community priorities that aligned to the Assembly’s workstreams in lead up to the statewide negotiations.

Implementation

Better understand community priorities and aspirations for Treaty, and the need to increase local forums, and engagements activities, at key events and Full Group meetings. Communications via our eNews and Treaty South West social media.

Looking ahead

Working closely with Gunditjmirring and Gunditjmara Native Title Holders, community to establish our local Treaty Working Group focus on Treaty readiness, discussions with community, what are the priorities for Treaty, shaping negotiation process, Treaty Delegations to negotiate Traditional Owner Treaties in 2025, and keep community informed. Communications via our eNews and Treaty South West social media, email and phone contact. Gatherings for Youth, Elders and community.

Conclusion

It’s important for our community be able to come together to yarn about Treaty and the upcoming negotiations, readiness and preparations for Traditional Owner Treaties and community benefits and potential economic development opportunities for community.

Accountability to community through our Full Group Meetings and the Treaty Working Group.

Gunditjmirring are recruiting their Treaty Team.

Thank you to our Elders and community Windamara, Gunditjmirring and Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism Directors and staff for their time, and extra work meeting with the Assembly members, we appreciate their support with our Regional Forums and the official Launch of the Yoorrook Land Justice Hearings.

Member update not submitted.

Member update not submitted.

Member update not submitted.