I am Wemba Wemba, Mutti Mutti, Boon Wurrung, Trawlwoolway and Lardil

Work priorities:

Key work for myself has involved getting out and about with community and throughout our work to share the message of what we have been able to achieve within this First Statewide Treaty. It has been great to unpack and work through with our mob about the steps, work and ongoing processes achieved, that will come as we get ready for the beginning of Gellung Warl.

It has been rewarding to engage with mob about the Treaty becoming a reality but now turning our attention to getting to work of implementation. I have received valuable feedback about some of the work to come, some relating to future structures, including the answerability and accountabilities functions for our community for Gellung Warl.

A lot of the work priorities have shifted since the end of last year, we now shift our attention to preparation and ensuring a solid handover and implementation over to the next iteration of the Assembly and Gellung Warl. This includes various pieces of internal work and external work, that I have supported and participated in both my role as one of the metro members and within the additional negotiator role.

Engagement activities:

Over the past few months, I have made it a priority to get out and about and attend as many engagements as possible, this included investing in end of year gatherings, events in the new year and various exhibitions and events put on by our mob.

In addition, I have provided brief updates on the Assembly’s work throughout engagement and committing to any follow up briefs where required.

Insights:

Similarly to the work priorities, it has been a goal to hear from community about the reaction to seeing the First Statewide Treaty becoming a reality. It is important to unpack what this means, now, and in the future of what this looks like in the short, medium and long-term (6 months, 12 months and 3 years +). It has been important to discuss and work through the transition process and what it means for the current assembly and how we prepare to handover the best possible process to future members, Gellung Warl and the community.

Implementation:

As we move forward towards transition and implementation, I am committed to ensuring all insights, reflections and voices for change shared from community with myself influence and shape the work we produce within the assembly and also support processes to be enacted by the future assembly members.

For our mob the implementation of the Treaty is one of the most important pieces of work we will do, it is one thing to get the Treaty but as reflected through other jurisdictions, it is just as important to ensure Treaty implementation aligns strongly with the intent, principles and purposes of the Treaty.

Looking ahead:

Looking ahead, I am passionate to keep sharing the work we’ve achieved and what’s ahead that we can all be a part of and involved in. This moment now and going forward needs to be shared and builds on the generations of work by our old people and those before us. We are keen to keep the momentum to all come together. The strength and diversity of our mob is the key and all views help shape and support the ongoing work and journey we are all collectively on.

Conclusion:

The past nearly three years have been an absolute honour and privilege to represent our mob as we continued on this journey to Treaty. For those that know me, know I have given my utmost commitment, time and energy to this space and I lead with my heart in all I do. As always, I’m more than happy to be contacted and discuss anything further and look forward to what the future holds. bababi yadabilang

[email protected]

Member update not submitted.

I am Indi Clarke – Wemba Wemba, Mutti Mutti, Boon Wurrung, Trawlwoolway and Lardil.

Work priorities:

Over the past few months, my aim has been building momentum and supporting mob understand the moment we are in here in Victoria. Given the closeness to Treaty and unpacking the reality of what we’re pushing for as part of the opportunity that exists now.

In my role as an elected Metro member, I’m actively involved in majority of meetings and committees that take place internally and externally of the Assembly, some of these include:

• Treaty Committee
• Yurpa Committee
• Cultural Elements Working Group
• ACCO Sector Working Group
• Self Determination Committee
• Minimum Standards and Collective Support Working Group.
• Regional Community forums
• Community Briefings
• 1 on 1 yarns
• Meetings with orgs
• Presenting at Ally events
• Presenting to the Elders standing group

Engagements:

As referenced earlier, I’ve been attending community events in my area and ensuring to make myself accessible to the mob wherever I can possible. I am also more than happy to be more involved and please feel free to contact me on [email protected] if there is anything you would like to discuss or engage in.

Part of these engagements has included a number of meetings with ACCOs and community groups with a deadly yarn with young mob at the Bunjilwarra space, whilst also participating in a number of briefings to update community and key stakeholders. I’ve also presented to Elders standing group a number of times over the past month which has been powerful and rewarding. 

Insights:

Over the period, some of the really important yarns, I’ve been fortunate to be involved in and have had, I’ve heard a real excitement in the air from community about the opportunity that is in front of our mob, while there is still a healthy level of scepticism due to many previous commitments made to communities over decades. However, I have witnessed a powerful hope in the eyes of those I have engaged with and what could come from this first Statewide Treaty plus the Traditional Owner treaty space.

Implementation:

What will be key in all of this, to ensure implementation of these conversations and ensuring as we build out the crucial work to come, that we continue to hold space for community to be a part of any future work and implementation of the outcomes created as part of this work. I look forward to future engagements and gathering in the coming months before the end of the year.

Looking ahead:

In the coming months, I’m really interested in testing some key work that has been discussed with community and working groups.

Going forward I am hoping to work in with some of the organisations within the Metro region and roll out some further forums and gatherings.

Thanks:

As always, I will always make myself available to the mob and happy to be more involved and accessible where possible and please feel free to contact me on [email protected]

I want to share the powerful message, that we are close to the first Statewide Treaty, an action that builds on 10 years of powerful work and decades and decades of calls and leadership of our Elders, Ancestors and those that came before us <3

This is a Treaty for the generations and the work and fight for our mob will continue together collectively <3

Member update not submitted.

The past few months have been an incredibly busy period for the Assembly. Through my role as an elected member for the Metro and a member of the negotiations team, I have been actively involved in Assembly engagements and events. This included an active role in the Aboriginal Sector Forum and the Statewide Treaty Gathering, whilst also attending the Traditional Owner forum. Between all of these events, I have continued to be actively involved in our processes of Treaty and Yurpa Committee meetings, plus other commitments to progress the important work of the Assembly.

Where and when possible, I always strive to attend community events in our region and look forward to continuing this as the year goes on.

There have been some really powerful insights from community throughout the past few months. Both in acknowledgement of how far we’ve come to be in this process towards Treaty but also the recognition of the work to come both in the present and future to support all of the work our community is delivery. One of the key points, has been an idea of the development of educational programs or tailored processes to support our community to be aware of Treaty, Treaties, Legal and Political rights as a way of understanding the processes and work done in other countries and jurisdictions.

Going forward, I’m always open to yarning with community and being involved in any events and will always ensure to make the voices and aspirations of our community live on in all our work and progress being made.

As part of the metro member base, we will be seeking to host further community forums and engagements in the coming months. We look forward to these gatherings to provide updates to community and also be able to respond and hear the voices of community in the various regions of metro.

Thank you to all our deadly mob out there in our communities, we know that our roles and the work of the Assembly only exist because of you. Please feel free to reach out on [email protected] for any engagements or for any contact.

Member update not submitted.

As an elected member in the Metropolitan region, it is my ongoing privilege and responsibility to provide an update. This report seeks to highlight the work taking place within the Assembly and my personal involvement in the various work, discussions, and engagements to date.

As a metro member, I have heard the calls for us to be heading to all areas of the Metro region and have been pushing for the importance of having Assembly metro forums in all four regions of metro, inclusive of North, South, East and West. We are endeavouring to do all of these and will seek to develop ongoing consistent processes to do gatherings or attend established events. We have sought to deliver one in the West and South by the end of the year and will return to the North early in the new year.

My involvement has been active in all Assembly forums held to date, which includes the FPAV ACCO forum #1 and #2 and the Vic Traditional Owner forum. This has also included other commitments and other engagements, and community visits plus speaking engagements like at the panel at the NIYEC Dream Design Summit. My involvement as a member as of late, has included being actively involved where possible, in all various committees of work that is and has taken place amongst the assembly work which also includes the Treaty and Yurpa committees plus the workstreams developed to support progress towards treaty, with my main and active involvement being on the Future Assembly stream and the Strengthening Families, Cultural and Communities stream plus various involvements in the others.

In honour of transparency, I will be stepping back from other employment to be able to fully participate within my role at FPAV, to ensure I can give majority of my attention to Treaty business and the work of the FPAV.

The ongoing importance to take and support ongoing Treaty readiness and education of community members.

There seemed to be a strong endorsement of the powerful recognition statement of Wemba Wamba through the additional pathway process and enthusiasm to hopefully see more Nations explore that process.

Throughout the gatherings there was consistent message of the importance of regular and ongoing engagements in the areas that may not have accessibility to organisations and places like that of areas like the Northern suburbs. This will be a focus for us in the new year to ensure ongoing engagement across the whole of the metro region.

Support of the concept of future rep body and the opportunity for expanded functions and community are interested to continually define and determine key elements, as the work progresses.

Overall, there seems to be renewed momentum towards the work and support of treaty. Excitement.

We are in an exciting and intriguing time for our mobs here in Vic, we have fought hard over many generations to be in the position we are today, and we continue to hear support for Treaty with both optimism and a level of scepticism due to previous government policies and failures. It will be key as I have highlighted before that for our community, we keep engagement lines open to support, workshop and engage our communities.

I look forward to continuing this important work and going forward, please if you require support and help, please feel free to get in touch with us at FPAV and where and whenever possible, I have and will always strive to attend treaty engagements, community events and other engagements. I continue to put this call out to any community who are interested in having members engage, attend or talk to the work of the Assembly. Please feel free to reach out to me on [email protected].

Member update not submitted.

Member update not submitted.

As a proud member of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria (FPAV) in the Metropolitan region, it is my honour to provide this update. This brief report is my attempt to highlight the magnitude of work taking place within the Assembly, and personally some of the work, discussions, and engagements to date that I have been involved in.

My name is Indi Clarke and I am a Wemba Wemba, Mutti Mutti, Boon Wurrung, Trawlwoolway and Lardil man. Firstly, I would like to encourage all community members who are able to attend the upcoming Statewide Treaty Gathering on the 5th, 6th and 7th April 2024 to come along and be a part of this powerful gathering. If you require support and help, please feel free to get in touch with us at FPAV. I was proud to be a part of the collective push for this gathering among the Assembly and feel it is timely and important as we enter this next chapter of the Assembly and in our journey towards Treaty/treaties.

Where and when possible, I have and will always strive to attend Treaty engagements, community events and other engagements. I recognise I may have limits in places and put this call out to any community who are interested in having members engage, attend or talk to the work of the Assembly. Please feel free to reach out to me on [email protected]

My involvement has been active in both the North and West Metropolitan community forums among other engagements and community visits where I have heard powerful and great contributions, and feedback from community. Below I’ve provided some of the key reflections and discussions points I’ve heard from community that I will be reflecting back to the Assembly.

• The importance of inclusivity in the Assembly and the work of Treaty to come. This is including but is not limited to; continuing to work on the Elders’ Voice and Youth Voice. The need to acknowledge areas of where growth and learning is needed; greater accessibility and engagement of our mobs across the intersection of being LGBTIQA+ representation, mob living with disability and continuing to provide space for these conversations.
• Need to support and ensure engagement of our mob who are parents, carers and/or guardians to mob with disabilities. Acknowledge the contribution and work of VACSAL and others in this space.
• General support for the work of Treaty and excitement, however, still wanting to know and how we can seek to learn from international jurisdictions and examples
• The impacts, fatigue and exhaustion of political elements like the referendum and opposition withdrawing support.
• Interest in having regular community engagement or FPAV engagement where pre-existing and regular gatherings are happening.

Overall, I’ve heard support for Treaty and an enthusiasm for us to take the torch and make head way for our community and keep engagement lines open to collaborate, workshop and update our mob. A lot of work is taking place and to be transparent, I feel it is only in the last couple of months that for myself as a newer member, I have been able to understand and recognise the true depths of work done to date and the work to come. I look forward to continuing this important work and as put earlier, please feel free to reach out to me on for any engagement or a yarn.