Objective 1: Aboriginal voice, knowledge and cultural leadership drive Aboriginal policy, legislation and system reform

Self-determination enables the wellbeing of Aboriginal Victorians. We will actively address systems and structures that inhibit self-determination with the partnership and leadership of the Victorian Aboriginal community.

Objective 1 objective indicators

To succeed, we will:

  • increase the transfer of decision-making power and resources to Aboriginal organisations
  • increase the use of Aboriginal knowledge and evidence in policy, program and service planning, design, delivery and evaluation, under Aboriginal leadership
  • increase investment in the Aboriginal workforce to support the Aboriginal community-controlled organisations to excel in practice, partnership and service delivery
  • increase the cultural competence of the non-Aboriginal workforce across all service functions to embed practices and processes that respect Aboriginal ways of working, knowledge and evidence
  • improve flexible funding practices to empower Aboriginal organisations to meet the diverse needs of the community
  • increase the protection and promotion of Aboriginal knowledge and Aboriginal intellectual property.

Objective 1 initiatives

To meet this objective, we will:

  • support the development of policies and legislative amendments
  • undertake capacity- and capability-building activities and change management processes
  • improve reporting, monitoring and evaluation of Aboriginal self-determination and Closing the Gap actions
  • partner with Aboriginal governance representatives to strengthen the department’s data sovereignty practices
  • lead and oversee the department’s response to recommendations made by the Yoorrook Justice Commission, and all necessary work to support the Treaty process
  • work closely with the Department of Premier and Cabinet to ensure all Treaty-related work aligns with whole-of-Victorian-Government best practice guidance.
  • work on reforms in partnership with Aboriginal communities, organisations and sector partners
  • strengthen Aboriginal governance, including regional governance mechanisms
  • reform funding models to better support Aboriginal organisations
  • elevate Aboriginal self-determination in housing and homelessness, family and sexual violence and other service systems. This includes implementing the Dhelk Dja 3-year action plan 2023–2025, and developing the next 3-year action plan (2026–28) from late 2025
  • empower Aboriginal decision-making to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal children in care services. This includes:
    • engaging with Aboriginal stakeholders to design and deliver an Aboriginal-led child and family services system
    • continuing to implement Wungurilwil Gapgapduir and its nation-leading initiatives, through a refreshed 2024-2028 Action Plan
    • including ongoing funding for care and case management of Aboriginal children in care by Aboriginal community-controlled organisations
    • implementing and embedding Aboriginal self-determination in the framework for children and family services, including binding principles for decision makers, through the Statement of Recognition Act 2023
    • continuing and expanding the care and case management of Aboriginal children in care by Aboriginal community-controlled organisations
  • implement the Dhelk Dja action plan commitments to:
    • strengthen family violence prevention and Aboriginal frontline family violence services
    • support strong Aboriginal governance and leadership
    • improve access to data to support local decision-making.