Self-Determination Fund founded in Victoria

The establishment of the fund comes as the sector hears more about the planned Voice to federal parliament.

A foundational donation of $100 has kickstarted a fund to help Traditional Owners prepare for Treaty negotiations in Victoria.

The Self-Determination Fund was established by the First Peoples’ Assembly, with the initial donation made by respected Aboriginal leader and former Treaty Advancement Commissioner, Gunditjmara woman, Jill Gallagher AO.

Something pretty cool happened this week.

Respected Aboriginal leader and former Treaty Advancement Commissioner, Gunditjmara woman, Jill Gallagher, made the foundational donation of $100 to kickstart the Self-Determination Fund created by the Assembly.https://t.co/whT4w5dRZM pic.twitter.com/cfFe7Ypa66

— First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria (@firstpeoplesvic) November 25, 2022

It brings to life an agreement reached with the state government last month about enabling Treaty in Victoria, which included a commitment from the government to kick in funding of $65 million.

See more: Treaty framework complete

“The Self Determination Fund will be a real game-changer as it will empower Traditional Owner groups to do things their way and let us start to bridge the economic divide that colonisation has inflicted on our people,” said co-chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, proud Nira illim bulluk man of the Taungurung Nation, Marcus Stewart.

The assembly has set up the legal entity to administer the fund. This will be a subsidiary company, wholly owned by the assembly, managed by a group of First Nations experts on finance, community and governance.

The five experts appointed are: 

• Descendant of the Meriam people from the Torres Strait, Kerry Arabena, a former social worker and environmental scientist, public health expert, director of the Kinaway Chamber of Commerce, and consultant. 
• Kamilaroi woman, Nadina Brockhurst, a commercial manager and board member of the Victorian Women’s Trust. 
• Luritja man, Chris Croker, a mining engineer and senior business executive, managing director of Impact Investment Partners, and steering group member of the First Nations Clean Energy Network. 
• Gunditjmara man, Rohan Henry, an experienced project manager in the environmental and water management sector serving on various committees, independent panels and boards. 
• Wiradjuri man, Geoff Scott, a former head of land councils, senior public servant, and manager of representative bodies such as National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. 

The experts are  appointed on an interim basis while an extensive public expression of interest and selection process is undertaken to fill the director roles in an ongoing capacity. 

Assembly Co-Chair, Bangerang and Wiradjuri Elder, Aunty Geraldine Atkinson, said the design of the fund ensures it will always be managed by First People for First People. 

“I think we’ve struck a really good balance. We have the democratically elected voice for community, the First Peoples’ Assembly, controlling the fund and setting the strategic direction and having the oversight and so on. And then we have the fund’s directors providing their expert advice and guidance on the actual running and management of the Fund,” she said.

Voice will achieve equality: Dodson

A leaders forum has heard how the Voice to Parliament will be an opportunity to unify Australians.

The forum, held at Parliament House and hosted by UnitingCare Australia, heard from Special Envoy on Reconciliation Senator Pat Dodson about how the federal parliament will create the Voice. 

Its design will not be presented to Australians until after the referendum.

Dodson said the referendum was an invitation to all Australians to recognise the rights and roles of First Nations people in the Constitution and in Australia. 

“The referendum will decide whether or not to have a Voice to Parliament — it is about recognition in the Constitution for our First Nations people and it is also about practical outcomes,” he said. 

“A positive response from the referendum will allow all of us as Australians to bring about a greater sense of unity and of equality and fairness and justice.”

Dodson said there would be an education campaign to advise on the referendum. 

“A Voice means that First Nations People, the people who know what works, will advise the parliament and the executive in a focused and consistent manner about laws that impact their lives. 

“It is about a better return on public sector monies and funding, a better input from First Nations People to the issues that they know about better than anybody else and to craft solutions to these policies. 

“We have to move forward and this is what it is about the future of First Nations People and we as Australians.” 

The Leaders Forum outcomes will be presented to Parliament for consideration and followed up by UnitingCare advocates. 

It comes as the Nationals announce they will oppose the referendum on the Voice.