Region: Metropolitan
Reserved Seat: No

My name is Esmerelda (Esme) Bamblett, a Bangerang, Taungurung and Wiradjuri woman.

Over the past few months I have been meeting regularly with FPAV Engagement Officers about the calendar of events for the Elders Voice Standing Group meetings that will be held this year.

I continue to speak at different community events about the Treaty process. I have spoken to a number of different mobs including Fitzroy Stars Football and Netball Club and different groups who have hired the AAL venue, including allies.

It has been an exciting time for all members of the Assembly to prepare for the Treaty negotiations. The establishment of the Treaty Authority and the Self Determination Fund in preparation for Treaty negotiations has been important.

At the last Chamber meeting, the discussion centered around having Elders input into the Treaty Negotiation process. The Elders were pleased to provide their advice and it was then incorporated into the Declaration of the First People’s Assembly of Victoria that we are ready to negotiate Treaty. I Co-Chaired another Elders Voice Standing Group meeting in Traralgon in July where the Elders discussed numerous issues regarding the Treaty Negotiations that will be happening later this year.

The Future Assembly work is being used as part of the negotiation brief and although we have a lot more work to do, I’m sure that the final negotiation brief will be one that will give us tangible outcomes if the State agrees. The Elders Voice Standing Group will be meeting with all the Chamber members at the next Chamber in September. They are looking forward to this event.

A big thank you to all the members of the Treaty Assembly for all the work that they have put in to ensure that we have a strong negotiation brief for when we start negotiations. The 400 days looked like an impossibility however we have a committed lot of members who have shown that they are more than capable of doing what is required for us to pursue Treaty in Victoria. Drew and Anthony continue to do an enormous amount of work for the Elders Voice Standing Group and I believe that as a result of their hard work the Elders will be able to contribute much to the Treaty process. The negotiations are closer than ever before and that is another step in the journey to a Statewide Treaty that will benefit the whole community and ensure we continue to have a say in programs and policies that affect us. I iterate that we need to keep in mind that these Treaty negotiations are about the 7 generations and their access to generational wealth as a result.

Meetings I have attended:

• FPAV Council meetings
• Elders Standing Group business meetings with FPAV Officers
• Yurpa Committee Meetings
• Treaty Committee Meetings
• Metro members meetings,
• Inherent Rights workshops
• Workstream 1 pre briefings
• Chair of Workstream 1: Future Assembly meetings and workshops
• June Chamber meeting
• Audit and Risk Committee meetings

Work Priorities: Over the past few months I have been meeting regularly with FPAV Engagement Officers about the calendar of events for the Elders Voice Standing Group meetings that will be held this year.

Engagement Activities: I continue to speak at different community  events about the Treaty process including an event held by Librarians at the Whittlesea City Council Offices.

Treaty meetings: Yurpa Committee and Treaty Committee meetings, Council meetings, Audit and Risk Committee meetings, Inherent Rights Workshops, Elders Voice Standing Group calendar meeting and Metro members meetings.

Insights: The Aboriginal community members are more aware that there will be Treaty negotiations later this year and they are beginning to talk about what they want to see in the Treaty.

Implementation: The Elders Voice Standing Group had the opportunity to have a say in the Declaration that went to the Treaty Authority for the Data base and they were very excited that the process is beginning.

Looking ahead: The next few months will be exciting as we get closer to the negotiations. The Future Assembly work has been amazing and I look forward to see how this will progress in the negotiations.  It will also be exciting for the Elders Voice Standing Group’s first meeting with all the Chamber in September.

Conclusion/ thanks: Drew and Anthony have continued their great work with the Elders who are a part of the Standing Group. They have put in an enormous amount of work to ensure the Elders are able to attend the meetings as well as having input into the Declaration that the FPAV have met the minimum standards to begin the Treaty negotiations with the State of Victoria.  The stage is now set for the negotiations and that is another step in the journey to a Statewide Treaty that will benefit the whole community and ensure we continue to have a say in programs and policies that affect us. Keep thinking about the 7 generations and how they will be able to access  generational wealth as a result of the Treaty negotiations we are having now. 

Meetings I have attended:

FPAV Council meetings

AIATSIS Conference

Elders Standing Group business meetings with FPAV Officers

Yurpa Committee Meetings

Treaty Committee Meetings

Metro members meetings,

Inherent Rights workshops

Chair Workstream 1: Future Assembly meetings

Workstream 1 pre brief

June Chamber meeting

Over the past months since the second iteration of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria was elected, as the Co-Chair of the Elders’ Voice, I have been heavily involved in the establishment of the Elders’ Voice Standing Group. Rodney Carter (the other Co-Chair of the Elders’ Voice) and myself have worked tirelessly with Drew Berick to establish a process for Elders to nominate to be on the Elders’ Voice. At the beginning of our roles as Co-Chairs Rodney and I held meetings in Mildura, Robinvale and Swan Hill with both Elders and Youth to discuss the Treaty process and how they can be involved.

At that time the Elders we spoke to were unsure about what Treaty would mean to them. A lot of them spoke about their grandchildren who are in out of home care and how this has impacted on the families. They also spoke about the need for non-Traditional Owners of Victoria who have resided in Victoria for many years to be involved in the Treaty process.

In February we received 58 nominations for the Elders’ Voice Standing Group from Elders around Victoria and we then went through a process to select 20 Elders, four from each region with male and female representation. That process is now completed and we are hoping to have an induction ceremony for the 20 successful candidates in April.

As well as attending meetings about the Elders’ Voice, I have attended the Chamber meetings, the Council, Yurpa, Treaty, Audit, Risk and Remuneration, Inclusivity and Representation, Statewide Gathering, Yoorrook Land Justice Inquiry Roundtable, and the AIATSIS Conference Organisation Committees. Besides these meetings, I also attended Workshops on Sovereignty and Wellbeing.

On the 26th January I was invited to speak at the Wangaratta Mourning Morning where I spoke about the reason for the mourning, the need to have allies for the Treaty process and I also highlighted the fact that there are recommendations from Yoorrook Truth and Justice Commission online that they can view.

From the engagement I have had with community members I can say that they are unsure of how Treaty will benefit them because this is the first Treaty that will be negotiated in Australia and they don’t know what to expect.

Despite this, they are very keen on the process and want to know more. The Elders we met with wanted to be involved in the process and are looking forward to having the Elders’ Voice Standing Group.

In the coming months, I want to ensure that community members gain a better understanding of the Treaty process and know what they want to see happen through it. I’m also keen to see how the Elders’ Voice Standing Group interacts with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria and how we can ensure that all the Elders who put their hand up are able to contribute to the process.

Overall, I have attended 66 meetings since this iteration of the Assembly began in July 2023. I anticipate that the next 12 months will be exciting and I am looking forward to progressing the Treaty Negotiations.