Region: South East
Reserved Seat: No

Over the past few months, I have focused on engaging our community in the Treaty process to make sure their voices are at the forefront of our negotiations.

From June to August 2024, I contributed to the design and delivery of regional engagement forums in Bairnsdale, Morwell, and Warragul. These forums were essential in providing opportunities for community members to share their thoughts on the Treaty and actively participate in the process. Additionally, I attended numerous Treaty and Yurpa committee meetings, and continue to provide input into the various work streams such as Economic Prosperity, Strengthening Culture, Community, and Families. I’ve attended Self Determination Fund (SDF) committee meetings to ensure businesses is conducted in accordance with relevant legislation and is compliant with the agreed assurances as set out within the agreement including other Assembly business-related activities.

The feedback from forums and engagements highlights a growing enthusiasm and a desire for more direct involvement in shaping the Treaty/Treaties. Conversations with community members have been notably more robust and engaged, indicating that our communication strategies are starting to resonate with members. Many have voiced the importance of ensuring that the impact of colonisation is addressed to allow deep healing to take hold and economic and cultural considerations (ways of knowing, being and doing) are deeply embedded in Treaty negotiations. Over the past months there have been requests for information about the role of Elders and diversity of their voices/lived experiences be deeply embed when framing negotiations. Moreover, a level of interest with regard to the role and function of the Elders Voice is gaining momentum and reinforces the impact of our strategic messaging. These are positive signs and will be an area that SE members will monitor and work with Elders to ensure their participation at future forums be supported.

Our engagement activities have also involved working closely with the SE engagement team to plan and execute initiatives that bring the community together to discuss Treaty. The engagement team does amazing work and continues to play an important role by building bridges that encourage community members to engage and contribute their insights through expert panels and other community activities.

From these engagements, a key insight is the increasing robustness of conversations on Treaty matters, indicating that our communication strategies and efforts to increase community visibility are having a positive impact. The community’s eagerness to contribute shows a growing confidence in the process, but we need to keep building on this momentum and maintain a balanced approach to how we coordinate the delivery of and gather information.

During this period Alice Pepper and I engaged with key leaders within ACCOs and community members from central to far East Gippsland to encourage them to consider putting forward EOI’s for the expert panels.

The many insights gained over this reporting period has reinforced the need to maintain open, transparent communication channels with the community and continue providing platforms for their voices to be heard. Moving forward, these learnings will inform our approach to future engagements, ensuring that the community’s feedback directly influences the Treaty negotiation framework.

Looking ahead, my priority is to build on these insights by continuing to strengthen our engagement efforts and facilitate more in-depth discussions, one-on-one or small focused conversations and be guided by where and how community wishes to be engaged and continually empower their voice in the Treaty process.

I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has participated and shared their thoughts, stories and aspirations during this period. Your insights and information provided are invaluable, and I am committed to ensuring they guide our path forward.

Over the past few months, there has been a significant increase in community interest regarding the Treaty process in Southeast Victoria (Gippsland). This period has seen heightened engagement from both the Aboriginal and wider communities, with many seeking to understand their roles and how the wider community can support our aspirations for Treaty/Treaties.

This report provides a summary of interactions, meetings, and presentations conducted by me along with other SE members of First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria (FPAV) to foster awareness and involvement in the Treaty process.

Summary of Key Engagements and Meetings

1. FPAV Planning Meetings:

• Yupra: Participation in discussions focused on treaty planning and community engagement strategies.
• Treaty Committee: Active involvement in meetings to advance the Treaty process.
• Self Determination Fund Sub-committee: Engagement in planning the effective use of the Self Determination Fund.
• Southeast Region Planning Meetings: Input into the design/content and structure of community forums scheduled for June.

2. Presentations and Community Outreach:

• One Gippsland Presentation: Addressed a group comprising CEOs of local governments from Baw Baw to East Gippsland along with Troy McDonald, highlighting the importance and progress of the Treaty process.
• Bairnsdale Regional Hospital: Presented alongside the Community Engagement Team, emphasising the role of healthcare institutions in supporting the Treaty.
• Native Title Full Group Members Meeting (Orbost): Provided updates and insights on the Treaty process, Self Determination Fund, Treaty Authority in partnership with Peter Hood and Troy McDonald. The event was well attended (approx. 80 – 100 people) and attendees were active and keen to understand the FPAV journey
• Ramahuyck Aboriginal Cooperative – attended a local community meeting with (Alice Pepper, Troy McDonald and Peter Hood) and provided a high-level overview of the Treaty process and responded to questions from members and as a result, follow up meetings will transpire.
• Mullum Mullum Aboriginal Men’s Gathering in Flinders – supported Indi Clarke and James Thompson
• GLaWAC opening of new office complex in Morwell – there was about 200 plus people including youth and young people attend the open/family day. The SE members took the opportunity to engage and pass out information to interested members of the community.

3. Significant Events and Gatherings:

• Yoorrook Justice Commission: Attended with other FPAV members, where Co-Chairs presented on Land Injustice Hearing
• Statewide Treaty Gathering (Geelong): Participated in a major event to discuss statewide Treaty initiatives.
• The Long Walk: Engaged with community members and leaders, where applicable, promoting awareness of the Treaty process.
• Sorry Day Reconciliation week events and activities

4. Other Roles and Committees:

• Utilsed my position on various boards and committees to disseminate information about Treaty, clarify community aspirations, and encourage broader support and conversation.

Increased Community Interest

During this reporting period, there has been a noticeable increase in community interest, including the wider community who are eager to become allies in the Treaty process. This has been evident through:

• Increased attendance at presentations and forums and one-on-one conversation
• More inquiries from community members and organisations about how they can support and engage with the Treaty process.
• Enhanced collaboration between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities in understanding and advancing the Treaty goals.

Focus on Treaty Authority and Self Determination Fund

A significant portion of the discussions and engagements has been cantered around:

• Treaty Authority: Explaining its role in facilitating the Treaty process and ensuring fairness and transparency.
• Self Determination Fund: Highlighting its importance in supporting TOs via the equal footing process and ensuring sustainable self-determination
• ACCOs/ACCCHOs and how they and their members are being considered/included within the process and opportunity to put forward their aspirations etc

Conclusion

The engagement efforts over this period have successfully increased awareness and interest in the Treaty process across Southeast Victoria including the Bass Coast region. There is a growing appetite for information, with many in the wider community starting to show a willingness to step forward and seek clarity about their contributions/support. Continued efforts in community outreach, presentations, and participation in relevant meetings will further strengthen this momentum, paving the way for a successful and inclusive Treaty process.

My name is Brian Stevens, a Gunai man who is your elected representative for the Southeast Region of Victoria. I am committed to fostering understanding and engagement in the Treaty process as well as advocating for change and the embedding of self-determination principles within various mainstream organisations that I work with across the region.

Over the past months, my focus has been on the following:

1. Attending and contributing to discussions at First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria meetings,
2. Raising awareness of the Treaty process and the role of the FPAV
3. Educating community on the establishment and functions of the Self-Determination Fund including the Treaty Authority and Yoorrook.

Insights:

From my engagement activities, there is a hunger for knowledge and a genuine desire to actively participate in the Treaty process. The community has shared valuable insights, and a valuable one being the need to ensure that we listen to community and keep information simple and straightforward and not to overwhelm the mob.

Key takeaways:

1. There is a need for a concentrated and strategic effort to uplift the community’s knowledge and understanding to ensure community members can effectively participate in the Treaty negotiations.
2. Must use the language of the people
3. Delivering information must consider the location and to be culturally safe to ensure mob can have their say
4. Must listen and not be talked at – allowing time for members to digest information
5. Members have expressed concern that the South East region doesn’t get the same attention as Metro and some other regional areas

Implementation:

These insights will inform ongoing work to continually uplift community knowledge and understanding. As the rep for SE Region, I will continue to engage with community members through targeted education and awareness raising initiatives that are currently in development via the Community Engagement Team.

I will continue to work with the other South East representatives to showcase a collective and collaborative process to community engagement to demonstrate that the FPAV is about inclusivity, acknowledging the diversity and strength of the First Peoples across the South East region of Victoria.

Looking ahead:

A strong focus for future activities will be to engage with the ACCOs across the South East, community leaders and Elders and other interested community groups. The strategy will also target families, small focus groups and if applicable, online sessions for community to ask questions and gain more detailed information particularly for those who may not be able to attend during work hours.

Closing Comments:

In conclusion, I want to express my sincere appreciation to members of our community for their enthusiastic engagement and education to this significant journey. Together, we are establishing the groundwork for a future founded on inclusion, respect, self-determination, and collective prosperity. I eagerly anticipate our ongoing collaboration as we work together to build a legacy that future generations will proudly inherit.