Member for the North East region

Nicole Atkinson

Bangerang, Gunditjmara

My name is Nicole Atkinson, and I am a Member for the North East Region on the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. 

I am a Traditional Owner of North East Victoria, and I have strong ties to the South West of Victoria. I was born and raised in Shepparton, and have lived and worked within the North East Aboriginal Community my whole life.

I work locally in Aboriginal education, and I represent the Community on a number of boards and committees. I have a strong passion for Education and Social Justice. 

The first iteration of the First Peoples’ Assembly has laid a strong foundation for our Communities to negotiate Treaty.

Through Treaty the possibilities for our Community are endless, from self-determination over our affairs, to the long overdue recognition and reparations that we deserve after more than 200 years of colonisation. 

Our Community deserves a representative that knows them. As someone born and raised in the North East Aboriginal Community, I know both our struggles and our triumphs.

I will represent our Community on the First Peoples’ Assembly and advocate for a Treaty that empowers all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the North East.

Inaugural Speech of the Assembly's Second Term