9 SEPTEMBER 2025
As the leading provider of Aboriginal child and family services and the lead voice for Aboriginal children in Victoria, the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) sees today’s historical tabling of the Treaty Bill in parliament as a critical step towards achieving self-determination for Aboriginal communities in Victoria.
“For 47 years, VACCA has advocated for the rights of Aboriginal children and young people and for our right to self-determination. Today’s introduction of the Treaty Bill into the Legislative Assembly is an historical step towards ensuring self-determination for our people,” said VACCA CEO Muriel Bamblett.
“Under Treaty, we have the opportunity to secure decision-making powers and provide advice to government on policies that will directly affect our communities both now and across future generations,” said Mrs Bamblett.
“When it comes to equal access of our people to life outcomes and the services necessary to attaining those outcomes, it is the Aboriginal community service sector, with half a century of experience servicing our communities, who is best placed to make decisions and inform policies that impact the communities we serve,” Mrs Bamblett continued.
The proposed authority, Gellung Warl (Gunaikurnai language), will continue the truth telling work of the Yoorrook Justice Commission and introduce a new accountability mechanism to strengthen the work undertaken by the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria.
In the functions of Gellung Warl, we see Aboriginal language revitalised through mechanisms including Ngarrakeetoong Martongakeeyt (Keerray Woorroong language), which means Community Vision and Larbargirrar gnuurtak tulkuuk (Djab Wurrung language) which means Community answerability. The answerability to the Community is an essential ingredient to addressing the wrongs of colonisation and ensuring the enjoyment of human rights of Aboriginal people.
“We have said all along that Aboriginal people are best placed to make decisions for our own communities, and this has been echoed in parliament today,” said Mrs Bamblett. “VACCA looks forward to working in partnership with Gellung Warl to continue to advance Aboriginal rights in Victoria.”
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FOR RELEASE –
Beth Cesarin - Senior Manager, Communications and Public Affairs
PH: 0472 505 780 E: bethc@vacca.org
ABOUT VACCA - www.vacca.org
The Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) is Victoria’s Peak Voice for Aboriginal children. We are the leading provider of Aboriginal child and family services, and the largest provider of services for Aboriginal family violence and homelessness. We have been supporting children, young people, and families in the community for over 47 years as an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO).
Through our vision of self-determination – Live, Experience, and Be – we exist to support culturally strong, safe, and thriving Aboriginal communities. We deliver over 80 programs across Victoria including child and family services, family violence, support for stolen generations, child protection, cultural strengthening programs, mental health, financial services, justice and redress support, early years, and homelessness services.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we work. We pay our respects to their elders, past and present, and to their children and young people who are the future elders and caretakers of this great land.