About
About our organisation
Who we are
The Self-Determination Fund was created by agreement between the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria and the Victorian Government as part of the journey to Treaty in Victoria.
It will help ensure Traditional Owners can enter Treaty negotiations on a more level playing field and in the longer term, it will help create prosperity for First Peoples in Victoria.
The Fund is overseen by and reports to the democratically-elected Members of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, but is managed by an independent group of experts - all First Peoples with a range of experiences in financial and governance matters.
More information about the shared journey to Treaty, can be found on the First Peoples' Assembly Victoria's website.
Purpose and vision
The Self-Determination Fund is about creating a resource to support First Peoples’ aspirations in determining their own future.
To achieve this the Self-Determination Fund will support Victorian First Peoples’ to have equal footing in the treaty negotiation process and build wealth and prosperity, now and into the future, as determined by the aspirations of individuals, families and communities.
Our structure
Self-Determination Fund Limited is the Trustee for the Self-Determination Fund (the Trustee) and is oversighted by a Board of First Peoples directors. The Trustee is registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profit Commission (ACNC) and with the Australian Taxation Office. The Trustee decides how the Self‑Determination Fund is distributed.
Distributions will only be made in accordance with our charitable purposes, our Trust Deed, Directions to the Trustee issued by the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria and our Funding Guidelines. The Trustee’s Strategic Plan sets out our strategic direction for our charitable purposes and priority spending areas.
Throughout this website Self-Determination Fund, shorted to SDF or Fund is used interchangeably to refer to the Fund itself and the Trustee for simplicity, acknowledging and not intending to affect the role of the Trustee and its obligations.
Guiding principles
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Self-determination and empowerment
The Fund will give effect to self-determination and empowerment and support First Peoples to make decisions about First Peoples financial resources.
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Fairness and equity
The Fund will be administered in a way that fairly and equitably benefits First Peoples.
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Responsiveness
The Fund will be a flexible and adaptive financial resource that First Peoples can access in line with our needs and priorities.
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Innovation
The Fund will support innovative processes and programs and improve on existing approaches to resourcing First Peoples.
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Respect
The Fund will reflect First Peoples’ values and ways of doing business as well as respect and support First Peoples’ governance structures.
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Safety
The Fund will be administered with care, diligence, and prudence.
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Transparency & accountability
The Fund will be administered with transparency and be accountable to First Peoples.
Apply for funding today
Traditional Owner groups can register their interest quickly and easily. Simply click the link below and fill out the form. We'll then be in touch to have a yarn about your Treaty journey.