Equal Footing Funding overview

The Self-Determination Fund has been created to help Traditional Owners of Country enter Treaty negotiations with the Government on a more level playing field.

Further down the track, the Fund will empower our communities to build capacity, wealth and greater prosperity now and for future generations.

There will be five phases for funding available from the Fund for the Equal Footing funding priority area. From 15 December 2023, Traditional Owners can apply for the first two phases:

Phase 1 – Forming Treaty Aspirations. Groups can receive $100,000 in the first instance during this phase and potentially a further $100,000.

Phase 2 – Pre-Treaty Preparations. Further funding will be available to assist Groups to form a delegation and prepare to enter into the Treaty Negotiations database.

Phase 1 funding is to provide immediate support to a Traditional Owner Group to come together to explore and form their aspirations for Treaty.

What Traditional Owners want to do will vary and the funding is pretty flexible, because we know a ‘one size fits all’ approach isn’t going to work.

Some groups might look at using the funds to employ a Treaty Organiser to have the yarns with their Community so they can start developing a clearer idea of what collective priorities and needs a Treaty in the area should cover.

Examples of activities that can be funded to assist Traditional Owner groups form their Treaty Aspirations include:

• Full group and family / clan meetings

• Treaty engagement and education

• Developing cultural governance structures and decision-making processes

• Employment of a Treaty Officer / Manager or similar

• Support for preparation of Phase 2 funding application.

(Please note, this list is not prescriptive or exhaustive.)

Phase 2 funding is to help Traditional Owner Groups meet and demonstrate the minimum standards – as set by the Treaty Negotiation Framework – required to enter Treaty negotiations.

This might involve undertaking community and nation building activities, while continuing to determine Treaty aspirations and priorities.

Phase 2 funding is also fairly flexible and can support practical needs such as undertaking cultural mapping and heritage surveys and holding meetings and gatherings.

Examples of activities that can be funded to assist Traditional Owner prepare for Treaty negotiations are:

• Meetings and gatherings

• Cultural strengthening activities, including Cultural mapping and heritage surveys

• Governance training and workshops

• Establish Treaty leadership groups and develop priorities for Treaty.

• Engage experts and advisors (e.g. cultural, economic, legal).

(Please note, this list is not prescriptive or exhaustive)

Traditional Owner Groups in Victoria are eligible for funding.

During Phase 1, the Fund will take an inclusive and flexible approach to the definition of Traditional Owner Group. Phase 1 funding is a shared resource for all Traditional Owners who want to get serious about Treaty-making.

For Phase 2, only Traditional Owner Groups in Victoria as defined in Treaty Negotiation Framework, can apply for funding.

Applications for Phase 1 and Phase 2 funding can be made from 15 December 2023 until December 2025 or until funds are fully granted. Applications are accepted year-round. Our team works with you to finalise your submission, this generally takes around four weeks. The fully completed submission is then presented to the Board for approval.

The funds will be released once your group has been notified, they have satisfied the criteria for those funds.

If an application does not satisfy the criteria, the Fund will provide feedback and support to re-apply.

We recommend reading the Funding Guidelines along with the Guide to the Treaty Negotiation Framework and having a yarn with the Fund staff team who will be able to assist with the preparation of applications. Contact us here

As the Self-Determination Fund is established to actively support First Peoples’ self-determination, is it working to not replicate previous grant funding mechanisms. The Fund won’t be having funding rounds – instead both Phase 1 and Phase 2 will be open until December 2025 or until funds are fully granted.

Yes, there will be reporting that each group who receives funding will provide to the Fund. Support will be available to guide Traditional Owner groups through this reporting, with a culturally appropriate reporting mechanism.

Reporting will support the Fund to meet its obligations to the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria and, where appropriate, to share learnings of Treaty readiness activities.

All applications and enquiries will be treated respectfully and confidentially. Accessibility will be a priority of the Fund’s application process.

Funding won’t be given to activities that rely too heavily on expensive external consultants or third-party advisors, or other activities that are deemed a responsibility of the Government.

Each phase of funding is designed to help Traditional Owner Groups reach a particular milestone on the journey to Treaty.

Forming Treaty Aspirations: Outcome = Members of your Traditional Owner Group come together, start exploring Treaty aspirations and decide whether (or not) to prepare for Treaty negotiations

Pre-Treaty Preparations: Outcome = Traditional Owner Group entered into Negotiations Database

Entering Treaty negotiations: Outcome = Formed a delegation and State invited to begin Treaty Negotiations

Conducting Treaty negotiations: Outcome = Treaty terms agreed between delegation and State

Formalise Treaty = Outcome = Formalised agreement between State and Traditional Owner Group