Self-determination is key to improving outcomes for First Peoples. It is a human right enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and is a guiding principle under the Advancing the Treaty Process with Aboriginal Victorians Act 2018 (Vic). The SDRF was developed in 2019 to embed the Victorian Government’s commitment to self-determination across all areas of government, and to help fulfil the ambitious and forward-looking agenda of the VAAF.
All government departments and agencies are required to report annually on what they are doing to action the VAAF’s four self-determination enablers (Figure 1).
Annual reporting aims to measure where on the VAAF self-determination continuum (Figure 2) our actions are landing and invoke reflection on how to move further along that spectrum.
Self-determination enablers
VAAF Self-determination continuum
Some examples of government actions to enable self-determination reform can be found in this chapter and under the relevant VAAF domain in this Report.
Advancing self-determination through the Budget
Self-determination Enabler 4. Transfer power and resources to communities
The Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF) has continued to refine the business case template through the budget process to encourage further collaboration between departments and First Peoples in Victoria when developing business cases on initiatives that directly affect or involve First Peoples. The templates developed by DTF sought the following information from departments:
- Greater specificity on the First Peoples’ involvement and engagement in developing proposals
- Accompanying reports, advice and/or letters of endorsement from First Peoples in Victoria.
DTF provided budget process advice to departments to encourage increased community engagement and influence on policy development and service designs that directly affect First Peoples in Victoria.
DTF collected data regarding what level of engagement departments undertook with First Peoples when developing proposals. Through collection of this data, DTF informed decision-makers of the extent to which First Peoples’ views had been taken into consideration while developing proposals. These changes provided a foundation to facilitate First Peoples engagement and enhance the level of self-determination in budget processes.
Embedding a greater degree of flexibility in funding agreements
Self-determination Enabler 4. Transfer power and resources to communities
DPC has worked to draft funding agreements (agreements) that embed a greater degree of flexibility for ACCOs.
An example of this approach is the funding agreements developed for the Closing the Gap Partnership Forum Sector Representatives, developed in partnership with Ngaweeyan Maar-oo. Recognising that standard government funding approaches often do not support First Peoples-led decision-making, these agreements have been deliberately designed to be more flexible, less prescriptive, and to provide greater financial autonomy to First Peoples’ organisations.
Similarly, the approved approach for the seven sector strengthening projects reflects a self-determined model for strengthening the ACCO sector. By front-loading payments, these agreements enable ACCOs to begin key activities such as staff recruitment and project planning without having to cover costs upfront.
These approaches respond to evidence presented to the Yoorrook Justice Commission highlighting the systemic barriers within government funding processes, such as high compliance requirements that divert resources away from direct community work.
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