As Victoria prepares to make history, IWDA is proud to walk alongside First Peoples in support of Treaty.

Treaty is about unity and building a better future together – one in which First Nations people are finally in the driver’s seat when it comes to decisions that affect their communities, culture and Country. With this country’s first ever State-wide Treaty Bill introduced to the Victorian Parliament in September, this future is now within our reach.

As a feminist organisation committed to decolonial practice, we know that community-led solutions always lead to better outcomes and that people do best when they can set their own course in life. Building on generations of leadership and sustained activism by Elders – and six years of consultations and negotiations led by the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria – this country-first Treaty is an opportunity to do just that. By recognising First Peoples as the experts when it comes to their communities, cultures and lands, Treaty can make sure Aboriginal communities have the freedom and power to set their own course and draw on local knowledge to design solutions that truly work for them.

By acknowledging the past and offering real, practical change for the future, Treaty is an invitation to reset the relationship between First Peoples and the State. The recent Productivity Commission’s Closing the Gap Review has clearly shown us that we cannot keep doing the same thing and expect different results. Treaty offers us a new, proven way forward.

Decades of persistent advocacy, staunch resistance and unwavering sovereignty by First Nations leaders and communities have brought us to this historic moment. We are honoured to stand alongside them as part of an unstoppable movement for truth, Treaty and justice – because our vision of gender equality for all will only be possible when Aboriginal women, girls and gender-diverse people are free to shape their own futures.

Join us in making our support for Treaty heard:

Sign the Pledge: add your name to the Together for Treaty pledge to show your support for truth-telling and Treaty across the country.

Attend a Local Event: join a conversation workshop or community gathering in your area.

Spark a Conversation: invite friends and family to learn about Treaty using these easy-to-follow resources.

Share the Message: spread the word through your networks, put up a poster in your school or office and share your support on social media!

What Treaty means to our staff

“I am so excited that Victoria is leading the way nationally in establishing Australia’s first Treaty with its First Nations people. It is a significant step and as an immigrant to Victoria over 25 years ago from New Zealand where a longstanding treaty has been in place I am so pleased that Australia is finally making amends for historical wrongs in this way with a lens to a brighter future for all Victorians. I look forward to living in a state where my young children learn and grow having a Treaty that reflects value of respect and care for each other, the land, waterways and sky.”

“Treaty is a chance for people from different walks of life to come together. Acknowledging our painful history gives us a much better chance to build a shared future.”

“Treaty to me means a gift of over 65,000 years of wisdom and knowledge to better inform holistic decision-making and engagement. By resetting our relationship with our First Peoples, we unlock the knowledge to create meaningful and sustainable change in our relationships with both people and the environment. By improving the lives of First Peoples through Treaty, we improve the lives of all of those in our communities and set an example and a standard across Australia and the world for meaningful equity.”