Equal Footing Funding
Equal Footing funding has five phases. Currently, Phases 1, 2, and 3 are open to Traditional Owner Groups in Victoria.
Equal footing with the state in Traditional Owner treaty negotiations
The Self-Determination Fund’s Equal Footing funding is available to Traditional Owner Groups in Victoria to support participation throughout the entire Traditional Owner Treaty process. Equal Footing funding will be available in five phases that align with the requirements of the Treaty Negotiation Framework (the ground rules for how the process will operate).
Currently, Phases 1, 2, and 3 are open for applications by Traditional Owner Groups.
See the Funding Guidelines for further guidance on the Equal Footing funding available through Phases 1, 2, and 3.
Five Equal Footing funding phases
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Phase 1<br/><br/>Forming Traditional Owner Treaty Aspirations
Outcome:
A Traditional Owner Group has decided whether (or not) to proceed with the Traditional Owner Treaty process and take the first formal step under the Treaty Negotiation Framework.Funding phase open
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Phase 2<br/><br/>Getting Onto the Negotiations Register<br/><br/>
Outcome:
A Traditional Owner Group has decided whether (or not) to proceed with the Traditional Owner Treaty process and take the first formal step under the Treaty Negotiation Framework.Funding phase open
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Phase 3<br/><br/>Entering Traditional Owner Treaty NEgotiations
Outcome:
A First Peoples’ Treaty Delegation has been formed and entered onto the Negotiations Register, and the State has been invited to begin Traditional Owner Treaty negotiations.Funding phase open
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Phase 4<br/><br/>Conducting Traditional Owner Treaty Negotiations
Outcome:
A First Peoples’ Treaty Delegation has been formed and entered onto the Negotiations Register, and the State has been invited to begin Traditional Owner Treaty negotiations. -
Phase 5<br/><br/>Formalising Traditional Owner Treaty
Outcome:
Agreement between the parties has been formalised.
How to apply for funding
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Contact us<br/><br/>
The first step is to contact us via email.
We will then set up a meeting with you to discuss the funding phase your Traditional Owner Group is exploring and provide you with important information about the funding purposes and criteria.
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Complete and submit application form
All applicants must submit a signed and completed application form (with supporting documents). We can guide and assist you in completing the application form process.
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Internal assessment of application
Once we have received your signed and completed application form, we will contact you to discuss the details of your application to begin the assessment process.
In these conversations, where necessary, we will ask you to clarify, update, refine, or provide missing details.
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Board decision on application
The Trustee Board will consider and make a decision on your application at a scheduled Board meeting.
As soon as practicable after a Board meeting, we will contact you to advise you of the Board’s decision and let you know what the next steps are.
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Timeframe for decision on application
The timeframe for a decision on your application will be four weeks from the application submission deadline for the next scheduled Board meeting.
This is based on a duly completed application (and any supporting documents) being provided by the application submission deadline.
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For further information
Please see our Equal Footing Funding Guidelines for full details of the application and assessment process.
Contact us
If your Traditional Owner Group would like to explore Equal Footing funding to assist in the Traditional Owner Treaty process, please click the button to get in touch with us.