About
About our organisation
Who we are and our purposes
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 Traditional Owner Treaty in Victoria.
The Fund was established for the purposes of the relief of poverty, distress or disadvantage of First Peoples by:
supporting First Peoples to have equal standing with the State in Traditional Owner Treaty negotiations; and
providing a financial resource independent from the State, that empowers First Peoples to build capacity, wealth and prosperity,
with such support and empowerment including, without limitation, the provision of services, information and advice.
More information about the shared journey to Traditional Owner Treaty can be found on the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria's website.
Our 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
Established through a groundbreaking agreement between the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria and the State of Victoria, the Self-Determination Fund operates independently from government and is administered by the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, meaning First Peoples are making decisions about First Peoples’ financial resources.
Appointed by the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, Self-Determination Fund Limited is the Trustee for the Self-Determination Fund (the Trustee) and is overseen 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 First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria is the sole member of the Trustee company, which is a public company limited by guarantee (rather than a proprietary company with shareholders).
The Trustee is guided by a set of directions formed by the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria and formally reports on the activities, distribution, financials and investments on a quarterly basis.
An Advisory and Investment Committee, as distinct from a board committee, provides guidance and advice to the Trustee Board and is currently comprised of two Elders with leadership experience and two investment professionals. Observing the Directions to the Trustee provided by the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, the Trustee decides how it operates and how the funds from the Self- Determination Fund are distributed.
The Trustee and its Board, the Trustee’s Advisory and Investment Committee, and all people associated with the Trustee, are guided by Aboriginal lore and law, cultural authority and Aboriginal cultural values and practices.
Throughout this website Self-Determination Fund, shortened 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.
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 below to get in touch with us.