First Peoples have self-determination and equal outcomes to other Victorians
First Peoples have the power and resources to make decisions about their services, infrastructure, communities and future. Victoria has closed the gap in outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Victorians. Victorian infrastructure reflects respectful engagement with First Peoples’ communities, draws on their knowledge, and celebrates their history, culture and values.
First Peoples were Victoria’s first infrastructure builders
First Peoples have practised their law, lore, customs and languages for tens of thousands of years. They have nurtured Country through their spiritual, cultural, material and economic connections to the land, water and resources.In all regions of Victoria, First Peoples express a strong connection to Country and emphasise its importance to wellbeing and cultural identity.
First Peoples were our first infrastructure builders. For example, the Gunditjmara people built houses and villages along the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape. They farmed kooyang (short-finned eels) and other fish by cultivating ancient lava flow channels. This infrastructure is one of the world’s oldest freshwater aquaculture systems.
European settlement brought about devastating changes for First Peoples. The colonial system excluded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from the places they traditionally occupied and disrupted their culture and kinship systems. The construction of roads, railways, ports and telegraph lines enabled settlers to expand further into Victoria, without the agreement of First Peoples. Dispossession resulted in social exclusion, institutionalisation and disadvantage for First Peoples.
The consequences continue to play out in the lives of First Peoples today. They have lasting effects on health, housing, employment and education outcomes, and in their interactions with the criminal justice system.First Peoples still experience more disadvantage than non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on most indicators.
All the objectives of this strategy are relevant to Victorian First Peoples’ communities. But the unique cultures and histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples call for a specific objective. Infrastructure planning, design, delivery, operation and maintenance offer opportunities for Aboriginal self-determination, to improve outcomes for First Peoples and to protect and heal Country.
Self-determination requires a different approach to infrastructure planning and delivery
Victorian First Peoples are diverse and have different hopes and goals. But all want to practice culture through relationships to Country.This can be caring for waterways, managing living cultural heritage, traditional burning or accessing culturally significant places. People making decisions about land, water and infrastructure must understand and respect Traditional Owner aspirations and goals. Their culture and Country need to be preserved for future generations.
Self-determination describes First Peoples’ right to have control and authority over their own lives.It can mean different things to different communities in different contexts. When applied to infrastructure, it empowers First Peoples’ communities to own, design and control infrastructure for their social, economic and cultural needs. We held discussions with First Peoples’ representatives including Registered Aboriginal Parties and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to hear their perspectives and understand the goals important to them. We developed recommendation 23: Invest in secure homes for First Peoples to support the self-determined Aboriginal housing strategy Mana-na-worn-tyeen maar-takoort: every Aboriginal person has a home. We also worked with the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation to develop recommendation 24: Fund better health and wellbeing infrastructure for First Peoples.
The Victorian Government is committed to closing the gap in life outcomes between Victorian First Peoples and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Victorians.Victoria’s Statewide Treaty Agreement provides a path for First Peoples in Victoria to have self-determination over decisions which affect their lives, culture and Country.Treaties can deliver meaningful reform by increasing Traditional Owners’ autonomy and involvement in infrastructure projects undertaken on Country.
The Yoorrook Justice Commission was Victoria’s first formal inquiry into the extent and impact of historical and ongoing systemic injustice against First Peoples in Victoria. It found self-determination is critical to ending systemic injustice, but more needs to be done.To enable self-determination, the Victorian Government must share decision-making powers with First Peoples. This means empowering First Peoples’ organisations and representative bodies to design and deliver policies, services and infrastructure. It will require governments to work with these organisations to build capacity over time.
Poorly planned infrastructure can harm and destroy Aboriginal cultural heritage
Infrastructure continues to be built on and use materials derived from the traditional lands of First Peoples in Victoria, but decisions are still made without their involvement. This can lead to infrastructure that damages Country and does not deliver prosperity or meet the cultural needs of First Peoples.It can also worsen existing injustice and inequality.
Each infrastructure policy and project that affects culture and Country needs the early, direct and ongoing involvement of First Peoples.But infrastructure developers often have a limited understanding of First Peoples’ commitments to Country and community.Cultural Heritage Management Plans are required for some large development projects but these plans are often done late in the project development phase.Registered Aboriginal Parties can only advise on these plans and have reported having limited power to refuse a plan.
The Yoorrook Justice Commission and the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council have found that protections for First Peoples’ cultural heritage are inadequate.There is a lack of accountability or penalties when cultural heritage is destroyed, causing significant emotional and cultural loss for Traditional Owners.The government is undertaking a review of cultural heritage management.
Infrastructure can help close the gap for First Peoples
Infrastructure can connect First Peoples to family and community and support connections to Country. It can reflect Aboriginal culture in its planning and design.It can also help improve economic, health and wellbeing outcomes for First Peoples by improving access to jobs and services.
First Peoples have significantly less access to affordable, secure and quality housing, but a safe and secure home is essential for good health and wellbeing.It also supports access to employment, education and training.
The Aboriginal population in Victoria is growing at an average annual rate of 3.8%, more than double the 1.6% growth rate of the broader population. Victorian First Peoples already need many extra homes just to meet existing demand. They will need more healthcare, mental health and other services, along with infrastructure that can support service delivery in a culturally safe way.This means facilities where First Peoples can feel safe, and free from challenge or denial of their identity and experience.It includes creating spaces that celebrate First Peoples’ cultures and acknowledge the Country on which they are located.
Our recommendations support self-determination and better outcomes for First Peoples in the housing, health and wellbeing sectors. Elsewhere in this strategy we consider responses to improve access to culturally safe and appropriate facilities (see recommendations 2, 19 and 22) and to return more water to Traditional Owners (see future option – Plan for and invest in manufactured water).
