Building Partnerships and Agreements with Traditional Owner Corporations

A facilitated executive conversation for senior leaders and industry decision-makers in Gippsland

Purpose

Effective partnerships begin with understanding the history, diversity, authority and aspirations of Gippsland First
Peoples. This two-hour briefing builds on foundational cultural awareness and explores what self-determination means
for industry practice, from respectful engagement to negotiated agreements and shared economic opportunity.
Facilitated by Brian Stevens, the session uses local experience, practical scenarios and reflective questions rather than a
lecture format. It distinguishes Aboriginal community-controlled organisations (ACCOs), Traditional Owner Corporations,
Elders, families and wider Aboriginal communities without treating any group as interchangeable or uniform.

Core discussion themes

1 | Self-determination and the history of community control

How Victorian Aboriginal communities organised for rights and established community-controlled services; the continuing importance of community leadership, accountability, choice and control.

2 | Emergence of Traditional Owner Corporations

The growth of Traditional Owner recognition and corporate structures in the context of land justice, native title, cultural heritage and settlement processes; differences and connections between ACCOs and Traditional Owner Corporations.

3 | Diversity across Gippsland

Distinct Countries, communities and lived experiences; Traditional Owners and other Aboriginal residents; why no single organisation or individual can be assumed to speak for everyone or every issue.

4 | Kinship, Elders and cultural authority

Kinship and family relationships, the role of Elders, cultural protocols, governance and decision pathways; distinguishing cultural authority from statutory, board or executive authority and checking who is appropriate to engage for each matter.

5 | Economic prosperity and First Peoples enterprise

First Peoples aspirations for ownership, employment, procurement, enterprise, investment, land-based opportunities and intergenerational prosperity; avoiding transactional or tokenistic approaches.

6 | Agreements and enduring partnerships

Early engagement, appropriate consent and representation, timeframes, resourcing, benefit-sharing, commercial capability, transparency, dispute resolution and accountability; implications of Victoria’s Treaty era for organisational relationships.

Participant outcomes

Participants will be better equipped to explain self-determination; describe the distinct histories and roles of ACCOs and
Traditional Owner Corporations; recognise Gippsland’s diversity and the importance of kinship, Elders and cultural authority; identify appropriate engagement and decision-making pathways; consider First Peoples business and economic aspirations; and identify practical steps towards respectful, mutually beneficial agreements.

Move From Awareness to Understanding

Developing cultural awareness is an important first step.

Building respectful relationships requires ongoing learning, listening and action.

This workshop gives your team the knowledge and practical insights to begin that journey with greater understanding, confidence and respect.