Our updated Traditional Owner and Aboriginal Community Engagement Framework is a helpful guide for best-practice engagement with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Communities across Victoria.
The framework was developed to support DEECA staff to engage with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Communities, and is intended as a guide only.
- Our updated Traditional Owner and Aboriginal Community Engagement Framework (PDF, 8.4 MB)
- Our updated Traditional Owner and Aboriginal Community Engagement Framework (DOCX, 4.5 MB)
It features:
- an overview of DEECA’s obligations at a state, federal and international level
- an overview of current First Peoples self-determination policy context
- a 5-step pathway for engagement
- 10 best-practice principles
- a guide to developing an engagement plan.
Our engagement framework is underpinned by the department’s Pupangarli Marnmarnepu ‘Owning Our Future’ Aboriginal Self-Determination Reform Strategy 2020 - 2025.
A starting point
Engagement with every Traditional Owner group and Aboriginal Community should be tailored to their preferences and priorities individually.
It's important to understand that this framework is a starting point - it's a resource to help understand the policy context around engagement and self-determination, not a complete guide to engagement.
Every engagement will be different and should be approached on a case-by-case basis, but the same principles, steps and considerations should be consistently applied.
Principles of engagement
At DEECA, all staff and delivery partners must follow our 10 principles when engaging and partnering with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Communities.
Pathway to engagement
From prepare to evaluate, this 5-step process is an easy way to map out the pathway to engagement.
Contact
DEECA’s First Peoples Self-Determination Division
self.determination@deeca.vic.gov.au
Page last updated: 27/08/25