Resource / Treaty legislation in Victoria
Women’s Health Goulburn North East (WHGNE) joins our fellow Victorians in celebrating the introduction to Parliament of the Statewide Treaty Bill 2025, the first of its kind to be legislated in Australia.
We congratulate both the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria and Premier Jacinta Allan on this historic milestone, which will establish Gellung Warl, a democratically elected body to represent Aboriginal communities in the Victorian State Parliament.
We firmly support Treaty as a pathway to strengthening unity, embracing diversity and acknowledging our shared history by walking together.
As an organisation that strives towards equity for all Victorians, we recognise that Treaty, as the culmination of decades of Aboriginal-led advocacy, will increase self-determination and foster structural change. We acknowledge with humility, that Aboriginal people are experts in their own experiences, and in their communities, culture and Country.
As a health promotion organisation with a focus on addressing the social determinants of health, we perceive the profound benefits of Treaty to empower Aboriginal communities across Victoria to lead decision-making that directly improves health and wellbeing outcomes, incorporating community knowledge across areas like housing, health and education.
And as an organisation that deeply values lived experience and democratic participation, we celebrate the collaborative, transparent and inclusive approach that has characterised the Treaty process, and the agency that it will facilitate for individuals and communities.
Finally, we commit to practicing deep listening as we navigate our own reconciliation journey. WHGNE firmly believes that we are stronger together and that Treaty will benefit all Victorians to build a just and equitable future.