How can negotiations start?

Get in touch with the Treaty Authority to have initial discussions about the process and your aspirations. The Members will make sure you understand the Treaty process, and meet in person and on Country where possible.

Once the first step is completed, your group must provide information on how the group meets Minimum Standards about your:

• Land and waters 
• Community 
• Leadership and decision-making and 
• Inclusive approach.

Groups with ‘Existing Status’ under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic), Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010 (Vic) or Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) will meet these standards automatically. 

Other groups need to satisfy themselves that they meet the Minimum Standards.

Once you’ve notified the Treaty Authority that you meet the Minimum Standards, the Treaty Authority will enter your Group on the Negotiations Database (there can be more than one Group put on the database that wants to negotiate a Treaty over the same Country).

Now it is time to form a Treaty Delegation to negotiate your Treaty.

There can only be one Traditional Owner Treaty for the same Country, which is negotiated by a single Treaty Delegation. The Delegation can be made up of one Group or multiple Groups that want to negotiate a Treaty in the same area.

The Treaty Authority will support Traditional Owner Groups to form a Delegation including by providing information and guidance to Traditional Owners. 

Once you have formed your Delegation, let the Treaty Authority know and we will begin the process to enter your Delegation on the Negotiations Database.

Once your Treaty Delegation notifies the Treaty Authority it is ready to begin Treaty negotiations, the Treaty Authority will invite the State of Victoria. To begin negotiations, the State of Victoria must: 

• Accept the invitation 
• Meet its own Minimum Standards and take additional steps to get ready  
• Be assessed by the Treaty Authority for compliance and
• Get entered on the Negotiations Database.