First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria facts for kids

The First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria is a special group in Victoria, Australia. It is made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are chosen by their communities. This Assembly helps Traditional Owners and the Victorian Government talk to each other. Their main goal is to create agreements, called treaties, between the government and the First Peoples of Victoria.

In September 2025, the Victorian Government introduced new laws. These laws, called the Statewide Treaty Bill 2025, made the First Peoples' Assembly a permanent group. It now works under a larger body known as Gellung Warl. These new laws also created two other groups. One of these groups continues the important work of truth-telling. This means sharing stories about what happened in the past to make things better for the future. This truth-telling work was started by the Yoorrook Justice Commission. Victoria was the first state in Australia to formally introduce laws for Indigenous treaties in its parliament.

How the Assembly Started

The First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria began as an idea in 2016. It was first called the Aboriginal Representative Body (ARB). In 2018, the Victorian Government passed laws to create an independent group. This group would be elected by First Nations people. Its job was to help negotiate treaties with the government.

The Assembly officially started after its first elections in October 2019. More elections were held over three weeks in 2023. Many people voted, choosing 22 new representatives. In October 2025, new laws were passed. These laws officially made the Assembly a permanent and important group.

Who Makes Up the Assembly?

The Assembly is an independent group with 33 members. These members are chosen by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Victoria. Elections happen every four years. Some members are elected by communities in different regions. Other members represent specific Traditional Owner groups.

Any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person can join the Assembly. They need to have lived in Victoria for at least three of the last five years.

As of September 2025^[update], Ngarra Murray and Rueben Berg are the co-chairs. They lead the Assembly together.

What the Assembly Does

The Assembly's main job is to speak for Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. They talk with the Victorian Government about treaties. The Assembly also helped create the Yoorrook Justice Commission. This Commission is an independent group that focuses on truth-telling. It helps everyone learn about past and ongoing unfairness experienced by First Peoples in Victoria.

In July 2025, the Victorian Government announced new laws. These laws made the Assembly a permanent group. It now gives advice to the government. The Assembly can also make decisions and rules about things that directly affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria.

Gellung Warl: A New Chapter

On 9 September 2025, Premier Jacinta Allan introduced a new law. This law, the Statewide Treaty Bill 2025, was presented in the Legislative Assembly. It created a treaty between the government and First Nations people in Victoria. It also made the First Peoples' Assembly a permanent part of a larger group called Gellung Warl.

Gellung Warl means "tip of the spear" or "pointed spear" in the Gunaikurnai language. This new law gives the Assembly power to make decisions about specific matters for First Nations people. It also includes a way to make sure the government is held accountable. This is part of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, which aims for fairness for all Australians. The law also created two more groups. These groups help keep the government accountable and continue the truth-telling work of the Yoorrook Justice Commission.

Victoria became the first state in Australia to formally introduce laws for Indigenous treaties in its parliament.

Past Elections

• 2019 Victorian First Peoples' Assembly election
• 2023 Victorian First Peoples' Assembly election