- Date:
- 19 Aug 2021
Acknowledgement of Country
BRV proudly acknowledges the First Peoples of Victoria and their ongoing strength in practising the world’s oldest living culture. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands and waters on which we live and work and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
Introduction by Carmel Flynn
Stories of Bushfire Recovery - Aboriginal Culture and Healing focuses on Aboriginal peoples’ recovery following the 2019-20 Eastern Victorian bushfires. Events like bushfires have a significant impact on Aboriginal Victorians. Pre-existing inequality and historical intergenerational trauma are further complicated by the impact that bushfires can have on Country and cultural heritage.
Relationships with the land remain fundamental to the identity and way of life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Exercising self-determination is crucial for Aboriginal people, families, communities, businesses, and Traditional Owner groups throughout their recovery journey. Our role is to support Aboriginal communities in recovery and to guide Bushfire Recovery Victoria (BRV) to embed Aboriginal self-determination in its process and outcomes.
Aboriginal Culture and Healing is one of our five pillars of recovery. BRV’s introduction of this recovery pillar is the first time in Australia that a dedicated line of recovery-focused on Aboriginal community affected by a major disaster has been established.
It stands alongside traditional recovery pillars of health, economy, natural environment, and infrastructure, and supports projects led by Aboriginal community organisations and Traditional Owner groups.
This pillar structure has helped assist Aboriginal community participation in recovery planning, design, delivery, and evaluation; and establishing a stronger Aboriginal voice in government decision making. One of the ways that this has been achieved is through Traditional Owner-led projects that support the recovery of cultural heritage.
Each of the projects profiled in this booklet received funding under the Bushfire Recovery Grants for Aboriginal Communities. These projects highlight the importance to acknowledge, respect and promote Traditional Owners and Aboriginal communities’ collective knowledge, and their connection to their Country.
Carmel Flynn
Acting Chief Executive Officer
Bushfire Recovery Victoria
Empowering the next generation to better manage Country
Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC)’s project centres around healing country work and cultural heritage survey works.
Gundigan creates a new way of working together
Moogji Aboriginal Council’s project, Gundigan, will get their Traditional Owner groups involved in land management.
LEAHA demonstrate Aboriginal self-determination
Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association (LEAHA) are building a strong and healthy future for their community.
Healing needs to happen on Country
Nindi Ngujarn Ngarigo Monero Aboriginal Corporation have begun work to help Ngarigo Monero people heal by getting back on Country
Journey to Autonomy
Learn about Lake Tyers Health and Children’s Services (LTHCS) and the work they are doing to upskill their staff.
Strong Alone, Stronger Together
Learn about the Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Cooperative (GEGAC)’s project Strong Alone, Stronger Together project.
Healing through connections and caring for culture
Learn about the Taungurung Land and Water Council (TLaWC)’s project Taungurung Fire Story.
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