Aboriginal Community Partnership Principles 2020-2022
Guiding our work with the First Nations community, these principles will drive us to ensure our work is led and informed by First Nations voices and perspectives. This includes embedding self-determination in our work, creating meaningful partnerships and consultation on issues that matter. It is an opportunity to strengthen our relationships of trust and transparency, provide culturally safe services, and raise the distinct voices of First Nations peoples.
Artwork: Last Connection by Alfred Carter (Gunaikurnai)
You can download a PDF version of this resource – see the link at the bottom of the page.
About these partnership principles
The principles are designed to guide how the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (the Commission) engages with First Nations communities and empowers First Nations voices in our work on First Nations rights issues.
These principles have been developed in response to feedback from First Nations community members and organisations and aim to embed leading practice into our functions and services. Establishing these principles was a key commitment of our Aboriginal Community Engagement Strategy 2020 – 22.
The Commission recognises and respects the unique position of First Nations peoples and the central importance of self-determination. As a non-Indigenous organisation working to advance First Nations rights, we understand that the way we work is critical to advancing the values we espouse.
What are the four principles?
Principle 1 - Self-determination
Principle 2 - Cultural rights
Principle 3 - Promoting First Nations voices and perspectives
Principle 4 - Accountability to the First Nations community and transparency
The Aboriginal Community Partnership Principles were developed a few years ago. The Commission has since updated our terminology to more respectful and inclusive language. This page reflects these updates, however, the document title and the resource itself does not. Please take this into consideration when reading and referencing.