Australia's first people, Aboriginal people have lived here for over 50,000 years.
Uncle Robert Lowe Senior, a Victorian Senior of the Year Award recipient in 2018.
Acknowledgement of Aboriginal peoples in Victoria
The Victorian Government proudly acknowledges Victoria’s Aboriginal communities and their rich culture and pays respect to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal peoples as Australia’s first peoples and as the Traditional Owners and custodians of the land and water on which we live, work and play. We recognise and value the ongoing contribution of Aboriginal people and communities to Victorian life and how this enriches our society more broadly. We embrace self-determination and reconciliation, working towards equality of outcomes and ensuring an equitable voice.
Victorian Aboriginal communities and peoples are culturally diverse, with rich and varied heritages and histories both pre- and post-invasion. The impacts of colonisation – while having devastating effects on traditional life – have not diminished Aboriginal peoples’ connection to Country, culture or community. Aboriginal nations continue to strengthen and grow with the resurgence of language, lore and cultural knowledge. These rich and varied histories need to be understood and acknowledged by all Victorians, to truly understand the resilience and strength of previous generations, as well as the history of the fight for survival, justice and Country that has taken place across Victoria and around Australia.
The 2016 Census showed that the number of Aboriginal Australians living in Victoria has doubled since 2001. Victoria is home to 47,000 of the 649,171 people identifying as being Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander origin.
Here are some organisations that support the needs of Aboriginal Australians:
Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations
The peak body for the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal peoples living in Victoria.Visit the: VACCHO website
Victorian Aboriginal Health Services
The Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) was established in 1973 to address the specific medical needs of Victorian indigenous communities. The organisation has expanded steadily over past 40 years to provide a comprehensive range of medical, dental and social services for our community.Visit the: VAHS website
Watch a video about Robert Lowe
Read about a Treaty in Victoria with Wotjobaluk Elder Uncle Kevin Coombs OAM.