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PREFACE

The Strategy for Aboriginal Managed Lands in Victoria (SAMLIV) project team would like to acknowledge and pay their respects to all traditional owners and Aboriginal communities of Victoria.

Natural resource management policy, plans and strategies in Victoria are only just beginning to embrace Aboriginal interests and priorities. There has been a distinct lack of strategy shown by government, at all levels, with regard to addressing Aboriginal land management interests, potential, aspirations and priorities. This has meant poor potential for co-operation and partnerships with the Aboriginal community in Victoria.

SAMLIV is a statewide Aboriginal strategic planning project funded by the Indigenous Land Corporation and the Natural Heritage Trust. The aim of the project is to provide new directions and initiatives, and build a strategic framework for Aboriginal held lands in Victoria. We hope that this Draft Strategy will feed a Victorian Indigenous perspective into:
" State and Federal Government NRM policy and planning processes;
" Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan guidelines and accreditation criteria;
" Regional Catchment Management Strategies and Investment Plans; and
provide a framework for real Aboriginal involvement in sustainable natural resource management in Victoria.

The Draft Strategy highlights Indigenous land and resource management issues and priorities. It makes recommendations for change in a range of areas and for new programs or initiatives, which we hope will lead to improved access for Aboriginal land holders to existing sustainable NRM programs and processes, and far better relationships and partnerships between Indigenous land holders and NRM agencies.

A project such as this has many participants and many people to thank. The co-operation and goodwill of many Aboriginal land holders and leaders has been vital to the development of this strategy. Much of the information presented here comes from land holders giving their time to sit down and talk about 'country'. Their stories, views, experiences and ideas are the backbone of this strategy.

We also acknowledge the role of SAMLIV's Aboriginal Reference Group. Their knowledge, advice and support have helped to ensure that the project continues to be driven by community and culture. The Aboriginal Reference Group and the Victorian Aboriginal Community in general ensure that the flavour of the strategy is uniquely Victorian. We have been encouraged by their support and their belief that the project can and will benefit Indigenous Victorians.

The project would not have been possible without the support of our funding providers, the Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) and the Natural Heritage Trust, who have often provided more than just finances. Special thanks go to Matthew Brown of the ILC for his constant support, and to Tim Price and Andrew Haslett for their technical expertise and assistance in the building of the SAMLIV database.

We also wish to acknowledge Mirimbiak Nations Aboriginal Corporation who has hosted the SAMLIV project from the beginning, and in particular the administrative and finance staff who have always done what is required of them and more - special thanks go to Kerryn Balasso, Cheryl Pustol and Debbie Heeney.

The project has always had the ongoing support of the Victorian Catchment Management Council and Aboriginal Affairs Victoria. Land Victoria and the Department of Sustainability and Environment's Parks Flora & Fauna and Catchment and Water Divisions provided a great deal of assistance in the form of access to scientific and technical information and facilities. We thank them all for their continued support.

The current Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, the Hon. Gavin Jennings, and his predecessor, the Hon. Keith Hamilton are thanked for their belief in the project and their ongoing support to ensure the strategy is given due consideration by government. On this score, we also acknowledge the ongoing support of ATSIC (Vic), particularly, Commissioner Troy Austin, the Regional Chairs, Daphne Yarram and Tim Chatfield, and the land policy staff at ATSIC.

Other important stakeholders and supporters are the government and non-government organisations involved in natural resource management. We have been encouraged by many of the responses and interactions we have had from government and non-government staff regarding the SAMLIV project. They have shown a genuine interest in developing better relationships with Aboriginal Victorians and improving cross-cultural understanding. We hope this goodwill and support continues throughout the life of the strategy and into its implementation phase.

Finally, the members of the SAMLIV Steering Committee are to be heartily commended for their support and individual commitment. Each member has been individually responsible for providing direction, support to project staff, and challenging their own agencies to support the outcomes of the strategy. We are grateful for their passion and their commitment to the project, and us as staff. Last, but not least, we want to thank our volunteers, Sara Starr and Euan Hind, for their work and contributions along the way.

The recommendations and strategic directions in this Draft Strategy are the stepping stones necessary to build partnerships, influence policy change, and improve access by Aboriginal land holders to resources for sustainable management of their lands. Institutional support, employment, training, infrastructure and access to resources are key on-ground needs for Aboriginal land holders. It is vital that real engagement and practical, concrete steps are taken to implement the strategies that will foster these core needs.

The key to all this is recognition, respect and action! We look forward to hearing the views of the Victorian Aboriginal Community, natural resource management agencies and all those involved in making Victoria culturally and ecologically sustainable into the future.

Jean-Philippe Antolin, Graham Gee, Charles Prouse and Mandy Rossetto
SAMLIV Project Team