Philanthropic Funders Unite to Support Victoria’s Historic Treaty with First Peoples

Thirty three philanthropic funders have joined together to commend the Victorian Government and the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria for leading Australia’s first Treaty with First Nations peoples.

In an open letter to Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins, the signatories including the Reichstein Foundation praised the release of the Statewide Treaty and the introduction of the Treaty Bill to Parliament. They called for swift action to pass and enshrine Treaty in law, marking a defining moment for truth telling, justice and self determination in Victoria.

For generations, First Peoples have called for Treaty as a pathway to recognition, sovereignty and shared decision making. The philanthropic sector, which has long supported First Nations led initiatives, reinforced that meaningful and lasting change happens when communities have control over the decisions that affect their lives, culture and Country.

The letter highlights the transformative potential of Treaty to drive equity and long term outcomes across health, education, justice, environmental protection and community wellbeing. By embedding self determination into Victoria’s democratic foundations, Treaty represents a crucial step toward reconciliation and systemic change.

As the Reichstein Foundation stated, this is our chance to embed justice and self determination into the fabric of Victoria’s democracy and set an example for the rest of Australia.