Bendigo Community Health Services welcomes the Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan’s formal apology to First Peoples of Victoria.
We proudly acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung peoples, Traditional Owners of the lands where we do our work. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and remember that sovereignty was never ceded.
As an organisation firmly committed to advancing social justice and equality, we support the intent of the apology and want to play our part in righting the wrongs of the past and be part of creating a better future together.
Bendigo Community Health Services has chosen to use our voice to stand alongside First Peoples on the journey to Treaty, with profound respect for the sovereignty, culture, and rights of First Peoples.
We recognise that when it comes to First Peoples communities, cultures and lands, the experts are of course First Peoples.
The past can’t be changed, but we can choose to take steps today that will help heal the ongoing pain caused by the injustices of yesterday.
We believe a better tomorrow is possible when we walk together and pledge our unwavering support to the First Peoples’ Treaty process in Victoria.
We also recognise that as community leaders, we have a responsibility to speak up in support of Treaty principles – truth, healing, and shared decision-making – and not leave Aboriginal communities and organisations to face criticism or carry the emotional weight of change alone.
Drawing upon the Friends of Treaty for Victoria resource, we have established a Pledge of Support for Treaty.
To help build support for the shared journey to Treaty, BCHS will:
- Collaborate with First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, Dja Dja Wurrung, Bendigo Reconciliation and Allyship Committee, and other local organisations to co-host a Treaty Pledge Forum for local CEOs and leaders,
- Publicly support the rights of First Peoples and promote the implementation of Treaty commitments through our communication channels and networks,
- Continue to increase awareness and understanding of First Peoples’ cultures, histories and the Treaty process throughout our organisation, and
- Strengthen existing partnerships with local Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) and Traditional Owner Groups to better support community and bring their voice into service delivery and design decision-making.
By making this pledge, we affirm our commitment to the self-determination of First Peoples in Victoria as they assert their rights, tell their truths, and chart a path towards, and healing through, Treaty-making.
Together, we will create a future where First Peoples’ voices are heard, rights are respected, and justice is realised for generations to come.
Image: Healing a Community by Paige Charles-Morgan