Description
In 2018 Victoria became the first jurisdiction in Australia to pass legislation paving the way for agreement making with First Nations people via the Advancing the Treaty Process with Aboriginal Victorians Act. This Act enshrined into law a partnership between the Victorian Government and Aboriginal communities and provided the mechanism for the establishment of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria (the Assembly). The Assembly held their inaugural election in 2019. Importantly, a key feature of this election was extending voting rights to 16 and 17-year-old First Nations people in Victoria. In defiance of the dominant political regime in Australia which only affords voting rights to persons aged 18 and over this was the first-time young people in Australia have been enfranchised to vote in any state election. This remarkable Indigenous socio-legal innovation, led by and for Aboriginal people, is one of the most significant, yet widely undocumented, least of all celebrated, child rights advancements in Australia’s history.This paper discusses findings from an AIATSIS funded qualitative research project that engaged with young Aboriginal people, as well as with Elders and community leaders in Victoria. It demonstrates the significance of the involvement of young Aboriginal people in agreement-making and details participants’ aspirations for Treaty in Victoria and nationally.
| Period | 6 Jul 2022 |
|---|---|
| Event title | Representing Aboriginal Childhood(s) |
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | Sydney, AustraliaShow on map |