The Yoorrook Justice Commission published its final landmark report last week — a powerful and definitive account of Victoria’s history since colonisation, as told by First Peoples. This report has been an important step for truth-telling and healing that will pave the way for Treaty negotiations in Victoria. The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria is the representative body that will negotiate statewide treaties with the State Government on behalf of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Victorians. Kaley Nicholson is the appointed Taungurung Representative who will champion the interests of the Taungurung Nation in the statewide treaty making process.

Kaley says “This role is a great responsibility, one I carry with pride, grounded in culture and community. Treaty is a chance to pursue justice and restore the rights of our people. I’m committed to ensuring the voices, needs and aspirations of the Taungurung Nation are heard, respected and reflected in this process“. We yarn with Kaley to find out about Treaty for Victoria and what you can do as an ally to support the journey.

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It doesn’t matter where you are on your ally journey, all that matters is that you’re on the journey. The 2025 National Reconciliation Week theme is ‘Bridging Now to Next’. It’s an opportunity for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements and take meaningful action towards creating a culturally vibrant and safe society where the rights, stories and values of First Nations’ People are respected, and celebrated.  Here’s some ways you can take action:

Where would we be without birds? Not only do they bring happiness and joy to our lives but they provide so many benefits to our ecosystems and are crucial to our survival. Birds are great indicators of healthy Country.  They respond early to any changes to habitats and can give us warning signs about impacts of climate change.  Preserving our native bird species and their habitats is so important.

Birdlife Australia runs an annual Aussie Bird Count to inspire everyone to take notice of our little feathered friends and get familiar with bird movements.  As they say, noticing birds is the first step towards caring about them – and where conservation begins. Here on Taungurung biik we have so many landscape types and therefore so much birdlife to understand and protect. Big shout out to our BIIK crew and all our land manager partners who are actively monitoring the wildlife and restoring vital habitats. Here’s our list of birds and bird related stories you need to know about:

It doesn’t matter where you are on your ally journey, all that matters is that you’re on the journey. There are so many ways to be a great ally and it’s important to know that all First Nations communities are different and will have a different perspective on what a great ally is. National Reconciliation Week is a time for allies to stand up and take time for self-reflection, conversations, and meaningful actions towards creating an inclusive and culturally safe society where First Nations’ rights, culture and values are recognised, respected, and celebrated.  

We encourage you to rally up your workmates, family or friends and make a shared commitment to be an ally for the Taungurung Nation.

The first step is taking responsibility for growing your cultural literacy. Here’s how:

Ashley Wilkinson is a proud Taungurung man of the Yeerum-Illiam-Balluk clan, which is below the Benalla and Mansfield area. Ash works as a Field Service Officer conducting cultural surveys and is also a wawa biik guide. We yarn with Ash to learn more about his perspectives regarding cultural heritage. It’s well worth pulling him aside for a yarn on our wawa biik tours too as he’s got some great insights to share.