THE ASSEMBLY

The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria (the Assembly) is the voice of Aboriginal people in Victoria in the next stage of the Treaty process. It is made up of Victorian Traditional Owners, elected by Aboriginal communities, for Aboriginal communities, to advance our rights, interests and benefits. Our mandate is to work with the State to establish Treaty processes that recognise our sovereignty as the First Peoples of Victoria, support self-determination, and realise our human rights, to make Victoria stronger for everyone.

BACKGROUND

In June 2020 the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, the Aboriginal-elected voice to advance the Treaty process in Victoria, has called on the government to work with it to develop a Terms of Reference for an independent truth-telling process. This call has been supported by the Victorian Government.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Truth Telling process will establish a truth and justice process to formally recognise historic wrongs and address ongoing injustices for Aboriginal Victorians. The Truth Telling Project has been established to support The Assembly to develop positions on key elements of a proposed Terms of Reference.

The Assembly is seeking a Project Manager for a period of 3-5 months who will drive the legal/policy advice and secretariat support for the Assembly in the development of a Truth Telling process that reflects the needs and aspirations of the Victorian Aboriginal community. This position will report to the Manager of Policy and Research and work with relevant internal and external stakeholders.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Over the course of this short-term contract, the Project Manager is responsible for delivering the following outputs:

• Subject to further direction and decisions by the Assembly provide advice to the Assembly/or a relevant Committee on Truth Telling process design considerations, including timeframe, and resourcing needs for the project.

• Support the Assembly to develop positions on key elements of a proposed Terms of Reference including:
  • Scope of truth-telling
  • Truth-telling mechanisms
  • Sequencing within the broader Treaty process.

• This will include, but not be limited to, considerations of the following elements of a Terms of Reference:
  • Guiding principles
  • Objectives
  • Timing
  • Focus or scope of inquiry
  • Form, functions and powers
  • Composition.

• Utilising relevant comparable processes, including case studies and examples from other domestic and international experiences with a focus on, First Nations sources of advice, to support the Assembly so these questions could be answered and sequenced, including areas of research or appropriate sources of advice and input to draw upon, including but not limited to Community, academic, government or other sources.

• Supporting the preparation of briefings to the relevant Assembly committee, Co-Chairs, Board, Chamber and Operations on this work as well as other related advisory functions as directed.

• Support the community engagement team’s leadership of community consultations.

Interested parties wishing to post questions may do so through via email to [email protected], using the subject line: Project Manager (Truth Telling Project) enquiry via EthicalJobs.