Best Victorian Aboriginal News Podcasts (2025)

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S03-E35: Dja Dja Wurrung Clans ready for Treaty with Victorian State Government 20:46

3d ago20:46

20:46

Send us a text At 4am on the 28th of May 2025, an embargo was lifted on a media release that stated DJAARA - the representative body for Dja Dja Wurrung clans - was ready to enter into Treaty negotiations with the Victorian Government. That afternoon, we sat down with DJAARA's reserved seat holder at the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, Dja Dja…

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S03-E34: Travis Lovett 18 hours before Walk for Truth 20:37

6d ago20:37

20:37

Send us a text I was fortunate enough to catch up and yarn with Yoorrook Commission Travis Lovett on the Portland foreshores - on Gunditjmara Country - 18 hours before the commencement of the Walk for Truth.By Victorian Aboriginal News

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S03-E33: Aboriginal cultures and histories in the Australian educational curriculum 22:25

21d ago22:25

22:25

Send us a text One of Australia's foremost authorities on - and advocates for - Aboriginal cultures and histories in the education system, Shelley Ware, talks with Charles about the need for change and how that change can be achieved.By Victorian Aboriginal News

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S03-E32: The Koorie Heritage Trust 40 years on - its relevance and role 19:23

1M ago19:23

19:23

Send us a text Forty years on from the foundation of the Koorie Heritage Trust, VAN’s Charles Pakana meets up with CEO Tom Mosby to discuss the Trust’s role and relevanceBy Victorian Aboriginal News

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S03-E31: The man behind the force that is IndigenousX 21:09

1M ago21:09

21:09

Send us a text For nearly 15 years, IndigenousX has been “stirring the pot” as a niche and fearless Blak media outlet. In this episode I catch up with it’s CEO and founder, Luke Pearson.By Victorian Aboriginal News

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S03-E30: Shining the light on Australian indigenous entrepreneurship 21:33

2M ago21:33

21:33

Send us a text In this episode I catch up with Professor Dennis Foley, a descendent of the Gai-mariagal people, and Australia’s first professor of indigenous entrepreneurship. He speaks openly about the important cultural context of this subject as well as calling out key changes that need to be implemented in order for Blak businesses to be given …

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S03-E29: Australian War Memorial to recognise Frontier Wars 20:59

2M ago20:59

20:59

Send us a text Following years of advocacy from historians and community, the Australian War Memorial is embarking on a project that will see “Defence of Country” realised in the form of a Frontier War exhibition within the next few years. I visit the War Memorial and catch up for an interview with the Indigenous Liaison Officer, Michael Bell.…

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S03-E28: Breathing new life into the Bangerang language 19:57

2M ago19:57

19:57

Send us a text We speak with Bangerang cultural educator and custodian Roland Atkinson about a new dictionary that will breathe new life into the Bangerang language and further strengthen cultureBy Victorian Aboriginal News

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S03-E27: Bringing and seeking cultural change in Australian Senate 21:23

2M ago21:23

21:23

Send us a text With the failure of the 2023 Voice referendum, the onus is well and truly on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Members of Parliament and Senators to help First Nations voices be heard and heeded. In this episode, we speak with Yamatji and Noongar woman, Greens Senator for Western Australia, Dorinda Cox.…

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S03-E26: All Victorians invited to join in an historic Walk for Truth 19:59

2M ago19:59

19:59

Send us a text With the final Yoorrook Commission report due in June 2025, Commissioner Travis Lovett is about to undertake a 370 kilometre walk from Portland in the Victorian south-west - where European colonisation started - to Parliament House in Melbourne. He speaks with VAN’s Charles Pakana about his aspirations for the walk and extends an inv…

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S03-E25: Equal footing for Traditional Owners in the Treaty process 21:58

3M ago21:58

21:58

Send us a text There’s always a great deal of attention given to the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria and, more recently, the Treaty Authority when it comes to the Victorian Treaty process. In the background, though, and playing an incredibly important part in ensuring that Traditional Owners are able to negotiate on an equal footing with the go…

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S03-E24: Welcome to Country - a cultural and contemporary perspective 20:11

3M ago20:11

20:11

Send us a text VAN’s Charles Pakana speaks with Wurundjeri Elder and lore man Uncle Bill Nicholson, gaining an insight into the important role that a Welcome to Country has in the broader Australian social landscape.By Victorian Aboriginal News

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S03-E23: Deep diving into the current Victorian Treaty negotiations 18:20

4M ago18:20

18:20

Send us a text With the Victorian State Government and First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria having agreed to an agenda of items for the first round of Treaty negotiations, VAN’s Charles Pakana catches up with Assembly co-chair Rueben Berg. They take a closer look at one of the main areas of the negotiations - what a future Aboriginal representative …

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S03-E22: Summing up a catastrophic year for the Victorian dingo population 24:23

5M ago24:23

24:23

Send us a text In this end-of-year episode, VAN's Charles Pakana brings together key points from two months of investigation and interviews focused on the Victorian Government's questionably-motivated decision to extend an Order in Council on the unprotection of dingoes across North-East and Eastern Victoria. He also discusses important updates on …

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S03-E21: “Sham consultation” claim on government from Victorian Farmers Federation 23:43

6M ago23:43

23:43

Send us a text As we commence our closing off of the Victorian Government’s “dingo death warrant” across much of Australia, VAN’s Charles Pakana catches up with President of the Victorian Farmers Federation, Emma Germano. Even that organisation claims the government’s consultation on the matter was nothing short of “sham consultation”.…

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S03-E20: Yoorrook Commissioner Sue-Anne Hunter reflects on Victoria’s truth-telling process 19:44

6M ago19:44

19:44

Send us a text As submissions and evidence-giving closes for Victoria’s groundbreaking Yoorrook Royal Commission into truth-telling, VAN’s Charles Pakana catches up with Commissioner and Deputy Chair Sue-Anne Hunter. Together, they look back at the process that is set to bring about major systemic change across the State.…

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S03-E19: Dja Dja Wurrung barely considered in Victorian Government’s dingo planning 21:27

6M ago21:27

21:27

Send us a text As we continue our investigation into the State Government’s blatant disregard of First Nations’ advice on the matter of dingo protection in Victoria, VAN’s Charles Pakana speaks with the CEO of DJAARA, the Dja Dja Wurrung clans, Uncle Rodney Carter. This conversation adds further weight to what appears to be a politically - or other…

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S03-E18: A yarn by the mighty Murray River with Uncle Col Clark 18:46

6M ago18:46

18:46

Send us a text On a recent trip up to Latje Latje Country, specifically Mildura, VAN's Charles Pakana caught up with Barkindji Elder, Uncle Col Clark. Sitting by the southern bank of the mighty Murray River, they yarned about reconciliation in a post-referendum Victoria.By Victorian Aboriginal News

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S03-E17: Victorian Government continues to ignore First Nations on cultural matter 18:21

6M ago18:21

18:21

Send us a text In this episode of the VAN Talks podcast, VAN’s Charles Pakana talks with CEO of the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations, Paul Paton. They discuss the clear lack of consultation from the Victorian Government with Traditional Owners on the matter of baiting and trapping the culturally important and significant dingo…

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S03-E16: Reflecting on five years of Treaty work with Assembly co-chair Rueben Berg 23:58

6M ago23:58

23:58

Send us a text Nearly six years ago, I traveled across Victoria shadowing Aunty Jill Gallagher, then the Victorian Treaty Advancement Commissioner, and catching up with numerous traditional owners who had stepped forward as candidates for election to the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria. During that time, just about five and a half years ago, I …

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S03-E15: Bringing Aboriginal cultural safety and influences into the education system 22:19

7M ago22:19

22:19

Send us a text In this episode VAN's Charles Pakana sits down for a yarn with Aboriginal reform advocate and activist, Bunurong woman Zoe Upton. Together they discuss topics ranging from engaging with Aboriginal Education Consultative Groups, increasing the number of First Nations teachers in the system, supporting identity and the role of allies a…

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S03-E14: Victoria's dingoes barely protected under legislation 20:01

7M ago20:01

20:01

Send us a text As we continue our deep dive into the Victorian Government's decision to extend the unprotection order on dingoes up until 2028, VAN's Charles Pakana travels to Apollo Bay to speak to Yuin man and academic, Dr Jack Pascoe. In this interview, the two discuss the implications of Victoria's key piece of archaic wildlife legislation that…

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S03-E13: The science and facts supporting the need to protect Victorian dingo populations 26:29

7M ago26:29

26:29

Send us a text As we continue pursuing the facts behind the Victorian Government's strange decision to extend an Order in Council, taking unprotection of dingoes across much of the state through to 2028, VAN's Charles Pakana sits with with Professor Euan Ritchie, one of Australia's foremost environmental scientists. Together they discuss the scienc…

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S03-E12: Bringing Aboriginal culture into our daily lives 22:11

7M ago22:11

22:11

Send us a text In this episode VAN’s Charles Pakana sits down with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung cultural educator Thane Garvey to discuss ways in which Aboriginal culture - language, caring for country, etc. - can be brought into our day-to-day lives.By Victorian Aboriginal News

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S03-E11: The harsh reality of "black-cladding" of businesses 20:44

8M ago20:44

20:44

Send us a text While a growing number of people and businesses seek to support Blak businesses, there is an unfortunate prevalence of businesses following a practice of "black cladding" to rip off the unawareBy Victorian Aboriginal News

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S03-E10: One year on from the referendum - a yarn with Thomas Mayo 22:16

8M ago22:16

22:16

Send us a text Ever the optimist and activist, exactly one year on from the failed referendum to achieve a First Nations Voice in our Constitution, Thomas Mayo speaks about his book Always Was Always Will Be and his ongoing encouragement for all Australians to work together for a better and more just country…

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S03-E09: Victorian Government signs dingo death warrant 20:16

8M ago20:16

20:16

Send us a text In a move many describe as primarily politically motivated, the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) has extended a dingo UNprotection order across areas of Victoria through to 2028. Traditional Owner groups, environmentalists and animal welfare groups are seeking to have the government rescind the o…

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S03-E08: We visit Budj Bim on Gunditjmara Country and learn more about the story behind this cultural site 20:45

8M ago20:45

20:45

Send us a text Sitting at Tae Rak on Gunditjmara Country in the state's South-West, VAN's Charles Pakana catches up with the Budj Bim General Manager Joseph Saunders, discussing the story behind the place.By Victorian Aboriginal News

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S03-E07: Talking Treaty - Reconciliation Victoria turns the table on Charles Pakana from Victorian Aboriginal News 27:25

8M ago27:25

27:25

Send us a text In a bit of a change, it's Charles' turn to be interviewed about Treaty as he is joined by Reconciliation Victoria's Communications lead, Anna Van Vliet. They explore various questions that have come in to Rec Vic from members of its 30+ local reconciliation group network and shed truth where so much misinformation is rife.…

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S03-E06: "Treaty". A fairly generic word that can either be weaponised or seen as an amazing opportunity 24:12

8M ago24:12

24:12

Send us a text A simple interview with Constitutional law expert Professor Cheryl Saunders about the legal meaning of "treaty" evolves to embrace a broad range of important related matters.By Victorian Aboriginal News

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S03-E05: Putting Blak into philanthropy through decolonisation of attitudes and practices 25:45

9M ago25:45

25:45

Send us a text OK, so it may seem a bit of a dry subject - philanthropy - but when you start to explore how, through its decolonisation, it can deliver major benefits to the broader community, the lightbulbs start to flicker on in our minds. We speak about this with the CEO of Woor Dungin, Yuin man, Shaun Middlebrook…

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S03-E04: Sky News' Peta Credlin and Senator Jacinta Price mislead on Treaty event and Victorian Treaty 19:06

9M ago19:06

19:06

Send us a text Once again Sky News commentator Peta Credlin and the Federal Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Jacinta Price, have been proven wrong in commentary. This time, it's all about Victorian Treaty and a specific community education event.By Victorian Aboriginal News

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S03-E03: When the multicultural communities take the lead in reconciliation across Victoria 32:13

9M ago32:13

32:13

Send us a text Throughout 2023 and 2024, two research leads at the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth and Justice undertook an innovative project to build reconciliation capabilities, strengths and leadership with the Victorian multicultural communities. In this episode I speak with both of them, Greek-born Maria and Sri Lankan-born Shankar,…

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S03-E02: The changing Blak face of Ballarat and the need for local truth-telling 26:58

9M ago26:58

26:58

Send us a text In this incredibly candid interview, VAN’s Charles Pakana talks with local Ballarat elder, Noongar man Uncle Al Harris, to discuss the state of reconciliation within the Victorian regional city of Ballarat. One of the major calls is for a local truth-telling initiative.By Victorian Aboriginal News

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S03-E01: Time closing in on community's dispute window regarding the Assembly and a statewide Treaty 14:47

9M ago14:47

14:47

Send us a text On the 17th of September this year, the opportunity closes for the lodgement of either a comment or dispute regarding the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria meeting minimum standards to negotiate a statewide treaty. To gain a greater understanding of the process and implications, we speak with Treaty Authority member, Yorta Yorta ma…

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S02-E40: Despite colonial efforts, the Woi-wurrung language is alive and growing 25:31

9M ago25:31

25:31

Send us a text During a recent visit to Coranderrk, VAN’s Charles Pakana caught up for a yarn about the Woi-wurrung language with advocate, speaker and teacher Brooke Wandin. Without any doubt, the Woi-wurrung language, like other First Nations languages across Australia is having new life breathed into it.…

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S02-E39: Bruce Pascoe - at 77 he’s nowhere near ready to sit back and take it easy 32:26

10M ago32:26

32:26

Send us a text Discussing everything from the referendum and cultural responsibilities right through to conservative media and "what's next", we engage in an in-depth interview with Bruce Pascoe.By Victorian Aboriginal News

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S02-E38: City of Merri-Bek Mayor’s ambitions to enter into Treaty negotiations 21:18

10M ago21:18

21:18

Send us a text Taking a position of leadership, the Mayor of Merri-Bek (formerly Moreland) talks openly about his and the city’s aspirations to enter into Treaty negotiations with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung, the Traditional Owners of the country.By Victorian Aboriginal News

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S02-E37: Yoorrook Commission Truth Receives speak out on challenges and goals 22:42

10M ago22:42

22:42

Send us a text We hear all the time from the Commissioners of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, but what about those few people who are working every day with community to receive the truth about system injustices - past and current - heaped on Aboriginal people? We speak with two of the Yoorrook Truth Receivers to discuss their challenges and the g…

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S02-E36: Victorian Treaty - the Framework, treaty readiness and ongoing truth-telling 22:24

10M ago22:24

22:24

Send us a text In a far-reaching interview with Victorian Aboriginal News, co-Chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, Rueben Berg, responds to questions covering nuances of the Treaty Negotiation Framework, treaty readiness and the future of truth-telling in Victoria beyond the Yoorrook Justice Commission.…

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S02-E35: Wurundjeri Elder and lore man Uncle Bill Nicholson speaks out about education 26:12

10M ago26:12

26:12

Send us a text All Australia bore witness to the obscene tagline of “If you don’t know, vote NO” that was used by anti-Voice campaigners in 2023. Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder and lore man Uncle Bill Nicholson is a committed educator, and speaks on VAN Talks about the need to improve the education system for the benefit of ALL.…

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S02-E34: Aunty Esme Bamblett on Reconciliation - it's the role of every Australian 22:38

10M ago22:38

22:38

Send us a text If you listen to just one of our podcast episodes this year...this is the one. CEO of the Aborigines' Advancement League, member of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, academic and activist Aunty Esme Bamblett talks bluntly about EVERY Australian's role in achieving reconciliation in this country.…

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S02-E33: Aboriginal singer/songwriter Pirritu (Brett Lee) talks of music as a social tool 20:58

11M ago20:58

20:58

Send us a text VAN host Charles Pakana catches up with singer/songwriter Pirritu, also known as Brett Lee, to discuss the musician’s background story and the role he plays in bringing about social change.By Victorian Aboriginal News

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S02-E32: Victoria's Anglican church moves forward with commitment to Reconciliation, Recognition and Treaty 20:55

11M ago20:55

20:55

Send us a text On the 30th of June 2024, Anglican priest Uncle Glenn Loughrey, a Wiradjuri man who campaigned strongly for the Voice to Parliament, was collated at St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne as Provincial Archdeacon for Reconciliation, First Peoples Recognition and Treaty. We caught up with him just a few days after his collation to discuss h…

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S02-E31: The Torch - Empowering Victorian Aboriginal prison inmates through art 28:55

11M ago28:55

28:55

Send us a text In a highly thought-provoking interview, we speak with founder and creative director of Torch program, Uncle Kent Morris, and Stacey Edwards, an inspirational woman who, with dedication and commitment, clearly demonstrates how Aboriginal-designed solutions deliver positive results.By Victorian Aboriginal News

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S02-E30: A Victorian Treaty process that benefits all Victorians 18:40

11M ago18:40

18:40

Send us a text Uncle Andrew Jackomos and Thelma Austin from the Treaty Authority speak about the importance of ensuring treaty negotiations are impartial and of benefit to allBy Victorian Aboriginal News

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S02-E29: Inside Fire Rescue Victoria - a 44-year Aboriginal veteran's perspective 19:27

11M ago19:27

19:27

Send us a text While Fire Rescue Victoria embarks upon a recruiting campaign with an eye towards bringing in more First Nations recruit firefighters, we speak with Uncle Owen Butler, a Wiradjuri man with 44 years experience in the service.By Victorian Aboriginal News

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S02-E28: Taungurung wins first legal round against Goulburn Murray Water 17:57

11M ago17:57

17:57

Send us a text Charles speaks with the CEO of the Taungurung Land and Waters Council, Matthew Burns, about the recent ruling from VCAT (Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal), which overturned a works licence issued by Goulburn Murray Water that would see a 600 metre diversion of the Rubicon River.…

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S02-E27: Inside the Bendigo and District Aboriginal Corporation 20:35

11M ago20:35

20:35

Send us a text For this episode, Charles travels to Bendigo and meets up with Nicola Perry, Chair of the Bendigo and District Aboriginal Corporation (BDAC), and BDAC CEO, Dallas Widdocombe.By Victorian Aboriginal News

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S02-E26: The First 1,000 Days Australia Project with Kerry Arabena 22:23

12M ago22:23

22:23

Send us a text In this episode Charles speaks with the lead researcher and managing director of the First 1,000 Days Australia Project, Kerry Arabena. Together, they discuss the evidence-based model that is helping First Nations families move from planning through to parenthood.By Victorian Aboriginal News

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Victorian Aboriginal News Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen