Marrung

Marrung education scholarships are for students who are:

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• completing year 10 at a Victorian government school
• planning on completing a senior secondary program or pathway at a Victorian government school.

Applications for the Marrung education scholarships are open Monday 31 August 2026 and close Monday 12 October 2026.

To apply for a Marrung education scholarship, eligible students need to:

1. download and complete the Marrung Education Scholarship Guidelines and Application Form (DOCX, 5.98MB)
2. submit the completed application form to the Koorie Outcomes Division, DE by Monday 12 October 2026
3. email applications to marrung@education.vic.gov.au with the email subject: Marrung Scholarships [insert full name of applicant and school].

A selection panel made up of representatives from the department and the VAEAI reviews applications and selects the 30 successful applicants. Selection is based on the following criteria:

• involvement in the Aboriginal community
• Year 10 results
• school reports
• potential to succeed in a chosen pathway
• references from school and community representatives.

Read more about the scholarships including how to get help in completing the application, the school's role and the use of the funds in the Marrung Education Scholarship Guidelines and Application Form (DOCX, 5.98MB).

Contact marrung@education.vic.gov.au

The animation below provides an overview of the process and the conceptual framework which summarises the key themes that emerged throughout the Campfire Conversations. Also provided are printable versions of the conceptual framework.

• Conceptual framework - A3 size (PDF, 2.31MB)
• Conceptual framework artwork - A1 size (PDF, 2.24MB)

Reflections of Campfire Conversations

This video provides an overview of the Campfire Conversations that took place and includes participants sharing their reflections of the process.

Impact on student engagement and self-efficacy

This video highlights the positive impacts that Campfire Conversations had on Koorie students, including the power of their voices being heard and valued by the school.

Families

This video provides insight into Koorie families and generational experiences in education that may impact on student engagement.

Building Community Connections

This video highlights reflections on the Campfire Conversations as a powerful process for bringing members of the Koorie community together and building ongoing relationships.

Key themes – What we have heard

This video summarises some of the key themes that emerged through the Campfire Conversations.

Possum Skin Statements

A Koorie Young People Advisory Group was established, consisting of twelve young people from across Victoria, aged 13-25, to discuss the initiative and the findings from the Campfire Conversations.

Members generously shared their own stories in response to the feedback, and it was evident that young people share many of the same challenges in education despite their unique stories and journeys.

The group came up with a list of statements designed to provide teachers with greater insight and disrupt practice that perpetuates the negative experiences reflected in the findings. These statements were collated to form a possum skin cloak artwork with each statement adding a pelt. The possum skin cloak artwork is available in a range of visual forms below to be used in education spaces.

• Possum skin artwork with background - A3 poster (PDF, 998KB)
• Possum skin artwork - A1 poster (PDF, 3.22MB)

The video below provides an overview of the statements that were included in the final report and their significance to the self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.

Next steps for schools and corporate

School staff and corporate teams are encouraged to reflect on their current practices to better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, families, and communities in achieving self-determination in education. The following resources provide a practical tool to assist reflection, conversation and action.

• What can schools do now? (PDF, 760KB)
• What can corporate do now? (PDF, 770KB)

Marrung 2026–2036 is intended to operate as an evolving framework shaped by:

• ongoing consideration of evidence
• feedback and policy developments. including emerging priorities of Gellung Warl
• any further Statewide and/or Traditional Owner Treaties negotiated during the life of Marrung 2026–2036.

The governance model is intended to:

• support coordination across departments, sectors and stakeholder groups
• increase the visibility of Marrung 2026–2036 to First Nations partners
• strengthen accountability.

It will provide opportunities for First Nations voices to be heard at all levels.

In addition to these formal governance bodies, departments and sectors, including VCAE and ISV, will have their own internal arrangements. They will be responsible for developing and overseeing implementation plans that set out how Marrung 2026–2036 actions will work in their own setting.

Marrung Central Governance Committee

This committee will be co-Chaired by the President of VAEAI and the Secretary to the Department of Education. It is responsible for overseeing progress of the strategy.

Marrung Project Board

This committee will be co-Chaired by the General Manager of VAEAI and the Deputy Secretary of First Nations Strategy, Policy and Programs. The committee will monitor the status of each action and provide high level governance and accountability.

Marrung regional partnership forums

Forums will be organised in each of the department’s regions and will be co-Chaired by the LAECG Chair and the Regional Director. The purpose of these forums is to provide strong regional leadership and oversight to make sure that Marrung 2026–2036 drives improvements in place-based outcomes.

Koorie education roundtables

These meetings are organised by VAEAI. The purpose of the meeting is to make sure that what matters to First Nations communities is recorded and communicated to the regional forums.

Marrung ministerial roundtable

Co-Chaired by the President of VAEAI and the Secretary to the department. The purpose of the Roundtable is to reflect on key achievements and emerging priorities and provide an opportunity for portfolio ministers to hear directly from community partners.

First Nations communities have made it clear that Marrung 2026–2036 must include success measures defined by community that focus on what First Nations people believe to be important.

This means the strategy’s progress will be measured against key measures and targets that have been defined by First Nations communities after a consultation process led by VAEAI.

Marrung 2026–2036 responds to ongoing differences in education experiences and outcomes for First Nations learners. It also aims to build culturally responsive learning environments across the education system.

Marrung 2026–2036 aligns with Victoria’s Treaty commitments and includes flexibility to adapt as new agreements emerge.

It emphasises:

• truth telling
• First Nations perspectives in curriculum
• improved learner experiences from early childhood through to tertiary education.

Marrung 2026–2036 also aligns with broader state and national strategies and frameworks designed to improve the lives of First Nations Victorians and their communities.

• Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Framework
• Roadmap for reform: strong families, safe children
• Victorian Aboriginal Economic Strategy
• Council of Australian Governments - Closing the Gap targets

The department is committed to:

• sharing data with First Nations communities to support Priority Reform 4 under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap
• ensuring that First Nations people have access to and the capability to use, locally relevant data and information
• providing access to this information will help communities to set local priorities, monitor progress and drive their own development outcomes
• taking appropriate steps to ensure the appropriate and responsible and protects the privacy and personal information of individuals.

First Nations data requests

Community is encouraged to request data through the department’s established data request process. This process provides a clear and consistent mechanism for communities to access relevant data, ensuring requests are appropriately assessed and authorised.

First Nations data requests are considered in partnership with Koorie Outcomes Division. We confirm the purpose, scope and intended use of the data, and ensure that any data shared is meaningful, culturally appropriate, and supports community priorities.

Where possible, the department will work collaboratively with community to refine requests, support interpretation of data, and build capability for its use.

Records management

Marrung includes work to support schools to create and maintain the Child Safe Standards.

Schools are required to comply with the standards as part of the prescribed minimum standards for registration including:

Standard 1: Culturally safe environments – Establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.

The following rubric has been designed to provide guidance and checklists to support schools to create and maintain a Child Safe Standard 1.

Child Safe Standard 1 Rubric A3 (PPTX, 11.7MB)