Aboriginal self-determination in cultural fire and bushfire management

Aboriginal self-determination in cultural fire and bushfire management is a core commitment of Victoria’s Bushfire Management Strategy. The Strategy recognises the importance of working in genuine partnership with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorians in land and bushfire management, including cultural fire.

Measuring progress in this domain is different to other areas of the Report Card. Meaningful indicators and measures need to be shaped and strengthened over time through engagement and co-development with Traditional Owners. For that reason, reporting in this domain uses an interim approach for 2024–25.

The interim measures reported here provide a practical baseline for early monitoring and reporting, and are drawn from existing sources where measures already exist and sit within established Traditional Owner governance and reporting contexts. In particular, this includes measures drawn from Pupangarli Marnmarnepu ‘Owning Our Future’ Aboriginal Self-Determination Reform Strategy 2020–2025 and the Statewide Caring for Country Partnership Forum Implementation Plan 2025–2026. Where relevant, workforce and cultural capability-related measures are also aligned to DEECA’s First Peoples Workforce Strategy 2026–2031.

Over time, the sector intends to expand and strengthen what is reported in this domain, working with Traditional Owners to ensure measures remain appropriate, meaningful and transparent for public reporting.

Table 13: Number of Aboriginal community members employed by FFMVic to support cultural burning activities 2024-25

Note: New reporting measure introduced in FY2024-25.

Table 14: Cultural Burns delivered in partnership with FFMVic and CFA, Victoria, 2022-23 to 2024-25

FFMVic and CFA partner with Victorian Traditional Owners to deliver cultural burns. This includes a record number of cultural burns (104) nominated to year 1 of the JFMP bringing the total number of cultural burns planned to 211. Of these, 31 were delivered (FFMVic – 26; CFA – 5).

Partnering with Traditional Owners in bushfire response

DEECA is establishing new ways of working with Traditional Owners during emergencies to support self-determination and improve outcomes for Country.

This includes a pilot program to enable Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs) to deploy Country Advisors to Incident Management Teams (IMTs) to provide advice regarding Country and biocultural values during in-scope emergencies.

The pilot was developed over the 2025-26 high risk weather season but was not finalised in time to deploy Country Advisors when major fires ignited in January. However, some RAPS were involved with IMTs through local arrangements. The pilot has been extended over the 2026-27 high risk weather season.

Wadawurrung Wiyn – Healing Country with Fire

While cultural burns often receive attention for their visual and ecological impact, the extensive planning, collaboration and cultural leadership behind them are less frequently acknowledged. Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation’s (WTOACWiyn) Murrup Rangers, have been working tirelessly with partners to reintroduce Cultural fire practices across Wadawurrung Dja (Country).

Strategic Cultural Fire Program

In 2024/25, Wadawurrung Wiyn Murrup Rangers delivered 9 cultural burns across Dja in collaboration with DEECA, CFA, Corangamite CMA, Glenelg Hopkins CMA and Trust for Nature. Wadawurrung are on the journey to reintroduce burning Culturally in a way the Ancestors once did. Many connections are made throughout the self-determined process of Wadawurrung people reclaiming Cultural obligations building the partnerships (extract from Wadawurrung Wiyn – Cultural Fire Strategy - Healing Country with Fire 2024-2034).

Wadawurrung’s approach is deeply aligned with their Paleert Tjaara Dja – Let’s Make Country Good Together (2020–2030) Wadawurrung Country Plan, a 10-year strategy that guides their work in restoring Country through cultural practices and community empowerment.

Launching the Cultural Fire Strategy

A major milestone this year was the launch of Wadawurrung Wiyn – Cultural Fire Strategy: Healing Country with Fire. This strategy was shaped through inclusive engagement with WTOAC staff and Wadawurrung members, who came together in a series of events to co-design the vision. The launch event, held at the Wadawurrung Ballan Depot – Bostock, was a celebration of community, Culture and collaboration, attended by partners who have supported Wadawurrung on their journey.

The strategy outlines 3 key objectives:

• Build connections
• Share knowledge
• Be empowered

These objectives reflect Wadawurrung’s commitment to cultural leadership, knowledge exchange and community resilience.

Building Capacity for the Future

To support the growing fire program, Wadawurrung has invested in fit-for-purpose fleet vehicles, including a fire-line compliant Landcruiser and a tanker. This infrastructure enhances their capacity to deliver Cultural burns and, when appropriate, partner with DEECA in fuel reduction and emergency response efforts.

Wadawurrung continues to look ahead, forging new collaborations with organisations such as Federation University and local Landcare groups to plan future burns and expand the reach of cultural fire practices.

While cultural burns often receive attention for their visual and ecological impact, the extensive planning, collaboration and cultural leadership behind them are less frequently acknowledged. Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation’s (WTOACWiyn) Murrup Rangers, have been working tirelessly with partners to reintroduce Cultural fire practices across Wadawurrung Dja (Country).