Nicole McCartney has led transformative work in establishing Victoria’s Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Division, placing Aboriginal self-determination at the heart of government health policy. Nicole worked closely with Aboriginal community-controlled organisations to ensure that community voices drove decision-making. She pioneered the Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Partnership Forum with VACCHO, creating a unique platform for collaboration that led to the 2021 Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Partnership Agreement, co-signed by the Minister for Health and VACCHO’s Chair. This agreement enshrines Aboriginal leadership in health planning and delivery.

Under Nicole’s leadership, Aboriginal perspectives have been embedded in strategic health governance, including her appointment to the Department of Health’s Executive Board. She established a team of over 30 staff dedicated to shifting decision-making power to Aboriginal communities. Her work has driven high levels of Aboriginal participation across service planning, delivery, and evaluation, most notably in clinical handover reforms and culturally safe COVID-19 responses.

Nicole has championed the transfer of control over health resources to Aboriginal communities, empowering them to design and manage services that reflect their needs. Her achievements continue to shape a future in which Aboriginal health and wellbeing is led by, and for, Aboriginal people.

Learn more: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/health-strategies/aboriginal-health

The Victorian First Peoples Art and Design Fair (VFPADF) is a landmark initiative under the Victorian Government’s Creative State 2025 strategy, aimed at establishing a biennial fair to promote and grow the market for Victorian First Peoples cultural products. The initiative is led entirely by First Peoples, conceptualised by the First Peoples Directions Circle and delivered by curators Janina Harding and Dr Jessica Clark, ensuring full decision-making power and community control.

In February 2025, as part of the Melbourne Art Fair, VFPADF presented a Showcase Exhibition featuring work by 37 artists and four arts centres, representing 20 language groups. Over $138,000 in sales went directly to artists, showcasing both artistic excellence and strong economic impact. The initiative also includes $654,000 in funding to eight First Peoples organisations to establish professional studios and creative spaces, enabling long-term community autonomy and capacity building.

With First Peoples involvement across every stage, from planning and curation to delivery and evaluation, the project exemplifies Aboriginal self-determination. It takes a holistic and innovative approach to strengthening partnerships between government and the Aboriginal community and supports sustainable career development for First Peoples artists. A standalone VFPADF event is planned for 2027, further strengthening this community-led initiative as a key pillar of Victoria’s creative future.

Learn more: https://creative.vic.gov.au/first-peoples/introducing-the-victorian-first-peoples-art-and-design-fair

The Self-Determination in Education Reform initiative is a statewide effort led by the Victorian Department of Education to strengthen Aboriginal self-determination in the education system. Funded through successive State Budgets, the initiative engaged over 3,000 participants across 182 “Campfire Conversations” with 89 schools and 12 Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs). These culturally safe gatherings created space for storytelling, deep listening, and genuine community-led dialogue about how schools can better partner with Koorie communities to improve learning outcomes.

Led in true partnership between the department and key Aboriginal Peak bodies including VACCA, VAEAI, VACHO and the Koorie Youth Council, the process elevated Aboriginal voices throughout all stages, planning, design, delivery, and evaluation. The final report, Strengthening Aboriginal Self-Determination in Education, outlines six reform directions and highlights powerful youth voices through “possum skin statements” that call for inclusive, safe, and culturally responsive school environments.

The report served as the evidence base for a successful budget investment of $51 million in the 24/25 State Budget to improve education outcomes for Koorie learners, including $31 million over four years to resource ACCOs to support learning and wellbeing outcomes. In December 2024, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll announced 27 Education Liaison Officer positions across 15 ACCOs and all 12 Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs). This initiative marks a vital shift toward embedding Aboriginal leadership in education reform.