Aboriginal people in Victoria have a history of enterprise and trade long before European settlement. But today, there are few Aboriginal people who own and operate businesses, too many Aboriginal people who are unable to find a job, and too many young Aboriginal people leaving school early, and not finding jobs or going on to university.

After consulting widely and listening to Aboriginal communities the Victorian Aboriginal Economic Development Group has identified key areas where more action and sustained effort will make a difference to Aboriginal people’s economic circumstances.

On 26 May 2010, the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Rob Hulls announced the Victorian Government would commit $33.7 million over four years to a new approach to Aboriginal economic development that focused on keeping Aboriginal children at school, helping them into meaningful employment, and growing Indigenous businesses, particularly those involving tourism.

The funding is in response to this report by the Victorian Aboriginal Economic Development Group, a mix of 13 high-profile members of the Aboriginal, not-for-profit and business communities that was asked by Government in 2008 to make recommendations on ways to close the economic gap for Aboriginal Victorians.

The report is available in two parts

Part 1 (0)

Part 2 (0)

Also see the selection of Fact Sheets covering the different elements of the report.

The Victorian Aboriginal Economic Development Group thanks and acknowledges the Gunnai / Kurnai people for allowing them to use the words ‘Moonda Wurrin Gree’ to name our report. Moonda Wurrin Gree means
Beyond Tomorrow’s Money - Pathways to a Better Economic Future.