Maggie Smith

Key Responsibilities in current role at Council

Purpose of role: Improve relationships with Traditional Owner Groups and Council through strategic and targeted engagement processes with the First Nations communities to ensure cultural safety and inclusion across all Council service areas so that there is an acceptable level of Cultural Competency within the organisation.

Strategic Engagement: Advising Councils executive leadership team regarding projects, programs or initiatives that directly impact Traditional Owner Groups through cross-cultural engagement and communication that is aligned with Councils Strategic Plan, the aspirations of the Traditional Owner Groups and relevant legislation, Government frameworks or strategies regarding Indigenous people.

Transparency and Authenticity:Ensuring Council demonstrates culturally ethical work practices that reflect the Traditional Owner Groups cultural protocols, customs and Lore.

Organisational Cultural Competency:

Developing an Indigenous Governance structure for Council

Implementation of an Aboriginal Advisory Group to direct the Council on Indigenous Affairs.

Policy development and implementation of Councils policies that support the aspirations of the First Nations community.

Reconciliation:

Leading the implementation of the Council's new Reconciliation Action Plan and ensuring that all service areas across the Council aim to work with a ‘reconciliation responsible practice’ mindset, so that relationships with the local First Nations communities remain positive and productive.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

Tracking the progress of initiatives, programs and work projects that impact the relationship between Council and Traditional Owners and evaluate Councils effectiveness.

Community Capacity Building: Supporting Indigenous leadership through Indigenous-led community programs across the City of Port Phillip municipality. Enhancing the importance of significant dates and cultural events for First Nations people in Australia such as NAIDOC week and Reconciliation Week.

• Provide cultural advice and guidance to the Victorian Ombudsman regarding the development and implementation of their new Reconciliation Action Plan.
• Providing advice with culturally appropriate engagement processes with Traditional Owners groups across Victoria and Aboriginal Community Controlled organizations.
• Providing advice regarding the diversity of First Nations communities living in Victoria, and mitigating potential risks with the Traditional Owner Groups.

● Lead all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement and programs state-wide for the Tribunal. My role was to exercise a range of administrative, statutory, and quasi-judicial powers under the Victims of Crime Act of 1996 and Practice Direction 2 of the Koori List.

· Provided cultural advice for policy development at the Tribunal under Practice Direction 2 of 2009 Koori List.

● I led the design, development, and implementation of the Dhumbumana Healing Strategy 2021-2023 for the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal.

● I was the Cultural Advisor for Koori Listed Hearings at the Tribunal

● I provided strategic oversight to the development and implementation of the Tribunal’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Service Delivery framework.

● Contributed to Court Services Victoria Self-Determination Plan 2021-2025 (Yaanadhan Manamith Yirramboi).

● Provided cultural advice to VOCAT Registrars, VOCAT Tribunal Members (Magistrates) and other work colleagues within the Tribunal.

● Collaborated and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders and Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations such as the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Caucus, Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Justice Health, Corrections Victoria, Victoria Legal Aid, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc, The Aboriginal Advancement League, and Aboriginal Housing Victoria. ● Led event Planning for significant cultural dates for the Tribunal such as NAIDOC week and Reconciliation Week and represented VOCAT at different forums and Koori community different events.

• Lead all First Nations engagement and programs state-wide for the Tribunal.
• Provided cultural advice for policy development at the Tribunal under Practice Direction 2 of 2009 Koori List.
• I was the Cultural Advisor for Koori Listed Hearings at the Tribunal.
• I provided strategic oversight to the development and implementation of the Tribunal’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Service Delivery framework.
• Contributed to Court Services Victoria Self-Determination Plan 2021-2025 (Yaanadhan Manamith Yirramboi).
• Collaborated and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders and Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations.

• My role was to ensure culturally safe practices, partnerships, and shared decision-making for First Nations people.
• Review, Assess and provide Mediation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Civil matters.
• Case-managed complex Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander matters with Traditional Owners Corporations, Family/Kinship (excluding Family Law), and behavioral disputes.
• Advocated for cultural safety within the organisation in order for culturally appropriate, effective mediation processes to be implemented when engaging with First Nations people.