VAN Talks Podcast
Heading back to our roots and building on the work we undertook in the leadup to the 2023 Referendum, Victorian Aboriginal News (VAN) Talks focuses on the positivity that is Aboriginal Victoria. Covering everything from Voice, Treaty and Truth and Reconciliation through to Aboriginal businesses and Traditional Owner initiatives, the VAN Talks podcast is the only podcast that travels across the State to deliver interviews and stories that are the truth of Aboriginal Victoria.
Episodes
147 episodes
S04-E27: Blak media - Koori Mail editor Todd Condie
As we continue to explore the importance of Blak media in Australia, VAN's Charles Pakana catches up for a yarn with the editor of Koori Mail, Todd Condie.
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Season 4
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Episode 27
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23:03
S04-E26: Elections 2026 - Setting the stage for the future of Treaty in Victoria
With the announcement made for the next elections to be held for the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria - 3.0 - we're looking at significant moves forward in the Victorian Treaty landscape. For a closer view, VAN's Charles Pakana, chats with A...
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Season 4
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Episode 26
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29:16
S04-E25: Join the 2026 Walk for national truth-telling
As ex-Yoorrook Commissioner Travis Lovett works on his next Walk for Truth - this time at a national level - he joins VAN's Charles Pakana to discuss the need for this, as well as how ordinary Australians can join in and support this initiative...
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Season 4
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Episode 25
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23:43
S04-E24: The path to Treaty from the Minister's perspective
Just three days before her resignation from Cabinet comes into effect, the Minister for Treaty and First Nations, Natalie Hutchins MP, speaks with VAN's Charles Pakana about her experiences holding that portfolio during what can arguably be des...
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Season 4
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Episode 24
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27:03
S04-E23: First Nations story-telling carries culture and lore
Increasingly - and fortunately - a new age of "digital" story-telling professionals are emerging to ensure stories are protected from the ravages of time. VAN catches up with one such story-teller, Yorta Yorta and Woi-wurrung man Mark Thomson.
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Season 4
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Episode 23
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25:11
S04-E22: Victorian Traditional Owners speak out on Victoria's critical minerals mining
As the need and demand for critical minerals increases, we catch up with the CEO of the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owners Cooperation, Kaley Nicholson, about the state government dragging its heels on reaching agreements with Tradition...
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Season 4
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Episode 22
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20:18
S04-E21: The realities and implications of misinformation and disinformation
In an apparent age of misinformation and disinformation, particularly evident during the 2023 Referendum on a First Nations Voice to Parliament, VAN's Charles Pakana catches up with NITV's John Paul (JP) Janke, to discuss the realities and impl...
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Season 4
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Episode 21
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25:30
S04-E20: Honest allyship with reconciliation groups in regional Victoria
Regarded by many as a fairly "redneck" area, Shepparton is home to one of the longest-serving and effective local reconciliation efforts - the Shepparton Region Reconciliation Group. VAN's Charles Pakana travels to the area and meets up for a y...
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Season 4
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Episode 20
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21:24
S04-E19: Local Treaties in Victoria - what you should know
Treaty Authority member, Biripi woman Duean White talks with Victorian Aboriginal News about local Treaties, and what local governments and organisations can do to better understand and prepare for them
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Season 4
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Episode 19
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25:20
S04-E18: Blackfire hits the ground running with new album
Featuring three great tracks from the band's latest album, Solar Eclipse, this interview has VAN's Charles Pakana yarning with Blackfire co-founder, rhythm guitarist, songwriter and vocalist Grant Hanson about the album and the history of this ...
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Season 4
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Episode 18
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32:34
S04-E17: First Nations businesses encouraged to break into export markets
We catch up with Austrade's first Head of Indigenous Engagement and Export, Yuin woman Melanie Harris, to discuss First Nations businesses making headway in international trade
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Season 4
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Episode 17
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22:23
S04-E16: Stolen Generations survivor Aunty Evajo Edwards sheds new light on Victoria Police
From being taken from her home and family in 1969 by Victoria Police, Stolen Generations survivor Aunty Evajo Edwards now works as an Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer with that same organisation...and shares positive perspectives.
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Season 4
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Episode 16
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24:55
S04-E15: Victorian Treaty Deep Dive with Rueben Berg (Part 3 of 3)
We conclude our extended interview with Gunditjmara man and co-Chair of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, Rueben Berg, deep-diving into Treaty legislation and the Treaty itself.
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Season 4
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Episode 15
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24:00
S04-E14: Victorian Treaty Deep Dive with Rueben Berg (Part 2 of 3)
We continue out deep-dive into the Victorian Treaty Legislation and proposed Treaty with Gunditjmara man and co-Chair of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, Rueben Berg.
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Season 4
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Episode 14
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25:46
S04-E13: Victorian Treaty Deep Dive with Rueben Berg (Part 1 of 3)
We're rapt that Victorian Aboriginal News was chosen by the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria to interview co-Chair Rueben Berg for a deep dive into the Victorian Treaty Legislation and proposed Treaty. This is part one of a three-part extend...
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Season 4
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Episode 13
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26:28
S04-E12: Taking a political and social stand through your choice of clothing
Gunditjmara woman and co-founder of Clothing the Gaps, Laura Thompson, joins VAN's Charles Pakana to talk about the importance of clothing as a means of sparking change and conversation.
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Season 4
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Episode 12
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20:43
S04-E11: Voice of youth empowered in local governments across Australia
Somewhat off our normal track, in this episode I speak with Tahlia Azaria from the Foundation for Young Australians about that organisation's Young Mayors program.
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Season 4
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Episode 11
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23:28
S04-E10: Victorian Treaty - Reflections from the Commissioner, Aunty Jill Gallagher
Ex-Victorian Treaty Advancement Commissioner, Aunty Jill Gallagher, looks back at the challenges facing the Treaty process during the formation of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria.
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Season 4
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Episode 10
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32:17
S04-E09: Victorian LGAs encouraged to meet Closing the Gaps oblligations
Led by Gunditjmara woman Aunty Lisa Briggs, NgaweeyanMaar-oo (voice of and from the people) is working with local governments to help them achieve their Closing the Gaps obligations
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Season 4
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Episode 9
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23:13
S04-E08: Blak-led, queer-led. A unique success story in Victoria's healthcare system
In this episode of VAN Talks, I catch up with the leader and founder of Victoria's only Blak- and queer-led first aid service provider, Nic Radoll. He leads an Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation (ACCO) that's another clear demonstrati...
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Season 4
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Episode 8
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21:39
S04-E07: Treaty support building at a grassroots level across Victoria
With the Victorian Treaty legislation now tabled in the State's Parliament, grassroots level support is on the rise. A key player in this is First Nations-led Common Threads. We speak with one of the organisation's founders, Larissa Baldwin-Rob...
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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22:20
S04-E06: First Nations media establishes trust in a dubious Australian media landscape
Despite being underfunded by the Federal Government, First Nations media across Australia plays a critical role in dispelling myths and misinformation. We speak with First Nations Media Australia CEO, Wally Tallis.
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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23:28
S04-E05: Australia's first Treaty legislation tabled in Victorian Parliament
Less than two hours after Australia's first Treaty legislation was tabled in Victorian Parliament, First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria co-Chair, Gunditjmara man Rueben Berg, met up with VAN's Charles Pakana to record the first of an extended se...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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19:55
S04-E04: Victorian Local Governments prepare themselves for Local Treaties
A partnership led by the Municipal Association of Victoria, and including Victorian Aboriginal News, First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, Treaty Authority and Reconciliation Victoria, sees Victorian Local Government Authorities start educating ...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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22:29
S04-E03: A valuable look inside the workload experienced by the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung
Every day the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation receives engagement requests from government, corporations, community groups and individuals; and with 29 Local Government Authorities (Councils) operating on its Cou...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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24:23