Claim OwnershipVAN Talks Podcast
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© 2026 VAN Talks Podcast
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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.
152 Episodes
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Send a text With legislation before Parliament to cement the powers of the Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, we catch up with country's first Commissioner under that legislation, Sue-Anne Hunter
Send a text Arguably one of the most important Assembly elections, the 2026 election for "Assembly 3.0" kicks off on the 21st of March. We catch up with the people responsible for running and overseeing the process
Send a text With Fire Rescue Victoria recognising the need for a more culturally appropriate workspace and overall operational environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander firefighters, VAN's Charles Pakana meets up with two active FRV First Nations firefighters.
Send a text One of the fundamental cornerstones of First Nations self-determination is economic independence; and the Kinaway Chamber of Commerce in Victoria is fundamental to that. VAN's Charles Pakana catches up with Kinaway Chair, Palawa/Tommeginne man, Trent Brickle.
Send a text With the music industry becoming increasingly competitive and difficult for young artists, VAN's Charles Pakana catches up with the General Manager of Songlines, a Blak-led organisation focused entirely on supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performers in Victoria.
Send a text 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.
Send a text 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 Assembly co-Chair Ngarra Murray
Send a text 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
Send a text 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 described as Australia's most positive decade in the First Nations space.
Send a text 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.
Send a text 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 Traditional Owners across the state.
Send a text 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 implications of this moving forward, with a focus also on its potential impact of the Victorian Treaty Process.
Send a text 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 yarn with one of the group's co-conveners, Dierdre Robertson.
Send a text 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
Send a text 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 iconic Naarm-based Aboriginal rock band.
Send a text 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
Send a text 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.
Send a text 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.
Send a text 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.
Send a text 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 extended exclusive interview, recorded just days before the legislation was passed in the Victorian Parliament's lower house.
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