Opinion piece by Sheree Lowe

This Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, we have an opportunity to reflect on something remarkable.

Across Victoria, our Aboriginal children are growing up in one of the most significant periods of change since colonisation. They are the first generation of children to grow up in Victoria’s Treaty era. After all, Treaty is about far more than legal agreements or institutional reform. At its heart, Treaty is about people, and most importantly, it is about our children, and our future generations.

The true measure of any Treaty will not be found in the number of agreements reached or milestones achieved. It will be measured by whether it truly improves the lives of future generations.

Will Aboriginal children grow up healthier? Will their identity and connection to their Culture be strong? Will they have every opportunity to learn, thrive and lead? Will they inherit systems that recognise their strengths rather than focus on their disadvantage?

These are the questions that really matter.

Aboriginal children already possess extraordinary strengths. They inherit the oldest continuing culture on Earth. They are surrounded by families, Elders and Communities who pass on knowledge, stories and traditions – keeping them strong and keeping them connected to who they are.

But despite their strengths, many Aboriginal children continue to experience inequitable outcomes across health, education, and wellbeing. Too often, systems have been designed to exclude Aboriginal families, rather than work with them.

Treaty is our chance to change.

Treaty allows us to shift decision-making closer to Aboriginal communities, strengthening self-determination and creating services that better reflect the aspirations, Cultures and needs of Aboriginal children and families.

This is not simply about changing policies. It is about changing possibilities.

Imagine growing up as an Aboriginal child. Imagine instead of growing up in a state that perpetuates stigma, stereotypes and wants to push your Culture into dark, history books – you grow up knowing who you are, where you belong and actually understanding your Country and Culture.

Imagine growing up in a state where your Culture is not only respected but embedded throughout education, healthcare and public life.

Imagine seeing your history recognised, your language celebrated and your Community empowered to shape the services that support your family.

Imagine knowing that decisions about your future are increasingly made by your own people, your Community. That is the promise that Treaty represents.

For today’s Aboriginal children, this is not some distant vision. It is unfolding right now, during their own childhood.

They are the first generation who will remember Victoria before Treaty, and who will one day tell their own children what it was like to witness this historic transformation.

That is both exciting and humbling, but it also places an extraordinary responsibility on all of us.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day reminds us that children are not just our future leaders – they are citizens of today. Their experiences matter. Their ideas matter.

If Treaty is truly about creating a better future, then Aboriginal children must remain at the centre of every conversation.

Each piece of reform should ask one simple question: how will this improve the life of an Aboriginal child and their family?

Because when today’s children become tomorrow’s Elders, they will not judge this generation by the complexity of negotiations or the wording of agreements.

They will judge us by outcomes.

Did we create a Victoria where Aboriginal children could grow up proud of who they are? Did we ensure they remained connected to Culture, Country and Community?  Did we reduce the inequities they inherited? Did we create opportunities for every Aboriginal child and their family to flourish and thrive?

The answers to those questions will be the enduring measure of success.

So, this Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, let us recognise that our children are growing up during a defining chapter in our state’s history.

We all must take pride in being the first Australian state to take this historic step and ensure that Treaty is not repealed after the state election.

Because Treaty is a promise to our future generations. A promise that they are not simply growing up in the era of Treaty – a promise that they are the Treaty Generation.