Nominations

Calling Traditional Owners to stand as candidates in the Treaty Elections!

Do you want to represent First Peoples proudly and make sure Treaty delivers for our communities? Stand as a candidate in the Treaty Elections! 

The Treaty Elections are First Peoples’ opportunity to choose who we want to deliver Treaty. These elections will decide the next generation of leaders who will sit on the Assembly and shape the future of Treaty for Victoria.

If you’re thinking about putting your hand up to stand as a candidate, check out our Candidate Information Guide below for everything you need to know about eligibility and the elections process.

Candidate nominations open on Monday 16 February 2026 and will close at 5pm on Monday 2 March 2026.

Candidate Information Guide (pdf)

Templates for creating election materials such as posters and fliers can be found below, but please read the Candidate Information Guide for details about all the support available to you as well as your obligations.

The role of an elected Assembly Member

Members are the representatives for their Communities.

They play a critical role in linking the powers of the Gellung Warl to Community, making sure that the decisions taken by the Assembly reflect the priorities and aspirations of Community, and working with Community to harness those powers to improve outcomes on the ground.

Members are expected to yarn with community in their region and make sure the Assembly discussions and decisions are informed by Community views, ideas and aspirations. They are also required to attend and actively participate in Assembly meetings. Ultimately, Assembly Members must make the decisions and vote about how Gellung Warl will put Statewide Treaty to work.

Members are paid a stipend – a type of allowance – for their time. They receive operational support from Assembly staff to carry out their work.

Here are some documents that will help you understand the role, how to nominate, and how the Elections will unfold.

The role of Assembly Members (.pdf)
Candidate Information Guide (.pdf)

Support is available for candidates

The Assembly offers candidates a budget of $750 that can be used for printing campaign materials or social media advertising. 

Candidates can also access design templates to create a visually engaging campaign, including a flyer, a poster, and a social media graphic.

Candidates must populate these templates themselves. The Candidate Support Officer can help arrange printing and have useful election materials – like brochures and enrolment forms – delivered to you.

All of these details and more are explained in the Candidate Information Guide. Please make sure you read this to understand what support is available to you and how to access it.

Candidate Information Guide (.pdf)

For questions regarding the support available to candidates, contact the Assembly:
Phone: 1800 TREATY (87 32 89)

Candidate Support Officer

e: [email protected]

Independent Election Administrator

To ensure the smooth running and integrity of the Elections, the Treaty Authority has engaged an independent Election administrator.

So for all other questions relating to the Election or standing as a candidate, you can contact the independent election administrator:

Returning Officer

Gavin Ryan
e: [email protected]
m: 0403 336 829

Further details

Election Timeline

What’s happening?When is it happening?
Candidate nominations openMonday 16 February 2026 at 9.00am
Candidate nominations closeMonday 2 March 2026 at 5.00pm
Announcement of candidatesMonday 9 March 2026 at 5.00pm
Voting opensSaturday 21 March 2026 8.00am
Voting closesSunday 12 April 2026 at 6:00pm
Votes countedWednesday 22 April 2026

Candidate Information Sessions

RegionDate and location
North East RegionTuesday 10 February 2026 at 6.30pm
North West RegionTuesday 10 February 2026 at 7.30pm
South East RegionWednesday 11 February 2026 at 6.30pm
South West RegionWednesday 11 February 2026 at 7.30pm
Metro RegionThursday 12 February 2026 at 6.30pm

Information for Candidates

Important Election Documents