Selecting GLaWAC’s Reserved Seat Member on the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria
Thank you to everyone who participated in Monday night’s meeting to select the Reserved Seat Member for the Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria.
Following a count of the votes by our independent election auditor OGL Group, Troy McDonald has been selected as the Reserved Seat Member.
Congratulations Troy, and also to all six of the deadly candidates who put their hand up and made a proud statement by nominating for the role.
We are thankful and appreciative of all of you.
We will send out more information about the Reserved Seat and the Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria in the coming days.
Thank you again.
ONLINE VIA ZOOM: Monday, 20 April 2026, from 5:30pm
Registration for the meeting has closed.
Here is the Zoom link to access the meeting at 5:30pm
The nominees for the Reserved Seat position (in the order they were received):
Troy Stephen McDonald
Andrew Thorpe
Kelvin Moffatt
Chris Jones (Ricky Harrison)
Jedda Patten
Glenda Thorpe
GLaWAC has one Reserved Seat on Gellung Warl’s First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria.
This is a different position to the General Seats representing the South East on the Assembly.
As a formally recognised Traditional Owner Group represented by GLaWAC, the Gunaikurnai People have the right to select a Gunaikurnai person to represent GLaWAC and the Gunaikurnai Nation at the Assembly table.
The Reserved Seat Holder carries the priorities and hopes of GLaWAC members — making sure our voice is heard where it counts.
We’re calling on mob to come together for an important meeting on Monday 20 April 2026 at 5.30pm. At this meeting, Gunaikurnai Traditional Owners will select a Gunaikurnai person to fill that seat.
This meeting will be held online using Zoom. If you are unable to attend online from home, you can visit GLaWAC’s Kalimna West Office or Morwell Office, where a computer will be set up so you can participate online from there.
Nominations to serve as the Reserved Seat Holder closed at 9am on Monday 20 April.
Frequently Ask Questions
If you have any questions and do not see the answers you need here, please contact GLaWAC by emailing admin@glawac.com.au, or call 03 5152 5100.
Responsibilities of the Reserved Seat Holder
Being a Reserved Seat Member is a paid, full-time role.
To nominate for the Reserved Seat position you must be a Gunaikurnai person of at least 18 years of age.
It is expected that the Reserved Seat Member will:
- At all times, represent GLaWAC’s voice and position at the Assembly and not pursue maters of individual concern.
- Actively contribute to Assembly deliberations and decisions and represent GLaWAC and Gunaikurnai Traditional Owners on matters that may have long-term implications for Gunaikurnai authority, self-determination, land, waters, resources, and future governance arrangements.
- Actively engage with the Gunaikurnai Traditional Owner Group to provide community updates on Gellung Warl and the new era of a Statewide Treaty being in force.
- Provide quarterly reports on engagement activities that they have undertaken.
- Comply with the rules and expectations that will be set by the new Gellung Warl Assembly.
As GLaWAC is the governing body that represents Gunaikurnai people, it is important that the Reserved Seat Member works closely with GLaWAC and the Board.
It is expected that the Reserved Seat Member will:
- Regularly report to the Board about Assembly activities and matters that have a bearing on GLaWAC and Gunaikurnai people.
- Regularly meet with the Board and CEO to ensure alignment on strategic matters to feed-back to Assembly Chamber and Committee meetings.
- Comply with GLaWAC policies, cultural protocols, and governance standards.
- Comply with the rules and expectations that will be set by the new Gellung Warl Assembly.
About the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria
The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria is currently the democratically elected Aboriginal Representative Body in Victoria.
With the passage of Treaty last year, Gellung Warl will be established as the new Aboriginal Representative Body on 1 May 2026.
The First Peoples’ Assembly will be the decision-making arm of Gellung Warl.
For more information visit firstpeoplesvic.org
Other Frequently Asked Questions
About the Reserved Seat Role
Q. How long is the term?
A. Four years. Assembly elections will be held every four years.
Q. Do I have to live on Country to be the GLaWAC Reserved Seat Member?
A. This is not a requirement. You must be a Gunaikurnai person of 18+ years of age. The Reserved Seat Member will need to actively engage with the Gunaikurnai Traditional Owner Group, and be able to demonstrate strong and ongoing connections to community.
Q. I work for the council/public sector – does that mean I cannot be the Reserved Seat Member?
A. Yes, being a public sector employee may mean you cannot be the Reserved Seat Member. For the full list of people who cannot serve on the Assembly, please open the Nomination Form.
Q. How does the Reserved Seat differ from the General Seats?
A. GLaWAC’s Reserved Seat Member is expected to represent GLaWAC’s voice and position at the Assembly, as opposed to representing the interests of all Aboriginal people in the South East more broadly. The Reserved Seat Member will work closely with GLaWAC and the Board and regularly report to the Board about Assembly activities and matters that have a bearing on GLaWAC and Gunaikurnai people.
Q. Do I have to be a GLaWAC Member to nominate?
A. No. All people 18+ who identify as Gunai, Kurnai, Gunai/Kurnai or Gunaikurnai — being people who are descended from one or more of the Gunai/Kurnai Apical
Ancestors — can nominate to become the GLaWAC Reserved Seat Member on the Assembly.
For a full list of who is eligible, and who is not eligible, to serve as the Reserved Seat Member, please open the the Nomination Form.
About the Traditional Owner Group Meeting to Select the Reserved Seat Holder on April 20
Q. Who can attend?
A. This meeting on April 20 is for all people 18+ who identify as Gunai, Kurnai, Gunai/Kurnai or Gunaikurnai — being people who are descended from one or more of the Gunai/Kurnai Apical Ancestors.
Q. Can I attend in-person or online? Where are the physical locations?
A. This meeting will be held online using Zoom. If you are unable to attend online from home, you can visit GLaWAC’s Kalimna West Office or Morwell Office, where a computer will be set up so you can participate online from there.
Q. How can I learn about the people who have nominated?
A. At the meeting on April 20, each candidate will have up to 10 minutes to introduce themselves and speak about their experience, and how they intend to represent GLaWAC and the Gunaikurnai Nation in the Assembly.
