Voices of change – Indigenous successes and celebrations in 2025

In its 30th year since inception – the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) has shared a successful 12 months with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, filled with achievements, learnings and major milestones.

Within the past year, the ILSC has partnered with many Indigenous communities and Traditional Owners across Australia, honouring and celebrating their resilience and continuing connection to Country and culture.

From significant divestments spanning across over 25,000 square kilometres of land, to investing in infrastructure for ranger programs, renewable energy and agricultural initiatives, 2025 has seen the ILSC champion First Nations peoples’ rights to self-determination.

These achievements are reflected in the words of the ILSC’s project partners, spanning across Central, Western and Eastern Australia.

“ILSC funding was instrumental in securing the land for our purpose-built kindergarten and enabling the expansion of services to community. If we can create connections with young people at an early age… it will support better health and wellbeing outcomes,” said Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative (BDAC) CEO, Dallas Widdicombe.

"The local Yued community have been very clear in their desire for this acquisition. We're grateful for the support from the ILSC and pleased that this is an asset owned by Yued Aboriginal Corporation,” said Yued Elder, Colin Headland.

“The Betoota Base Station will help support our bi-annual youth camps and give our Elders a comfortable base for an evening. The funding provided by the ILSC has helped us reach one of our many goals for Mithaka Country, we could not have completed this without their help,” said Josh Mithaka Traditional Owner, Joshua Gorringe.

Along with the continued rollout of the National Indigenous Land and Sea Strategy 2023-2028, and the launch of the ‘30 Years of Change’ ILSC podcast, another 2025 highlight was the release of the annual Returning and Managing Country publication, detailing dozens of stories of change. This edition celebrated 30 years of the ILSC.

ILSC Group CEO, Joe Morrison, said he is incredibly proud of the ILSC and its role in the advancement of First Nations groups, noting the critical work that has been achieved in 2025.

“Since 1995, the ILSC has worked tirelessly to drive its vision of a prosperous and sustainable future for Australia’s first peoples.

“Our partners have diverse and rapidly growing aspirations, this is reflected in the projects we support. Seeing and hearing the inspiring outcomes of these projects is the reason for the ILSC’s existence.

“2025 has been a huge year for the ILSC and our project partners. I commend the commitment and efforts of all ILSC staff, as well as the ILSC Board, and look forward to another successful year,” said Mr Morrison.

In all, 2025 has strengthened the voices of Indigenous peoples across Australia.

The year has served as a platform for truth telling – and represented a beacon of hope for First Nations peoples to continue to advocate for their self-determination and successes.