The two-day Victorian Aboriginal Elders Summit was held this week on Bunurong/Boon Wurrung Country/Melbourne, showcasing several high-profile First Nations people and their experiences around aged care in Australia.

The event featured panel discussions, poetry, musical and dance performances, as well as stories.

Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) CEO and Gunditjmara woman, Jill Gallagher, said the event was an "incredible" opportunity to help celebrate the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders in maintaining the heart and soul of Community.

"Elders have been my main source of inspiration throughout my life. Their generosity, courage, wisdom, and the knowledge they pass on to Communities is vital," she said.

"As keepers of one of the oldest living cultures on the planet, Elders impart and sustain a rich cultural heritage from generation to generation, including translating culture into contemporary ways."

On day one of the summit, Aunty Fay Carter OAM, Aunty Ros Pevitt and Aunty Gina Bundle OAM discussed the changes around integrating Aboriginal Culture into aged care that they've witnessed during their lifetime. Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung woman Aunty Fay encouraged young people to embrace their Elders, and to "adopt" an Elder if they didn't already have one,

Gunditjmara man and founder of the Koorie Heritage Trust Inc, Uncle Jim Berg, spoke of his involvement in the establishment of many of Victoria's ACCHO's. He also discussed the 1984 legal battle he undertook that resulted in over 800 Aboriginal human remains held by the University of Melbourne and the Museum of Victoria being returned to Communities on Country and reburied.

Other speakers on the first day included Yorta Yorta Elder, Uncle Lance James; who shared his decade-long experience around supporting members of the Stolen Generations, and helping them find their way home and heal, Uncle Paul Chapman, Dr Esme Bamblett, Uncle Rodney Carter, and Uncle Alan Thorpe; who promoted various messages around leadership, self-determination and the contouring role Elders play in Community; and Aunty Pat Anderson AO, who discussed the Uluru Statement of the Heart and urged people to vote Yes.

The second day opened with musical performances by Uncle Herb Patten on the Gum Leaf and Uncle Robbie Bundle, as well as poetry by Uncle Jim Berg.

Gunditjmara Elder Aunty Vicki Couzens addressed the crowd in language and discussed the role of the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages in celebrating and revitalising the knowledge of language. This was followed by a panel discussion with Rosales Martinez, Aunty Gina Bundle, and Aunty Cheryl Drayton, who discussed languages and made a call to action to increase the collective advocacy in calling for their revitalisation.

The final afternoon featured a discussion around the future of Aboriginal Community Controlled Aged Care and the shared aspirations of the speakers and what it would look like. Yorta Yorta and Taungurung woman, Aunty Felicia Dean highlighted the aged care services provided by Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative - a health organisation of community-controlled whole of life service based in Mooroopna - and Murruwarri woman Lisa Ogolo introduced the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ageing and Aged Care Council (NATSIAACC).

There was a call made for the urgent funding increase for ACCHOs in order to provide greater access for people to non-profit community-controlled aged care services.

Jill Gallagher lauded the experiences gained from the summit.

"To be able to yarn and connect with the 100 Aboriginal Elders in attendance was amazing and enriched all of our hearts and minds," she said.

'Uncle Herb's rendition of 'What a Wonderful World' on the Gum leaf and listening to Aunty Fay were deeply emotional experiences."

The summit also saw an overwhelming call of support from Elders for the Yes vote in the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum. Ms Gallagher said in a video post the voice would help children - "Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal" - grow up with a connection to the history of First Nations people and understand the culture of "our Elders."

"The voice is an opportunity for us to grow a shared future together," she said.