Andrew Jackomos reckons he could be walking into the toughest job of his life.
"I'm going to have to have my Ovaltine in the morning," he joked.
The Yorta Yorta man made the comment on the eve of being announced as a member of Victoria's Treaty Authority, which will play a critical role in the state's nation-leading journey towards a statewide treaty.
The state already has a First Peoples' Assembly, comprised of Victorian traditional owners, which will sit opposite the government in treaty negotiations next year.
Many members have spoken of their desire to see the state restore more power to Aboriginal communities to run their own affairs and introduce Indigenous-led policies to help close gaps in areas like life expectancy and over-incarceration.
When the assembly and government enter treaty talks, it will be the job of the Treaty Authority to make sure that negotiation is being done in a way that respects the relevant laws and cultural safety of the parties.
"I think the important thing is for everyone to understand that when you come to the treaty table, that we're there as equals and it's about promoting self-determination, empowerment," Mr Jackomos said.
For Mr Jackomos, whose parents fought for Aboriginal civil rights alongside the legendary Yorta Yorta leader Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls, the challenge of his new job is "particularly humbling".
"I'm humbled by the opportunities that I have that people back then were fighting for," he said.
"Government is now at the table, government and the people of Victoria recognise that to move forward for a better Victoria, we need to actually sit down and come to deal with the past."
Mr Jackomos — who has previously served as Victoria's first Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People — is one of five Indigenous people who have been appointed as Treaty Authority members following a months-long recruitment process.
The other four members of the Authority are Yorta Yorta woman and health researcher Petah Atkinson, Gunditjmara woman and cultural advisor Thelma Austin, Djab Wurrung man and lawyer Jidah Clark and Biripi woman Duean White, who has experience across corporate, legal, government and not-for-profit sectors.
In addition to being the umpire for talks between Aboriginal communities and government, the authority will also work to resolve disputes between traditional owners preparing themselves for local treaty talks.
"I think this is potentially a minefield for young players … if you don't understand the local people, customs, and the history of, and the impact of colonisation in the different areas of state," Mr Jackomos said.
His fellow Treaty member, Dr Atkinson, said treaty was "more than symbolic" and would provide a legal structure to protect the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Victorians.
"Treaty is an opportunity for our state to progress from the rhetoric of reconciliation and be drivers of systemic change," she said.
There are many eyes on Victoria's treaty process
In the aftermath of the failed Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, state-based treaty processes around Australia have come under intense scrutiny.
While New South Wales is continuing with its state-based treaty plans, Queensland's are in doubt.
An indication of that scrutiny arrived on Tuesday, when the salaries of Mr Jackomos and his authority colleagues — reportedly comparable to those of senior public service executives — were publicised in the media.
In response, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins said it was important that an under-resourced Aboriginal community was not sitting across the negotiation table from a "fully resourced government presence".
"Of course they [authority members] should be paid what executives are paid across the government system … it comes also at a cultural cost for everyone involved in the process and I think that they're, quite frankly, the heroes of our state for doing this," she said.
Her opposition counterpart, Victorian Nationals leader Peter Walsh, has been among those questioning the salaries of the authority members, but said he was seeking to make a broader point about all government executive salaries.
"I'm voicing the concerns that have been raised with me and others in our side of politics about the excessive salaries by the Victorian government … I don't think it passes the pub test anymore," he said.
Mr Walsh, who has supported the legislation behind Victoria's path towards treaty, said it was important the incoming authority members approached treaty talks "very, very carefully".
"Because as we saw with the Voice referendum, public goodwill can be lost very quickly, if the detail is not explained and particularly if there is overreach," he said.
Standing beside the Treaty Authority's inaugural members, First Peoples' Assembly co-chair Rueben Berg said he did not take bipartisan support for granted.
"But I think at the end of the day, when we come and look and see what we're trying to achieve here through treaty, if we can make sure that all Victorians can see the benefit that comes to them — that this is not just something that benefits First Peoples, this is a capacity to benefit all Victorians — that there's no reason why anybody wouldn't support what we're doing," he said.