ABOUT VICTORIAN ABORIGINAL NEWS
Victorian Aboriginal News (VAN) is a podcasting and radio content producer, focused primarily on the key areas of: Victorian Treaty, Truth-Telling, reconciliation, and First Nations self-determination. We are fully independent of any commercial or government editorial dictates, operating free of constraints, which are typically brought about by advertising and other forms of content monetisation.
Charles Pakana
Editor and Journalist
Founder and editor of Victorian Aboriginal News, Charles is passionate about promoting the incredible positivity that is so prevelant with Victorian Aboriginal communities. While of Tasmanian Aboriginal descent, Charles identifies strongly as a Victorian Aboriginal man.
Karina Wells
Trainee Journalist
A Palawa woman, Karina joined Victorian Aboriginal News in early 2026 as a trainee journalist and content producer. A third-generation Aboriginal journalist, she is also focused on working with Victorian community radio in order to grow the VAN content spread across the State.
Prof. Andrew Gunstone
Reconciliation Advisor
Professor Andrew Gunstone came on board as the VAN Reconciliation Advisor in June 2026. A long-time collaborator of VAN Founder Charles Pakana, Professor Gunstone is an internationally recognised authority on reconciliation, truth, and justice.
Community Radio
Broadcast Partner
We are passionate about community radio; and the growing number of Victorian Community radio stations that carry our content, either as live broadcasts, syndication or selective content are fundamental to the success of Victorian Aboriginal News.