Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity

The Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity (AFSE) is a life-changing intercultural fellowship for Indigenous social equity in Australia, Aotearoa and the Pacific region. We are working for Indigenous-led social change to build on the collective strength, resilience, knowledge and leadership Indigenous people bring to the world.

AFSE is based at the University of Melbourne and was established in 2016 with funding from the Atlantic Philanthropies.

AFSE Fellows are exceptional, mid-career change-makers with a track record in social change initiatives, and experience working on Indigenous-focused projects. They are Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders from Australia, Aotearoa and Pacific Island nations, and they come from a broad range of creative, professional, advocacy and educational backgrounds. The program has taken in Fellows from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academics, activists, artists, business professionals, health practitioners, government officials and lawyers.

How is AFSE unique?

AFSE is the only Indigenous-led Atlantic Fellowship program, with intake targeting First Nations communities across Australia, Aotearoa and most Pacific Island nations.

Fellows of the program have experience working with Indigenous communities and organisations, and partner with them on projects to generate social change.

Fellows are also supported by the AFSE Pou (Elders in residence) – Indigenous intellectual leaders and knowledge holders who provide guidance and cultural safety.

Lifelong Fellowship

The foundation year

During the foundation year, Fellows complete a bespoke Master of Social Change Leadership course at the University of Melbourne. They attend 38 days of programming, completing six modules and developing a social change project to implement upon completion.

A key part of the Fellowship is these social change projects. Fellows refine their social change projects throughout the year, drawing on the most current and impactful critical Indigenous scholarship from Australia, Aotearoa, the Pacific and beyond.

As of 2024, 87 AFSE Fellows have joined the global, lifelong Atlantic Fellows network, and in 2025, this number exceed 100. AFSE ensures that Senior Fellows also maintain a continued connection with their home program by supporting cross-cohort collaboration, hosting events, enabling funding support and promoting their work through our communications strategy.

AFSE’s approach to Senior Fellowship includes offerings and expectations unique to the Indigenous context and geopolitical environment within which we work, such as:

• A focus on Indigenous thought and scholarship.

• A commitment to lifelong learning, extending the research-informed approach of the foundation year.

• Supporting the Senior Fellows’ transition from the foundation year program into social change project implementation, identifying supportive opportunities to strengthen skills in evaluative thinking, project planning, resourcing and reflexive practice.

• Supporting Senior Fellows as they prepare to engage with the global Atlantic Fellows ecosystem.