The Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity (AFSE) is a transformative fellowship for Indigenous social equity in Australia, Aotearoa, and Pacific Island nations. Based at the University of Melbourne, the AFSE program represents a more than 20-year investment into Indigenous-led social change through a powerful network of Fellows.
The program features two key components:
- An intensive foundation year during which Fellows undertake a Master of Social Change Leadership at the University of Melbourne (fee-free), attend six in-person modules, and develop a social change project to deliver upon completion.
- Following the foundation year, Fellows graduate and become members of the global Atlantic Fellows community, comprised of change-makers from across seven hubs coordinated and led by the Atlantic Institute in Oxford. As of May 2024, there are 902 Atlantic Fellows active in over 80 countries.
A central element of the Fellowship is the social change project. Throughout the foundation year, Fellows refine and develop a social change project, drawing on the most current and impactful critical Indigenous scholarship from Australia, Aotearoa, and around the world.
As part of the application process, applicants are required to write about a social change project they will undertake as part of their fellowship and beyond. While there are various ways to effect change, the program seeks individuals who have experience in and the ability to conceive an Indigenous social change idea. The project does not have to be fully formed, as it is still in the early stages.