Applications Invited for AFSE Fellowship 2025 Cohort

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About the Organization

The Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity (AFSE) is a life-changing fellowship program for Indigenous social equity in Australia, Aotearoa and the Pacific region.

AFSE was established at the University of Melbourne in 2016 with funding from the Atlantic Philanthropies – a foundation established by the late philanthropist Chuck Feeney. The foundation has invested more than USD$660 million in the seven international and interconnected Atlantic Fellows programs, one of which is AFSE.

As part of the AFSE program, Fellows from Australia and Aotearoa complete a foundation year where they develop a social change project and complete a postgraduate qualification. Upon completion, Fellows graduate into the lifelong global Atlantic Fellows community.

Over the course of 20 years, the program will drive Indigenous social equity by amplifying the influence of hundreds of social change makers and connecting them with thousands of peers around the world.

About the Fellowship

The Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity (AFSE) is a life-changing fellowship for Indigenous social equity in Australia, Aotearoa and Pacific Island nations. Based at the University of Melbourne, the AFSE program represents a 20+ year investment into Indigenous-led social change through a powerful network of Fellows.

It has two features:

• An intensive foundation year where 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, made up 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 who are active in over 80 countries.

Social change project

A key part 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, you are asked to write about a social change project you will undertake as part of your fellowship and beyond. While there are different ways to effect change, we are looking for people who have experience in and an ability to come up with an Indigenous social change idea. It does not have to be fully formed as it is early stages.

Time commitment

Fellows are required to attend all intensive weeks (see the ‘Key dates and details’ tab on this page for more on this). In addition, Fellows need to dedicate additional time to independent study and assessment writing. This is a full-time course load, equivalent to 40 hours per week. AFSE also facilitates fortnightly online study groups to connect with Fellows and focus on completion of assessment and project development work.

Many Fellows are engaged in full-time work, have caring responsibilities and hold important roles in their community, at the same time as working through the full-time study components of the Fellowship. If this sounds like you, please note that making space for study during the year is essential. The key is excellent planning and execution. Commitment to the foundation year is significant, and AFSE provides extensive resources to support Fellows to enable successful completion.

Support

AFSE meets the full cost of all course fees for the postgraduate study (Master’s or Graduate Certificate of Social Change Leadership) at the University of Melbourne, and all associated Student Services and Amenities Fees. This applies to all Fellows.

AFSE provides a range of additional support to all Fellows for the foundation year. This support includes:

• one-on-one tutors and learning support for study
• free mental health support provided by Indigenous psychologists and counsellors, contracted to AFSE for use by Fellows
• disability access and support

All Fellows have access to the full range of support services provided to all University of Melbourne students.

AFSE is committed to continuing Fellow intakes and delivering the program should public health challenges arise. Contingency plans are in place to continue the Fellowship in the event of public health restrictions and will include online learning as required.

Eligibility

The AFSE Fellowship is designed for community-focused, mid-career applicants. As an Indigenous-led social equity program, the majority of Fellows are Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori peoples. However, there are places for non-Indigenous peoples from Australia, Aotearoa and Pacific Island nations who demonstrate a track-record of work in Indigenous affairs and have standing in community as a result of their long-term commitment to Indigenous equity. AFSE welcomes around 20 Fellows each year. You do not have to have an undergraduate degree to apply but if selected will have to undertake postgraduate study.

Are you:

• A citizen or permanent resident of Australia or Aotearoa or a Pacific Island nation?
• Not enrolled in any other form of study in 2025 (or have your thesis under examination as at January 2025)?
• Not already an Atlantic Fellow or a participant in another Atlantic Fellowship program?
• Willing to commit to a non-residential foundation year experience, which includes:
• Seven weeks’ travel away from home across the year (see dates in the next section);
• Approximately ten hours of study time per week;
• 5000-word assessments per subject (there are eight subjects in total)?

Do you:

• Have an undergraduate degree or five to eight years of work experience in social change?
• Have proficiency in English?
• Have a passport or ability to acquire a passport (for international travel)?
• If you are employed, have the support of your employer to complete a full year non-residential program which requires at least seven weeks away from work, plus additional study time as required?

How to Apply

Applications close at 11.55pm on Monday 5 August 2024.

Apply

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Tags Skill Development Leadership Social Change Others