About Us
OUR STORY
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.
ADVISORY BOARD
The Advisory Board provides strategic oversight and guidance to the program. Board members have extensive experience in a range of areas and sectors including Indigenous rights and advocacy, academia, the arts, health, not-for-profits, philanthropy, the public service and start-ups.
POU
Pou – Indigenous intellectual leaders and knowledge holders – work alongside Fellows and bring guidance, sustenance and cultural safety. Building upon established models of Elders-in-Residence at the University of Melbourne, their role is enhanced by the concept of Māori Pou. Pou are carved posts erected on land to express the identity and ancestors of a place, to designate or hold up ‘place’ for a particular purpose and to contain knowledge. The term Pou is often used metaphorically to refer to people who are teachers and experts, who guide and protect others and anchor a particular project or philosophy in place.
Team
The AFSE team, with their incredible expertise and diverse professional and academic backgrounds, provides invaluable support to the program in areas such as program, operations, communications and more. This small but dynamic team ensures the smooth day-to-day operation of the AFSE program and the ongoing support of the fellows.
Lyn-Al Young
Lyn-Al Young is the artist and creator of the AFSE program artwork used across this website.
She is a Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Yorta Yorta fashion designer and artist. The artwork represents the journey of our Fellows.