Applications Now Open for the 2027 Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity Fellowship Program

The Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity has officially opened applications for its 2027 Fellowship Program, a transformative Indigenous and Pacific-centred initiative designed to empower leaders committed to advancing social equity and systems change.

Title: Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity (AFSE) Fellowship Program 2027
Location: Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Pacific Island Nations
Closing Date: 27 July 2026
Contract Type: Fellowship Programme
Study Mode: Full-Time Foundation Year Programme

Based at the University of Melbourne and supported by Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland, the fellowship brings together Indigenous and Pacific leaders and allies from diverse sectors including community development, government, healthcare, business, education, media, and the arts.

The programme is designed for mid-career, community-focused individuals with a strong commitment to creating lasting social impact within Indigenous and Pacific communities across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Pacific Island nations.

About the AFSE Fellowship Program
The AFSE Fellowship is built on the belief that Indigenous and Pacific Peoples hold the solutions to the challenges facing their communities and the wider world. The programme supports leaders who are ready to transform innovative ideas into practical social change initiatives.

Successful Fellows will join a dynamic network dedicated to Indigenous-led social transformation and equity. The programme combines academic learning, community engagement, experiential leadership development, and collaborative cohort learning.

AFSE forms part of the global Atlantic Fellows network established through the philanthropic vision of the late Charles ‘Chuck’ F. Feeney.

Fellowship Structure
Foundation Year
The Foundation Year brings together up to 20 emerging and established Indigenous and Pacific leaders into a collaborative cohort experience.

During the Foundation Year, Fellows will undertake either:

A fee-free Master’s Degree in Social Change Leadership, or
A Graduate Certificate in Social Change Leadership
The academic programme integrates Indigenous and Pacific knowledges with critical thinking, systems change approaches, and practical leadership development.

Lifelong Fellowship
Upon completion of the Foundation Year, participants become Senior Fellows and continue engagement through the wider Atlantic Fellows global community.

Senior Fellows gain access to:

Ongoing collaboration opportunities
Global summits and networking events
Learning and leadership exchanges
Support for advancing social change initiatives
A global network of more than 1,100 changemakers across 70+ countries
The international network is supported by the Atlantic Institute, hosted at Rhodes Trust.

Social Change Initiative
A major component of the fellowship is the development of each Fellow’s Social Change Initiative.

This initiative is a practical project or body of work focused on addressing real-world issues affecting communities, organisations, or sectors. Fellows apply the knowledge and skills gained throughout the programme to strengthen and expand their initiatives.

Projects may focus on:

Public policy reform
Community-led development programmes
Climate action
Health equity solutions
Media and storytelling initiatives
Indigenous-led systems transformation
Programme Delivery
The Foundation Year is delivered over one year through a combination of:

Five intensive in-person modules
Online tutorials held every second week
Collaborative group discussions
Academic and applied assessments
Each in-person module runs for approximately five to eight days, totalling around 40 days of travel throughout the year.

AFSE covers all travel expenses associated with in-person sessions held across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Pacific Island regions.

The programme has been intentionally designed to minimise disruption to Fellows’ family and community responsibilities while enabling meaningful engagement and learning.

Application Process
Applications for the 2027 AFSE Fellowship Program are now open.

Interested applicants can apply online through the official AFSE programme page.

How to Apply
Applications must be submitted before the closing deadline below:

Application Deadline: Monday, 27 July 2026 at 11:59 PM AEST

Apply here:
https://www.socialequity.atlanticfellows.org/program?utm_medium=shortlink&utm_campaign=recruitment&utm_source=chatgpt.com