2023 Cohort of Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity are welcomed to Naarm
As the academic year begins at the University of Melbourne, the 2023 cohort of Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity came together in February to participate in the first intensive module of their foundation year, Enacting Influence: examining the policy and political contexts of social change.
Travelling from across Aotearoa and Australia, the intercultural group of 17 changemakers and Indigenous leaders met face to face for the first time to build relationships and begin their Master of Social Change Leadership.
The first intensive module introduces the cohort to questions about when, how and why social change takes place, and opens up a discussion on the types of change that Fellows aim to achieve through their social change projects.
Fellows are asked to examine the policy and political context in which their social change projects are situated, includinghistorical and contemporary policies aimed at addressing Indigenous inequalities across Australia and Aotearoa. The module covers such issues as sovereignty, self-determination, and land rights, and assists Fellows in locating their work in a broader policy context, identifying key stakeholders and communicating critical aspects of their project to decision-makers and partners.
Core to this module is shifting away from understanding ‘policy’ as something that governments do, and towards thinking about the norms, aspirations, and power that Indigenous communities possess. The module aims to highlight the ways Indigenous aspirations and power are recognised and can be elevated in Fellow’s project work.
The week began with a Welcome to Country by Wurundjeri Traditional Owner and 2022 AFSE Fellow Stacie Piper, and a mihi whakatau (formal welcome) provided by members of the Māori community in Melbourne. The new cohort also had the opportunity to meet and connect with the AFSE team and the wider Indigenous community within the University of Melbourne.
Fellows attended sessions with guest speakers including AFSE Pou, Professor Daryle Rigney, on Indigenous nation-building and the strategies that the Ngarrindjeri nation have employed for nation-based priorities. Indigenous architect Jefa Greenaway provided an introduction into the many ways that Fellows can take guidance from Country and whenua in their work.
The cohort then travelled to Gunditjmara Country, visiting Budj Bim and Tae Rak (Lake Condah) for an opportunity to critically engage with localised historical & contemporary policy settings. Fellows heard from a range of community members, including AFSE Senior Fellow Damein Bell.
“I am very grateful to have spent time on Gunditjmara Country listening and learning from the Fighting Gunditjmara. I’m thankful for their activism and leadership that all mob have benefited from.” - Hayley McQuire 2023 Atlantic Fellow for Social Equity
Many Fellows are deeply embedded in policy design, implementation, or evaluation within their work, responding to the effects of settler colonial state policy on their families and communities in strategic and creative ways.
During this module, Fellow’s explored the question; How do agents and actors (politicians, lobby groups, activists, the media – but most importantly Indigenous communities) achieve their policy goals in the field? And what are the frameworks, strategies and levers required to effect social change in Indigenous affairs at all levels?
“AFSE is thrilled to welcome our fifth cohort, a wonderful group of people dedicated to Indigenous equity. The first module is all about focusing on who we're doing this work for - our families, communities and the wider public. We talk about how we can support our own and others’ connections to Country, and honour Elders, Traditional Owners and Tangata Whenua in our work.
We're excited for the year ahead and to work with Fellows on the diversity of projects, ideas and priorities they bring with them to AFSE.” - Associate Professor Nikki Moodie, Program Director and Deputy Director
To find out more about the Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity 2023 Cohort visit our Fellow profiles. www.socialequity.atlanticfellows.org/fellows
Image credits: Naarm: Tiffany Garvie, Gunditjmara: Colleen Hamilton