New Zealand and Australia unite for social equity

MEDIA RELEASE

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2016

New Zealand and Australia unite for social equity.

The University of Auckland will play a key role in a major trans-Tasman initiative tackling social inequity to be launched by Australian Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Malcolm Turnbull in Canberra today.

Professor Cindy Kiro from the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Education and Social Work will speak at the launch of the new Atlantic Fellowships for Social Equity programme.

Led by the University of Melbourne, the fellowships will equip an entire generation of leaders with the skills to improve equity in indigenous and non-indigenous communities in Australia, New Zealand and after three years, in the Pacific.

Starting next year, up to 25 fellowships will be awarded each year for the next 20 years to produce up to 500 social change leaders.

“We are delighted to be a partner in the Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity programme,” says Professor Stuart McCutcheon, University of Auckland Vice-Chancellor.

“As the largest provider of degree education to Māori (indigenous) and Pacific people in New Zealand, and a major centre for Māori and Pacific research, the University of Auckland has a strong commitment to leadership development in those communities.”

“We welcome the opportunity to partner with the University of Melbourne in bringing our expertise to bear on the challenge of creating greater social equity across Australasia and the Pacific.”

Fellows will be selected from a diverse range of backgrounds and sectors and must demonstrate a commitment to the social equity ideals of the Atlantic Philanthropic Trust who are supporting the programme.

The programme will be open to mid-level career leaders from Australia and New Zealand, with a focus on indigenous leaders and will eventually be expanded to include the Pacific Islands and wider Pacific Rim.

Two of the University of Auckland’s most distinguished Māori leaders, Professor Kiro and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Māori) Jim Peters, will oversee the fellowships in New Zealand.

Professor Kiro has taken up a role as the University of Auckland Director for the programme from October.

Successful Fellows from both countries will have the opportunity to complete placements organised by the University of Auckland to work within indigenous and disadvantaged communities in New Zealand.

Professor Kiro says the 20-year programme has major benefits for both New Zealand and Australia.

“Not only will our Fellows be part of a global network of Atlantic Fellows, but they will have contributed to other communities through their projects, learned new skills that facilitate their effectiveness, and have doors opened that would otherwise have remained closed,” Professor Kiro says.

“It is a significant opportunity to grow leadership within disadvantaged communities and to enrich our societies. It is time for Australia and New Zealand to grapple with the issues facing our indigenous people and deepen the dialogue with those who experience inequity.”

The Fellowships are part of the Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity programme, a global initiative which aims to advance a fairer, healthier, more resilient and inclusive society.

In addition to the Universities of Melbourne and Auckland, an international network of partners will support and deliver the programme, including:

Queensland University of Technology
Brotherhood of St Laurence (an Australian community organisation)
The Commonwealth Government of Australia
Jawun (an Australian Indigenous community organisation)
The Atlantic Institute, based at the Rhodes Trust
Peak Aboriginal organisations
Iwi/Hapu and Māori community organisations

Additional Quotes
University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Professor Glyn Davis said the Fellowships arrive at an important time, and will help build capability in a new generation of leaders. “Our leadership styles should reflect the reality of the current world. That Australia and our neighbours in the Pacific continue to face challenge in social equity would seem to indicate our leaders should aspire to be more generous and more international in outlook.”
“These fellowships will provide mid-career, social change leaders with a significant platform to accelerate their personal and professional development. In doing so, we believe we can assist them with the skills and networks they require to enable both practices and policies that will improve social equity for disadvantaged communities across the Australia-Pacific region.”
“The University is well placed to lead this programme. As Australia’s number one ranked university, Melbourne has proven leadership credentials, is home to the Melbourne Social Equity Institute and can claim one of the largest cohorts of Indigenous graduates in Australia.”

More about the Atlantic Fellowships for Social Equity
Fellows will be selected from a diverse range of backgrounds including business, academia, public service and industry, and chosen on the basis of their leadership credentials and established commitment to social equity ideals.

The programme will be supported by a $50 million USD grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies. The fellowships will also receive additional funding from the Australian Government, on top of $5 million in funding from the University of Melbourne.
A Programme Board will oversee the Fellowships, and will be chaired by the Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia, Professor Tom Calma.

About Cindy Kiro
Professor Cindy Kiro (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine) has had a distinguished career dedicated to improving the long-term health and social-wellbeing of Māori, especially children. At the University of Auckland she is the Director of the Starpath Project, a research project focused on equitable outcomes for New Zealand students who have been under-represented in tertiary education. She is also Te Tumu in the Faculty of Education and Social Work responsible for Māori strategic leadership. Professor Kiro was Children’s Commissioner for New Zealand between 2003 and 2009. She was the first woman and first Māori in this role.

About Atlantic Philanthropies
The Atlantic Philanthropies is dedicated to advancing opportunity, equity and human dignity. Established in 1982, when Chuck Feeney quietly committed virtually all of his assets to the foundation, Atlantic has since made grants approaching $8 billion. In keeping with Mr. Feeney’s “Giving While Living,” big-bet philosophy, Atlantic invests in systemic change to accelerate improvements in the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable people. The foundation, which has operated in Australia, Bermuda, Cuba, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United States and Vietnam, will complete all grant making in 2016 and conclude operations shortly afterward.

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