5Changes from last year

5                                  Changes from last year

5.1.1                      A number of clarifications and revisions have been made in these Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2009 (the 2009 DP Funding Rules). Significant changes from the 2008 DP Funding Rules include:

1. ARC Centre Fellowships awarded under the ARC’s Centres of Excellence scheme are explicitly included in the definition of an ARC Fellowship (subsection 3.1.1);
2. For the purposes of improved clarity and focus, two of the previous objectives for the scheme (subsections 1.3.2.c. and f. in the 2008 DP Funding rules) have been merged into one objective (subsection 4.3.2.e);
3. Clarification is provided that funding is permitted for CIs and ARC Fellows  and research support personnel (excluding PIs) to cover domestic and international travel associated with a project, including to foster and strengthen collaborations between researchers in Australia and overseas (subsection 6.3.2.e);
4. The limit on the number of DP projects which previously applied to CIs who were substantially associated with Commonwealth-funded Research Centres has been replaced by a limit of one DP project for researchers who are Specified Personnel for an ARC  Centre (excluding PIs) (subsection 6.6.1.2.d); 
5. A limit of one ARC Fellowship nomination has been introduced for persons who are being nominated for an ARC Fellowship in this DP funding round (subsection 6.6.1.2.f);
6. A Proposal may not be submitted if it is essentially the same as an eligible Proposal submitted in the DP funding round conducted in 2008 and that latter Proposal was ranked in group E (remainder of unsuccessful proposals) in that earlier round (subsection 6.6.2.2);
7. Provision is made for APDs to be undertaken as a 75 per cent option if requested by the Fellowship candidate, with the other 25 per cent of time able to be used on non-remunerated activities (such as family or carer responsibilities) (subsection 8.5.4);
8. A researcher who is awarded an ARF/QEII under the 100% salary plus on-costs option is not required to resign any existing continuing position he/she holds (subsection 8.5.5.7.a);
9. A number of changes have been made to the APF eligibility requirements, including: clarification regarding when existing ARC Fellowship holders are able to be nominated for an APF and associated requirements for the relinquishment of funding associated with an existing ARC fellowship; and modification to the prerequisites for a researcher to be nominated for the 100 per cent salary support option. Support for APFs under the 100 per cent salary plus on-costs option is now more focused either on candidates who hold or have recently held an ARF, QEII or a fellowship awarded on a competitive basis which in the opinion of the ARC is of at least similar status, or who are proposing to move employment to one of the Eligible Organisations listed in Appendix 2, Item 1 (subsection 8.5.6);