4Eligibility criteria for Federation Fellowships

4 Eligibility criteria for Federation Fellowships

Federation Fellowships are tenable only on a full-time basis at Australian higher education institutions and other Australian research organisations, funded primarily for research from State or Commonwealth Government sources, such as DSTO and CSIRO. Researchers with both continuing and non-continuing appointments are eligible to apply for Federation Fellowships. Successful Fellowship applicants must relinquish their existing positions before taking up the award.

Federation Fellows are expected to work full-time on research and research-related activities. While a Fellow’s principal duty is to undertake research, it is also important to specify the role he/she would be expected to play within the host department or institution. Research-related activities could include supervision of postgraduate students.

Applicants must be distinguished researchers who are at the forefront of international research and who are either:

• Australia‑based Australian researchers who have a research record of highest international standing, or
• expatriate Australian researchers, with research records of high international standing, who wish to return to pursue research in Australia; or
• extremely high profile non-Australian researchers who wish to pursue research which would provide major benefit to Australia, within Australia.

Preference for Federation Fellowships will be given to Australian citizens and permanent residents. There is scope for up to five Federation Fellowships to be awarded in any given year to researchers who are not Australian citizens or permanent residents. Applicants who do not currently hold Australian citizenship or permanent resident status at the time of application will need to demonstrate that the Fellowship would be of national benefit to Australia. These applicants will also need to demonstrate a higher level of performance than their Australian competitors or be able to offer special expertise, extensive skills or exceptionally high performance levels not available locally, which will be of benefit to Australian research in facilitating the transfer of critical knowledge to Australia and Australians.

Federation Fellows must reside predominantly in Australia for the full term of the grant. If the applicant does not have permanent resident status he/she must obtain temporary resident status from the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs before taking up the grant.

Although applicants are required to reside predominantly in Australia, it is expected that the holders of Federation Fellowships will pursue research that is at the leading edge, internationally, in their field. To facilitate this aim, Federation Fellows may undertake periods of research overseas. The option of approved periods overseas for Federation Fellowship holders is available in instances in which it can be demonstrated clearly that this is in the best interests of the research and its outcomes, and of national benefit to Australia. Periods overseas of up to two years in total during the period of award may be approved.