Section 1 - Australian Research Council Act 2001 - Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development - Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2010 - Australian Research Council Act 2001 - Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development - Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2010 | Zoe
Australian Research Council Act 2001 - Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development - Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2010
1Australian Research Council Act 2001 - Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development - Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2010
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Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2010
Australian Research Council Act 2001
I, KIM CARR, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, having satisfied myself of the matters set out in section 59 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001, approve these Funding Rules under section 60 of that Act.
Dated 30 January 2009
Kim Carr
Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
The following acronyms are used in ARC Funding Rules.
AEST
Australian Eastern Standard Time
AEDT
Australian Eastern Daylight Saving (Summer) Time
AIMS
Australian Institute of Marine Science
ANSTO
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
APA
Australian Postgraduate Award
APAI
Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry)
APD
Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship
APDI
Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (Industry)
APF
Australian Professorial Fellowship
ARC
Australian Research Council
ARCIF
Australian Research Council International Fellowship
ARF
Australian Research Fellowship
ARF - Indigenous
Australian Research Fellowship - Indigenous
AVCC
Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee
CE
ARC Centres of Excellence and ARC Centres
CoE
ARC College of Experts
CI
Chief Investigator
CRC
Cooperative Research Centre
CSIRO
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
DIRD
ARC Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development
DP
ARC Discovery Projects
DSTO
Defence Science and Technology Organisation
ECR
Early Career Researcher
FF
ARC Federation Fellowships
FL
Australian Laureate Fellowships
FT
ARC Future Fellowships
GA
Geoscience Australia
GAMS
Grant Application Management System
GST
Goods and Services Tax
HECS
Higher Education Contribution Scheme
HELP
Higher Education Loan Programme
ICA
International Collaboration Award
ICI
Internationally Coordinated Initiative
IRF
Indigenous Researcher Fellowship
LASP
ARC Learned Academies Special Projects
LCI
LASP Chief Investigator
LIEF
ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
LIF
ARC Linkage Industry Fellowship
LP
ARC Linkage Projects
LX
ARC Linkage International
NCGP
National Competitive Grants Program
NHMRC
National Health and Medical Research Council
NP
Network Participant
OI
Overseas Investigator
PI
Partner Investigator
QEII
Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship
RMS
Research Management System
RN
ARC Research Networks
SAC
Selection Advisory Committee
SRC
ARC Special Research Centre
SRI
ARC Special Research Initiatives
UA
Universities Australia
URL
Universal Resource Locator
Key Dates
Closing time for Eligibility Exemption and Eligibility Advice Requests 5.00 pm (AEDT)Friday 3 April 2009
Closing time for submission of Proposals 5.00 pm (AEST)Wednesday 13 May 2009
Deadline for letters requesting non-use of an assessor 5.00 pm (AEST)Wednesday 13 May 2009
Dates for the award of a PhD (or having achieved equivalent status) to be eligible for:
Indigenous Researcher Fellowship (Section 8.4 of the Funding Rules) On or after 13 May 2006
Australian Research Fellowship - Indigenous(Section 8.6 of the Funding Rules) On or after 13 May 2001
Contacts
The ARC deals with thousands of Proposals each year. Researchers should, therefore, direct requests for information to the Research Office within their organisation.
Enquiries, paper copies of Proposals, Eligibility Exemption/Advice Requests and Requests not to Assess must be addressed and sent:
by mail to: by courier to:
Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development CoordinatorAustralian Research CouncilGPO Box 2702CANBERRA ACT 2601 Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development CoordinatorAustralian Research Council1st Floor, 8 Brindabella CircuitCANBERRA AIRPORT ACT 2609
These Funding Rules are the Australian Research Council Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2010.
2. Commencement
The Funding Rules shall take effect upon registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.
3. Definitions
In these Funding Rules, unless the contrary intention appears:
Adjunct or Emeritus Appointment or equivalent means that an Eligible Organisation has a formal agreement with a researcher which establishes an ongoing association with the Eligible Organisation, of the nature of an emeritus or honorary academic or visiting fellow. The ARC may seek documentary evidence of such an association if it is considered necessary.
Administering Organisation means an Eligible Organisation which submits a Proposal for funding under Discovery Indigenous Researcher Development and which will be responsible for the administration of the funding if the proposed project is approved for funding.
Applicant means the Administering Organisation. Funding under Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development is provided to Administering Organisations, not to individual researchers.
ARC means the Australian Research Council, as established under the ARC Act.
ARC Act means the Australian Research Council Act 2001, or the Act.
ARC Centre means a research centre wholly or partly funded by the ARC and includes ARC Centres of Excellence, ARC Centres, ARC Special Research Centres and co-funded Centres of Excellence such as the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics (ACPFG), the Australian Stem Cell Centre (ASCC) and National ICT Australia (NICTA).
ARC Centre Fellowship means an ARC Centre Fellowship awarded under the ARC Centres of Excellence scheme.
ARC Fellowship means a position held by a researcher where the salary is funded wholly or partly by the ARC and where the researcher has been nominated in a Proposal to hold a Fellowship. An ARC Fellowship may be awarded at a number of levels and in various ARC schemes. ARC Fellowship includes Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (APD), Australian Research Fellowship (ARF), Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship (QEII), Australian Professorial Fellowship (APF), Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (Industry) (APDI), Linkage Industry Fellowship (LIF), ARC Centre Fellowship, ARC International Fellowship (ARCIF), Federation Fellowship, Future Fellowship, Australian Laureate Fellowship, Indigenous Researcher Fellowship (IRF) and Australian Research Fellowship - Indigenous (ARF - Indigenous)
ARC Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development Coordinator means the occupant, from time to time, of the position of Scheme Coordinator (ARC Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development) in the Australian Research Council, or any other person to whom the administration of the ARC Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development scheme may be allocated.
Australian Laureate Fellow means a researcher whose salary is funded under the ARC Australian Laureate Fellowships scheme.
Australian Postdoctoral Fellow means a researcher whose salary is wholly or partly funded under an APD (under the Discovery Projects scheme).
Australian Postdoctoral Fellow (Industry) means a researcher whose salary is wholly or partly funded under an APDI (under the Linkage Projects scheme).
Australian Professorial Fellow means a researcher whose salary is wholly or partly funded under an APF (under the Discovery Projects scheme).
Australian Research Council International Fellow means a researcher whose salary is wholly or partly funded under an Australian Research Council International Fellowship (under the Linkage International scheme).
Australian Research Fellow means a researcher whose salary is wholly or partly funded under an ARF (under the Discovery Projects scheme).
Australian Research Fellow - Indigenous means a researcher whose salary is funded under an ARF - Indigenous (under the Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development scheme).
Centre Director means the person appointed to direct the programs of a Commonwealth-funded Research Centre.
Chief Investigator means a researcher who satisfies the eligibility criteria for a Chief Investigator.
Collaborating Organisation means any organisation which is identified in the Proposal as a contributor to the project.
Commonwealth means the Commonwealth of Australia.
Commonwealth-funded Research Centre means a research centre substantially funded from Commonwealth funding sources and includes ARC Centres, CRCs and NHMRC Program Grants and Centres of Clinical Research Excellence. It does not include Research Networks funded by the ARC.
Conflict of Interest means an actual or perceived conflict between a person’s public duty and their private or personal interest.
Earnings means the amount paid directly or indirectly as remuneration for work a person undertakes or services he/she performs. It includes amounts paid under employment and/or consultancy arrangements.
Eligible Organisation means an organisation which is eligible to apply for and receive funding under the Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development Funding Rules as specified in Section 7.1.
Eligibility Exemption Request means a request submitted by an Applicant to the ARC for a relaxation of the eligibility requirements stipulated in the Funding Rules.
Eligibility Advice Request means a request submitted by an Applicant to the ARC for advice on the likelihood of the Proposal satisfying certain requirements.
Federation Fellow means a researcher whose salary is funded under the ARC Federation Fellowship scheme.
Future Fellow means a researcher whose salary is funded under the ARC Future Fellowships scheme.
Funding Agreement means the agreement entered into between the ARC and the Administering Organisation if the Administering Organisation’s Proposal is approved for funding. This Agreement sets out the terms and conditions under which the Commonwealth is to provide funding and the Administering Organisation is to be responsible for administration of the funding and the conduct of the project.
Funding Rules means this document.
GST has the meaning as given in section 195-1 of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999.
Host Organisation means an organisation at which a Fellow undertakes her/his research while holding an ARC Fellowship.
Indigenous Researcher means a researcher, who is of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, identifies as an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and is accepted as an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in the community in which he/she lives or has lived.
Indigenous Researcher Fellow means a researcher whose salary is wholly or partly funded under an IRF (under the Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development scheme).
Medical and Dental Research means research and/or training which, in the opinion of the ARC, has a significant focus on clinical medical (including dental) outcomes.
Mentor means a person with appropriate experience and skills who will provide guidance, advice and support to assist a CI or IRF in the development and/or advancement of her/his research career.
Minister means the Minister from time to time responsible for the administration of the ARC Act, or the Minister’s delegate.
National Research Priority means a national research priority detailed in Appendix E.
Project Leader means the first-named researcher nominated on a Proposal who is a CI or ARC Fellow.
Proposal means a request to the ARC for the provision of financial assistance for a research project which is submitted in accordance with Funding Rules approved by the Minister.
Queen Elizabeth II Fellow means a researcher whose salary is wholly or partly funded under a QEII (under the Discovery Projects scheme).
Research Office means a business unit within an organisation that is responsible for administrative contact with the ARC regarding Proposals and research projects.
Special Condition means a special condition specified in a Funding Agreement which governs the use of the funding provided by the ARC.
Supervisor means a person with relevant academic or research expertise, or equivalent skills or experience, who will be responsible for overseeing and monitoring the progress of the research work undertaken by a CI or IRF and will provide direction and feedback in order to facilitate a successful outcome. This person is generally expected to be knowledgeable about, and conversant with, the relevant research topic.
4. Introduction
4.1 Overview and NCGP Objectives
4.1.1 This document sets out the Funding Rules for Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development, a scheme funded under the ARC’s National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP), which comply with the requirements of the ARC Act.
4.1.2 All parties involved in Proposals should read and understand the Funding Rules and the ARC’s draft Funding Agreement (which is available at the ARC Web Site) before submitting a Proposal to the ARC. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their Proposals are complete and accurate.
4.1.3 Funding under Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development is provided to Administering Organisations, not to researchers. That is, the ARC will accept a Proposal only from an Eligible Organisation and not from any individual researcher or researchers.
4.1.4 These Funding Rules are current as at January 2009 and have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the ARC Act in force then. These Funding Rules are subject to change at any time, for reasons including any subsequent amendment to, replacement or supplementation of the ARC Act.
4.1.5 The ARC is an Australian Government statutory authority established under the ARC Act. The primary functions of the ARC, as specified by the ARC Act, are to make recommendations regarding the funding of research programs, to administer funding to support research programs, and to provide policy advice related to research.
4.1.6 The ARC has established a range of competitive funding schemes for the support of research and research training under the framework of the NCGP. A list of current NCGP funding schemes is available on the ARC Web Site.
4.1.7 By the operation of a range of funding schemes under the NCGP, the ARC aims to:
a. maintain and build on existing research and research training;
b. build the scale and focus of research and research training;
c. encourage cross-disciplinary approaches to research and research training;
d. facilitate collaborative approaches to research and research training; and
e. support research and research training of national benefit, including in the following National Research Priorities:
i. An Environmentally Sustainable Australia;
ii. Promoting and Maintaining Good Health;
iii. Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries; and
iv. Safeguarding Australia.
4.1.8 Descriptions of these National Research Priorities and their associated Priority Goals can be found in Appendix E, and on the ARC Web Site.
4.2 Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development
4.2.1 Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development provides support for Indigenous Researchers to undertake research projects which may lead to an advance in the understanding of a subject or contribute to the solution of an important practical problem.
4.2.2 Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development also provides funding for research projects undertaken by Indigenous Researchers as part of the requirements of their postgraduate research degrees.
4.2.3 The objectives of Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development are to:
a. develop the research expertise of Indigenous Researchers who have not participated as a Chief Investigator on a project funded under any of the ARC’s other funding schemes or previously been awarded an ARC Fellowship;
b. support fundamental research and research training by Indigenous Australian individuals and teams;
c. provide Indigenous Researchers with experience in the preparation of research funding Proposals;
d. attract and retain established Indigenous Researchers; and
e. expand Australia’s knowledge base and research capability.
4.3 Selection criteria
4.3.1 All Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development Proposals which meet the eligibility criteria will be assessed and merit ranked using the following selection criteria:
a. Investigator(s) (40%)
- track record relative to opportunities;
- capacity to undertake the proposed research;
- the extent to which the successful completion of the research project will train and equip the researcher to compete for other research funding.
b. Proposed project content (40%)
- does the research address an important problem?
- how will the anticipated outcomes advance the knowledge base of the discipline?
- are the Proposal’s aims, approach and concepts novel and innovative?
- will new methods or technologies be developed?
- are the conceptual framework, design, methods and analyses adequately developed and appropriate to the aims of the Proposal?
- how appropriate is the proposed budget?
- what is the potential of the research project to result in economic, environmental and/or social benefits for Australia from the expected results and outcomes of the project?
c. Quality of the research environment and/or Mentor and/or Supervisor (20%)
- if applicable, the nature and level of support provided by the Mentor and/or Supervisor;
- the nature and level of support provided by the Administering Organisation;
- the quality of, and relevance of the proposed project to, the research undertaken at the Administering Organisation.
4.4 Fellowships
4.4.1 Indigenous Researcher Fellowships and Australian Research Fellowships - Indigenous are available under Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development.
4.4.2 The recommending of Fellowships is at the ARC’s discretion, having regard to the excellence of the Fellowship candidate’s track record and the excellence of the research project and Host Organisation according to the selection criteria in subsection 4.3.1. Proposals should include details of the Fellowship candidate’s proposed contribution to the project and justification for the choice of proposed Host Organisation, particularly if no change of organisation is planned.
4.5 Conflict of interest
4.5.1 All parties involved in or associated with Proposals and ARC-funded research projects are required to disclose to the ARC, and the other parties involved in the Proposal/project (including all Collaborating Organisations), any conflict of interest which has the potential to influence, or appear to influence, the request for funding, or the research and activities, publications and media reports related to the Proposal/project. Such conflicts must be disclosed to the ARC at the time of the submission of a Proposal, and in reporting on ARC-funded research projects, and notified to the other parties as soon as practicable after the conflict of interest is identified.
4.5.2 If, in the opinion of the ARC, any party involved in or associated with a Proposal has failed to disclose any such conflict of interest, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend for approval any or all Proposals involving that party.
4.5.3 If a conflict of interest exists or arises, the Administering Organisation must have processes in place and documented for managing the conflict of interest for the duration of the project. Such processes must comply with the NHMRC/ARC/UA Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2007) and any relevant successor document. In the event of any inconsistency between the original and any successor document, the latter document is to apply.
5. Changes from last year
5.1 A number of clarifications and revisions have been made in these Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2010 (the 2010 Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development Funding Rules). Significant changes from the 2009 Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development Funding Rules include:
a. For the purposes of improved clarity, the Definitions section includes definitions of Eligibility Exemption Ruling and Eligibility Advice Request (Section 3);
b. The Definitions section contains a definition of Adjunct or Emeritus Appointment or equivalent (Section 3). The term is used in relation to the eligibility of CIs;
c. A new objective has been added to the scheme with a focus on attracting and retaining established Indigenous Researchers (subsection 4.2.3.d);
d A new fellowship called Australian Research Fellowship - Indigenous has been introduced (subsection 4.4.1, 8.1.1 and Section 8.6)
e. A maximum limit of $200,000 total over the life of the project applies for any Proposal which does not include a request for an ARF - Indigenous, and $400,000 for a Proposal that includes a request for an ARF - Indigenous (subsection 6.1.2);
f. Proposals may include requests for costs associated with access to workshop services (subsection 6.3.2.e);
g. The employment-related eligibility criteria for CIs has been changed slightly with “50% of time” replacing “50% of Earnings” (subsection 8.2.1);
h. Subsection 8.2.6 stipulates the conditions under which its is permissible for a project to be continued under replacement CIs after a Proposal has been approved for funding (subsection 8.2.6);
i. Projects must be terminated in instances where no investigators who were original CIs on the Proposal are remaining after the Proposal has been approved for funding. Sole-CI projects cannot be continued under replacement CIs (subsection 8.2.7);
j. Clarification is provided that the font type used must be equivalent to Times New Roman 12 point font (12.2.2); and
k. AIATSIS is now eligible to submit Proposals under the Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development scheme (Appendix C subsection C1.2).
5.2 The list of changes above is not comprehensive. Applicants and other parties involved in Proposals should read and understand the entire Funding Rules and standard Funding Agreement before a Proposal is submitted to the ARC.
6. Funding
6.1 Level of funding
6.1.1 All amounts referred to in these Funding Rules are to be read as exclusive of GST (if any), unless expressly stated otherwise.
6.1.2 The minimum level of funding which will be provided by the ARC for a project under this Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development funding round is $10,000 per calendar year. The maximum level of funding for a project that does not include a request for an ARF - Indigenous is $200,000 total over the life of the project, whilst the maximum level of funding for a project that includes a request for an ARF - Indigenous is $400,000 total over the life of the project.
6.1.3 If a Fellowship is requested, the Proposal should include a request for the Fellowship salary and on-costs in the budget. ARC Fellowships are funded at levels outlined in Appendix D.
6.1.4 The ARC reserves the right to recommend funding for a project at levels which may differ from those requested in the Proposal.
6.2 Period of funding
6.2.1 Funding may be payable under these Funding Rules for Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development projects in respect of the financial year 2009-2010 and any subsequent years to which the ARC Act applies. Funding for approved projects will commence with effect 1 January 2010, unless other arrangements are approved by the ARC.
6.2.2 Projects may be funded for 1 to 3 years, subject to sufficient funding being available for Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development, the provisions of the ARC Act, and continued satisfactory progress of the project.
6.2.3 IRFs may be awarded funding for 1 or 2 years.
6.2.4 ARFs - Indigenous may be awarded funding for 2 or 3 years.
6.2.5 For the purposes of these Funding Rules, the term of a researcher’s Fellowship is determined based on the date on which the researcher commenced the Fellowship. In the case of Fellowships awarded under these Funding Rules, the commencement date will be 1 January 2010, unless the commencement has been deferred to a later date approved by the ARC.
6.2.6 The ARC may recommend funding for a project for duration different from that requested in the Proposal.
6.3 Types of research supported
6.3.1 Subject to Sections 6.4 and 6.5, Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development supports all types of research, including:
a. pure basic research which is experimental and theoretical work undertaken to acquire new knowledge without looking for long-term benefits other than the advancement of knowledge;
b. strategic basic research which is experimental and theoretical work undertaken to acquire new knowledge directed into specified broad areas that are expected to lead to useful discoveries. Such research provides the broad base of knowledge necessary to solve recognised practical problems; and
c. applied research which is original work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge with a specific application in view. Such research is undertaken either to determine possible uses for the findings of basic research or to determine new ways of achieving some specific and predetermined objectives.
6.3.2 The following project costs may be supported under Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development:
a. personnel (salaries and on-costs), including:
i. Fellowships as outlined in Section 8.3;
ii. research associates, technicians and laboratory attendants;
but excluding those items not permitted pursuant to subsection 6.4.2.b;
b. teaching relief for Chief Investigators, but only where the request is justified to the satisfaction of the ARC (see subsection 6.4.2.c);
c. equipment;
d. maintenance;
e. access to workshop services linked to and justified against the project; and
f. travel.
6.4 Restrictions on budget items
6.4.1 Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development funds only those costs which directly support a research project. The ARC may in its absolute discretion determine whether any project costs meet this requirement.
6.4.2 Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development has restrictions on the following budget items:
a. Capital works and general infrastructure costs are not funded by the ARC, in whole or in part, under Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development.
b. The Commonwealth will not provide support, in whole or in part, to meet the salaries of CIs, Mentors or Supervisors under Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development. If a Proposal requests salary funding for a CI, Mentor or Supervisor, the Proposal will not be recommended or approved for funding.
c. Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development funding is not usually provided to fund teaching and/or teaching relief. Commonwealth funds may be used for teaching relief only if specifically approved for that purpose. The ARC may fund justified teaching relief for up to 6 months in each consecutive year. If approved, the funding contribution will be in accordance with Appendix D subsection D1.3, and will be a Special Condition.
d. Funds are not provided for travel or related expenses for researchers when on a Special Studies Program.
e. Funds are not provided to pay the fees of international students or the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) and Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) liabilities for students.
f. The Administering Organisation must agree to provide the following basic facilities (where relevant to the Proposal), which will not be funded under Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development:
i. accommodation (e.g. laboratory and office, suitably equipped and furnished in standard ways);
ii. access to film or music editing facilities;
iii. access to a basic library collection;
iv. standard reference materials or funds for abstracting services;
v. provision of computers, including laptops (excluding access to high-performance computers or other specialised applications that are justified against the project) and basic computing facilities such as printers, word processing and other standard software; and
vi. use of photocopiers, telephones, mail, fax, email and internet services.
g. Publication costs, including printing and page costs, will not be funded under Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development.
h. Costs not directly related to a project will not be funded, for example costs of a personal nature.
6.5 Areas of investigation/work not supported
6.5.1 Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development does not support:
a. Medical and Dental Research;
b. activities leading solely to the creation or performance of a work of art, including visual art, musical compositions, drama, dance, film, broadcasts, designs and literary works;
c. projects such as uncritical compilations and purely descriptive catalogues or editions that do not involve original research;
d. production of teaching materials, even though some research may be involved in their production;
e. compilation of data, unless this is an integral part of a project which is judged to be necessary, in which case the Proposal must include a statement indicating the research objectives to which the data would contribute; and/or
f. development of research aids and tools (including computer programs), unless they form an integral part of the Proposal, in which case the Proposal must include a statement indicating the research objectives to which these activities would contribute.
6.5.2 If the ARC considers that a Proposal seeks funding for any of the items not permitted under Sections 6.4 or 6.5, then to that extent part or all of the Proposal will not be recommended or approved for funding.
6.6 Number of Proposals and funded projects
6.6.1 Proposals may be submitted only to the extent that, if all were successful, the researchers nominated on those Proposals would not be involved in more than the maximum number of projects permitted in 2010 (see subsection 6.6.2). For the purposes of applying these limits, the number of Proposals and ongoing research projects are evaluated as at the closing time for the submission of Proposals. This timing is regardless of any subsequent change in, or withdrawal of, Proposals. Submitting Proposals that exceed any or all of these limits may result in all Proposals involving the relevant researcher(s) not being recommended or approved for funding.
6.6.2 Specific limits on number of projects funded for 2010:
Limit type
Limit description
a. CI/Fellow limit
A researcher may not be involved in more than two Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development projects on which he/she is a CI or Fellow.
b. Sole CI/Fellow limit
A researcher may not be involved as a CI or Fellow on more than one Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development project on which there are no other CIs or Fellows.
c. Number of IRFs
A researcher may be nominated for a maximum of one IRF in this Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development funding round.
d. Number of ARFs - Indigenous
A researcher may be nominated for a maximum of one ARF - Indigenous in this Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development funding round.
6.6.3 For the purposes of the limits applying in these Funding Rules, a project for which funding was/is to be carried over, or deferred, into the next year is considered to be funded for the years notified in the letter of offer of funding provided by the ARC.
For example, if a project was originally funded for two years and funding is subsequently carried over to a third year, the project will still be considered for these purposes as funded for the original two years.
6.7 Duplication
Only one Proposal may be submitted to Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development in respect of a particular project in the same funding round, regardless of any variation in the listed researchers and/or Administering Organisation. Otherwise, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend for approval any or all of those Proposals, or recommend that a reduced amount of funding be provided for that or any similar Proposal. The ARC reserves the right to determine whether Proposals are duplicates or sufficiently similar to warrant one or more Proposals’ being not recommended for approval.
7. Organisational types, roles and eligibility
7.1 Eligible Organisations
7.1.1 A Proposal may be submitted only by an Eligible Organisation. Appendix C specifies Eligible Organisations for Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development.
7.1.2 Fellowships may be undertaken at Eligible Organisations specified in Appendix C.
8. Roles and eligibility for researchers
8.1 Researcher roles and general eligibility
8.1.1. Roles that may be undertaken by researchers under Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development are:
a. Chief Investigator;
b. Indigenous Researcher Fellow;
c. Australian Research Fellow Indigenous;
d. Mentor, or
e. Supervisor.
8.1.2 A Proposal must nominate at least one of the following: a CI, or IRF or ARF - Indigenous candidate.
8.1.3 All CIs and Fellowship candidates nominated on a Proposal must satisfy the eligibility criteria for the role they are to perform, as specified in Section 8 of these Funding Rules.
8.1.4 The first-named researcher nominated on a Proposal who is a CI or Fellow on a Proposal will be considered the ‘Project Leader’ of the project.
8.1.5 A researcher nominated as a CI or Fellow must take significant intellectual responsibility for the proposed project, any strategic decisions called for in its pursuit and the communication of results. The researcher must have the capacity to make a serious commitment to the project and cannot assume the role of a supplier of resources for work that will largely be placed in the hands of others. The ARC reserves the right to determine whether a person has the requisite capacity to perform the role.
8.1.6 At the time of the submission of a Proposal all obligations regarding previously funded projects involving the nominated CIs and Fellows on the Proposal must have been fulfilled to the satisfaction of the ARC. Such obligations include the provision of satisfactory progress and final reports.
8.1.7 If the ARC considers that a researcher nominated in a Proposal as a CI or Fellow does not meet the eligibility criteria in this Section or Sections 8.2 or 8.3 for the role which that researcher is to perform, the Proposal will not be recommended or approved for funding.
8.1.8 CIs and IRF candidates may nominate Mentors and, where applicable, Supervisors of their postgraduate research, who will support them in developing as researchers. There is no requirement for Mentors and Supervisors to be Indigenous Researchers.
8.2 Eligibility criteria for Chief Investigators
8.2.1 A researcher nominated on a Proposal as a CI must meet at least one of the following criteria as at 1 January 2010, and for the full term of her/his participation in the project:
a. be an employee of an Eligible Organisation listed in Appendix C for at least 50 per cent of her/his time; or
b. be a holder of an Emeritus, Adjunct or equivalent appointment at an Eligible Organisation listed in Appendix C and not be employed more than 50 per cent of her/his time in a position at another organisation that:
i. is outside the higher education sector, and
ii. engages in research which is funded predominantly from State/Territory or Commonwealth Government funding sources; or
c. be enrolled as a student for a postgraduate research degree as at 1 January 2010.
8.2.2 He/she must reside predominantly in Australia for the full term of her/his participation in the project. If the person does not have permanent resident status he/she must obtain temporary or permanent resident status from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship before he/she may commence on the project.
8.2.3 He/she must be an Indigenous Researcher.
8.2.4 He/she must:
a. have successfully completed a Masters (by research) or PhD qualification, or demonstrate equivalent research qualification or experience in the Proposal to the satisfaction of the ARC; or
b. be enrolled in a Masters (by research) or PhD degree where the research project which is the subject of the Proposal forms part of the research towards the degree and the Proposal demonstrates her/his research capacity and experience is of a high standard to the satisfaction of the ARC.
8.2.5 Notwithstanding a researcher’s eligibility under the criteria above or below in this Section, a researcher is not eligible to be a CI if he/she:
a. is undertaking undergraduate studies or a postgraduate coursework degree;
b. has participated as a CI on a project funded by the ARC, other than on a project funded under the Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development scheme;
c. has held an ARC Fellowship or Research Cadetship-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander funded by the ARC;
d. is, or has been, a CI (or equivalent role) or holds, or has held, a fellowship under a nationally competitive funding scheme administered by the NHMRC; or
e. is employed more than 50 per cent of her/his time at an organisation outside the higher education sector that engages in research which is funded predominantly from State/Territory or Commonwealth Government sources.
8.2.6 If a Proposal has been approved for funding and a CI is at any time during the project no longer able to work as proposed on the project, the project may be continued under a replacement CI provided that:
a. where the CI was the Project Leader, another investigator who was an original CI on the Proposal may become the Project Leader;
b. the project still includes at least one other investigator who was an original CI on the Proposal and the replacement CI is first approved by the ARC.
8.2.7 The project must be terminated where there are no other investigators who were original CIs remaining on the Proposal. Sole-CI projects cannot be continued under replacement CIs.
8.3 General eligibility criteria for Fellowships
8.3.1 There are two types of Fellowship available. Fellowship candidates must meet the criteria for CIs in subsection 8.2.2 and 8.2.3, plus the eligibility criteria for the Fellowship type being sought as detailed below.
8.3.2 Fellowship candidates must:
a. have been awarded a PhD within the time limits specified for the particular type of Fellowship; or
b. have obtained approval from the ARC, via the submission of an Eligibility Exemption Request as outlined in Section 10.1, for the:
i. recognition of an equivalent research degree or experience; and/or
ii. relaxation of the qualification and/or timing requirements.
8.3.3 The Eligibility Exemption Request must contain supporting information justifying the Fellowship candidate’s special circumstances for an eligibility exemption, including information indicating that the candidate’s research degree/experience is equivalent to a PhD obtained within the time limits specified and/or a case justifying the relaxation of the timing requirements in terms of issues such as, but not limited to, research career interruption, non-research employment, misadventure or carer responsibilities.
8.3.4 The ARC may, in its absolute discretion, determine the validity and date of effect for the attainment of PhD-equivalent status for researchers for the purpose of determining the eligibility of Fellowship candidates and whether to relax the timing requirements.
8.4 Eligibility criteria for Indigenous Researcher Fellowships
8.4.1 IRFs provide opportunities for researchers at the postdoctoral level to undertake research of national and international significance, and to broaden their research experience.
8.4.2 IRF candidates must meet the criteria for CIs in subsections 8.2.2 and 8.2.3.
8.4.3 A Proposal may seek funding for an IRF only if:
a. the IRF candidate has been awarded a PhD or equivalent on or after 13 May 2006 or has obtained approval from the ARC, via the submission of an Eligibility Exemption Request as outlined in Section 10.1, for the recognition of an equivalent research qualification or experience and/or relaxation of the qualification and/or timing requirements; or
b. the IRF candidate has not yet submitted a PhD thesis but is expected to do so before the end of 2009 in which case the ARC will require official confirmation that the thesis has been submitted by December 2009. The IRF candidate must be awarded their PhD by no later than 30 June 2010. If these conditions have not been satisfied, the offer of funding for the Proposal may be withdrawn and the Funding Agreement may be terminated; and
c. the IRF candidate has not been previously awarded an ARC Fellowship (or ARC Research Cadetship-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander).
8.4.4 Notwithstanding a researcher’s eligibility under the criteria above, a researcher may not be an IRF candidate if he/she:
a. is undertaking undergraduate studies or a postgraduate coursework degree;
b. has participated as a CI on a project funded by the ARC, other than on a project funded under the Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development scheme;
c. has held an ARC Fellowship or Research Cadetship-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander; or
d. is, or has been, a CI (or equivalent role) or holds, or has held, a fellowship under a nationally competitive funding scheme administered by the NHMRC.
8.4.5 If a full-time IRF is awarded the Fellow may, during the term of the IRF, request approval from the ARC for conversion of the IRF to part-time status for a limited period or periods of time. The ARC may, in its absolute discretion, approve the conversion of the IRF to part-time status for one or more periods of time.
Tenure details and salary support entitlements for IRFs
8.4.6 IRFs support one or two years’ employment on an approved project and are tenable at Eligible Organisations.
8.4.7 The notional ARC salary support for IRFs is set out in Appendix D. The following salary support options are available for IRF candidates:
a. 100 percent salary and on-costs from the ARC for one or two years; or
b. 50 per cent salary and pro rata on-costs from the ARC over one or two years. Under this option an IRF may spend up to 50 per cent of her/his time on activities other than the proposed project.
8.4.8 A Proposal which nominates a researcher for an IRF, and accordingly seeks salary and salary-related on-costs for the IRF, may also request funding for other research costs for a proposed project. If the Proposal seeks funding only for the salary and on-costs for the IRF, the Proposal must confirm that the IRF candidate will have her/his research costs funded for research on the proposed project. If the Proposal does not contain this confirmation, then the ARC may, in its absolute discretion, decide to not recommend the Proposal for approval.
8.4.9 A researcher who has held an IRF may be nominated for an ARF - Indigenous (in the Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development scheme), APD (in the Discovery Projects scheme) or an APDI (in the Linkage Projects scheme) only during or after the final year of his/her IRF.
8.5 Mentors and Supervisors
8.5.1 As Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development aims to develop the research expertise of Indigenous Researchers, the strength of the research environment and support for the researcher are important factors in the assessment of Proposals that include CIs and/or IRFs. In particular, it is strongly recommended that a Mentor or Supervisor (who may or may not be an Indigenous) be associated with the Proposal to provide guidance.
8.5.2 If the proposed research is part of research towards a higher research degree, it is strongly recommended that the researcher’s Supervisor be consulted on the preparation of the Proposal and be associated with the Proposal. The roles of Supervisor and Mentor can be filled either by the same individual or by separate persons, and Proposals may nominate both a Mentor and Supervisor.
8.5.3 A researcher nominated as a Mentor or Supervisor must take significant responsibility for intellectual guidance and support of a CI or IRF candidates nominated in the Proposal. The ARC reserves the right to determine whether a person has the requisite capacity to perform the role. If the ARC considers that a researcher nominated in a Proposal as a Mentor or Supervisor does not meet these criteria, the Proposal will not be recommended or approved for funding
8.6 Eligibility criteria for Australian Research Fellowships - Indigenous
8.6.1 ARFs - Indigenous provide opportunities for established Indigenous Researchers to undertake research of national and international significance, and encourage research in Australia by postdoctoral graduates of exceptional promise and proven capacity for original work.
8.6.2 ARF - Indigenous candidates must meet the criteria for CIs in subsection 8.2.2 and 8.2.3.
8.6.3 A researcher who is, or has been, a CI on any project funded by the ARC or NHMRC or holds, or has held, a fellowship under a nationally competitive funding scheme administered by the NHMRC, may be nominated for an ARF - Indigenous.
8.6.4 An ARF - Indigenous candidate must, at the closing time for the submission of Proposals:
a. have not more than 8 years’ professional experience since the award of her/his PhD or have obtained approval from the ARC, via the submission of an Eligibility Exemption Request as outlined in Section 10.1, for recognition of an equivalent research degree or experience and/or relaxation of the qualification and/or timing requirements; and
b. satisfy the requirements of subsection 6.6.2 with respect to limits regarding number of projects.
8.6.4 Notwithstanding a researcher's eligibility under the criteria above, a researcher may not be an ARF - Indigenous candidate if he/she holds or has held an ARF/QEII or APF.
Tenure details and salary support entitlements for ARFs - Indigenous
8.6.5 ARFs - Indigenous are awarded on a full-time basis only. ARF - Indigenous Fellows are expected to work full-time on the proposed research and research-related activities. Research-related activities may include supervision of postgraduate students.
8.6.6 Funding will be provided for ARFs - Indigenous for 2 or 3 years. The notional ARC salary support for ARFs - Indigenous is set out in Appendix D.
8.6.7 Salary support for ARFs - Indigenous is funded from the ARC for two or three years at 100 per cent plus on-costs.
8.6.8 A research candidate who has held an IRF, APD or APDI may be nominated for an ARF - Indigenous only in or after the final year of her/his Fellowship.
9. Cross-scheme issues
9.1 Cross-scheme eligibility
9.1.1 If a researcher nominated as a CI, Mentor, Supervisor or Fellow on a Proposal is nominated in a funding request for any proposed research project (including fellowship, salary or equipment) that has been submitted or approved under this or any other ARC scheme or to any other Commonwealth funding body, the Proposal must contain details of the request(s) and summary details of all other funding. If these processes are not observed, or the ARC determines that incomplete, misleading or inaccurate details were included in the Proposal, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend the Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development Proposal for approval.
9.1.2 If a nominated researcher has been awarded, or is currently requesting, an ARC Fellowship under another ARC funding scheme, the Proposal must contain details of the project/Proposal. If more than one of these Fellowship requests is approved for funding, only one Fellowship can be accepted.
9.1.3 The ARC may liaise with other funding agencies to discuss any overlap between proposed or existing research projects (including fellowships) in order to avoid duplication of funding. The ARC may for this purpose disclose to that agency any information in a Proposal.
9.2 Cross-scheme funding
9.2.1 The ARC will not duplicate financial assistance for research already funded by the Commonwealth or which is likely to be funded from other Commonwealth funding sources (including under other ARC funding schemes). The ARC reserves the right to determine if a Proposal duplicates or is likely to duplicate research being funded by another Commonwealth source. In such circumstances, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend the Proposal for approval. However, if the ARC considers that parts of the proposed project remain worthy of support, the ARC may assess the Proposal in the usual way and the ARC may instead recommend that a reduced amount of funding be approved for the Proposal.
9.3 Funding of Medical and Dental Research
9.3.1 Pursuant to Sections 6.5.1.a and 9.3, the ARC does not fund Medical and Dental Research under Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development. The ARC reserves the right to determine conclusively whether the proposed research involves Medical and Dental Research.
9.3.2 The NHMRC funds a range of Medical and Dental Research. In cases when it is not clear to the intending Administering Organisation whether or not a Proposal would fall within this area of research, an Eligibility Advice Request may be submitted to the ARC. The ARC may use the Eligibility Advice Request to decide whether it would be willing to accept a Proposal involving the proposed research. For the purpose of determining a decision relation to proposed research, the ARC may, but is under no obligation to, refer Eligibility Advice Requests to the NHMRC. The intending Administering Organisation will be advised of the ARC’s decision approximately two weeks after the due date for such requests.
9.3.3. If the Administering Organisation submits, or is intending to submit, Proposals to the ARC and the NHMRC for similar research it must cross-reference the Proposals and must declare the dual submission on the ARC application form.
10. Application process
10.1 Eligibility Exemption and Eligibility Advice
10.1.1 These Funding Rules describe a number of situations where it is possible to submit an Eligibility Exemption Request or an Eligibility Advice Request for the purposes of obtaining an exemption or advice from the ARC regarding a prospective Proposal.
10.1.2 If the ARC advises that proposals are to be submitted through the grant application management system (GAMS) such Requests must be submitted on the ARC Eligibility Exemption/Advice Request Form via the Research Office of the intending Administering Organisation, and, subject to subsection 10.1.4, be received by the ARC by 5:00 pm (AEDT) Wednesday 3 April 2009.
10.1.3 If the ARC advises that proposals are to be submitted through the research management system (RMS) such requests must be submitted using the RMS pre-submission eligibility issue form via the Research Office of the intending Administering Organisation, and, subject to subsection 10.1.4, be received by the ARC by 5:00 pm (AEDT) Wednesday 3 April 2009.
10.1.4 Eligibility Exemption Requests and Eligibility Advice Requests received after 5:00 pm (AEDT) Wednesday 3 April 2009 will not be considered. The ARC may, in its absolute discretion, and only in exceptional circumstances, accept late Eligibility Exemption/Advice Requests.
10.1.5 An exemption from the eligibility requirements may be granted only if an Eligibility Exemption Request has been submitted.
10.1.6 Eligibility Advice may be provided by the ARC only upon receipt of an Eligibility Advice Request. Eligibility Advice, however, does not constitute an exemption from the eligibility requirements. Rather it provides an indication to potential Applicants about the likelihood of a Proposal satisfying certain requirements.
10.1.7 Eligibility Exemption or Advice Requests must include all relevant supporting documentation. The Research Office will be advised of the outcome of any such request as soon as possible. If an Eligibility Exemption or Advice is given, the ARC will provide an identifying number for the exemption/advice which is to be quoted on the relevant Proposal.
10.2 Proposals
10.2.1 A Proposal should be submitted as a mature research plan ready for implementation. The Proposal must contain all the information necessary for its assessment without the need for further written or oral explanation, or reference to additional documentation, unless requested by the ARC, including its College of Experts.
10.2.2 All details in the Proposal must be current at the time of submission.
10.2.3 In submitting a Proposal, the Administering Organisation and the CIs, Fellows, Mentors and Supervisors nominated in the Proposal are consenting to the Proposal’s being assessed under the ARC’s peer assessment procedures and agree to the release of the Proposal to third parties for assessment purposes.
11. Submission of Proposals
11.1 Research Offices must submit forms to the ARC’s submission system. The ARC will advise the sector via its Web Site whether the ARC’s on-line grants application management system (GAMS) or research management system (RMS) is the appropriate one to use for the submission of Proposals.
11.2 If the ARC advises that proposals are to be submitted through GAMS then the instructions under Section 12 must be followed.
11.3 If the ARC advises that proposals are to be submitted through RMS then the instructions under Section 13 must be followed.
12. Proposals submitted through GAMS
12.1 Proposals consist of:
a. an on-line form which must be completed and submitted in the ARC on-line grants application management system accessible via the ARC Web Site; and
b. additional text which must be submitted as part of the paper version of the Proposal:
i. Part B9, ‘Research record relative to opportunities’ and, if a Fellowship is requested, details of the candidate’s proposed contribution to the project, the research environment of the Host Organisation and reasons for the candidate not moving to another organisation if he/she intends to remain at his/her current organisation;
ii. Parts C2 and C3, ‘Justification of funding requested from the ARC’ and ‘Details of non-ARC contributions’;
iii. Part E, ‘Description of proposed project’; and
iv. If applicable, supporting documentation:
(a) ‘Statements on progress of ARC-funded projects’;
(b) For Mentors and Supervisors, a summary of the nature and level of support that they will provide; and
(c) For Fellowship requests, details of the Fellowship candidate's proposed contribution to the project and the research environment of the Host Organisation.
12.2 Format
12.2.1 All documents must be written in English and must comply strictly with the format, content and submission requirements as specified in these Funding Rules and the “Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development Instructions to Applicants for Funding Commencing in 2010” document issued by the ARC. If a Proposal fails to meet any format, content or submission requirements, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend the Proposal for approval.
12.2.2 All pages of additional text must be in black type, use a single column and 12-point font size on white A4 paper, be printed on one side only and unbound, with all margins being at least 2 cm. As Proposals may be scanned electronically, a highly legible font type must be used, such as 12 point Times New Roman, Arial, Courier, Palatino, and Helvetica subject to their being equivalent to Times New Roman 12 point font. Variants such as mathematical typesetting languages may also be used. References may be reproduced in 10-point font size. Colour graphs or colour photographs should not be included as they will be reproduced in black and white and the reproduction quality may not be optimal. Finely detailed graphics and grey scale may also not be precisely reproduced.
12.3 How to complete and submit a Proposal
12.3.1 Administering Organisations must use the form within the ARC’s on-line grants application management system accessible via the ARC Web Site.
12.3.2 A “Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development Instructions to Applicants for Funding Commencing in 2010” document will be available from the ARC Web Site. This document specifies a range of requirements for Proposals and also assists parties in preparing Proposals.
12.3.3 In addition to the on-line form, the paper part of a Proposal must be submitted along with an identical paper copy.
12.4 Closing time for Proposals
12.4.1 Subject to subsection 12.4.3 the paper parts of a Proposal must be received by the ARC, and the on-line form completed using the ARC’s on-line grants application management system must be submitted, by 5.00 pm (AEST) Wednesday 13 May 2009.
12.4.2 Proposals may be withdrawn but additions, deletions and modifications will not be accepted after submission, unless invited by the ARC.
12.4.3 If the required paper parts of a Proposal are not received by the ARC by 5.00 pm (AEST) Wednesday 13 May 2009, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend the Proposal for approval.
12.5 Certification
12.5.1 The Administering Organisation must obtain the agreement of all parties necessary to allow the proposed project to proceed using the form available on the ARC Web Site. These agreements must be attested to by hand-written signatures and certifications from all relevant persons and organisations involved in the Proposal and must be able to be provided if requested by the ARC on the form available for this purpose. If the Administering Organisation fails to provide this material upon request, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend the Proposal for approval.
12.5.2 A Proposal must be submitted through the appropriate Research Office. If a Proposal has not been submitted through the appropriate Research Office/Chief Executive Officer for certification, the Proposal will not be recommended or approved for funding.
13. Proposals submitted through RMS
13.1 Proposals consist of an on-line form which must be completed and submitted in the ARC on-line research management system accessible via the ARC Web Site. The on-line form may include the following additional text. If included it must be attached in pdf format to the on-line version of the Proposal:
i. ‘Research record relative to opportunities’ and, if a Fellowship is requested, details of the candidate’s proposed contribution to the project, the research environment of the Host Organisation and reasons for the candidate not moving to another organisation if he/she intends to remain at his/her current organisation;
ii. ‘Justification of funding requested from the ARC’ and ‘Details of non-ARC contributions’;
iii. ‘Description of proposed project’; and
iv. If applicable, supporting documentation:
(a) ‘Statements on progress of ARC-funded projects’;
(b) For Mentors and Supervisors, a summary of the nature and level of support that they will provide; and
(c) For Fellowship requests, details of the Fellowship candidate's proposed contribution to the project and the research environment of the Host Organisation.
13.2 Format
13.2.1 All documents must be written in English and must comply strictly with the format, content and submission requirements as specified in these Funding Rules and the “Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development Instructions to Applicants for Funding Commencing in 2010” document issued by the ARC. If a Proposal fails to meet any format, content or submission requirements, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend the Proposal for approval.
13.2.2 All pages of additional text must be in black type, use a single column and 12-point font size on white A4 paper, be printed on one side only and unbound, with all margins being at least 2 cm. As Proposals may be reproduced for assessment, a highly legible font type must be used, such as 12 point Times New Roman, Arial, Courier, Palatino, and Helvetica subject to their being equivalent to Times New Roman 12 point font. Variants such as mathematical typesetting languages may also be used. References may be reproduced in 10-point font size. Colour graphs or colour photographs should not be included as they will be reproduced in black and white and the reproduction quality may not be optimal. Finely detailed graphics and grey scale may also not be precisely reproduced. Additional text attachments may appear slightly reduced in size due to the RMS system formatting the attachments to include page numbers.
13.3 How to complete and submit a Proposal
13.3.1 Administering Organisations must use the form within the ARC’s on-line research management system accessible via the ARC Web Site.
13.3.2 A “Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development Instructions to Applicants for Funding Commencing in 2010” document will be available from the ARC Web Site. This document specifies a range of requirements for Proposals and also assists parties in preparing Proposals.
13.3.3 Research Offices have access to the ARC on-line research management system (RMS) and will approve User account requests, along with the ARC, to enable researchers at their organisations to access the system and prepare Proposals. If a researcher has previously been allocated access to GAMS, her/his UserID (which will be converted to upper case) should still be current within the research management system. However, the user will be forced to reset their password.
13.3.4 If a researcher does not have a Research Office or equivalent unit, he/she should email rms@arc.gov.au at the ARC for assistance.
13.4 Closing time for Proposals
13.4.1 Subject to subsection 13.4.3 the on-line form completed using the ARC’s on-line research management system must be submitted by 5.00 pm (AEST) Wednesday 13 May 2009.
13.4.2 Proposals may be withdrawn but additions, deletions and modifications will not be accepted after submission, unless invited by the ARC.
13.4.3 If the required paper parts of a Proposal are not received by the ARC by 5.00 pm (AEST) Wednesday 13 May 2009, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend the Proposal for approval.
13.5 Certification
13.5.1 The Administering Organisation must obtain the agreement of all parties necessary to allow the proposed project to proceed using the form available on the ARC Web Site. These agreements must be attested to by hand-written signatures and certifications from all relevant persons and organisations involved in the Proposal and must be able to be provided if requested by the ARC on the form available for this purpose. If the Administering Organisation fails to provide this material upon request, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend the Proposal for approval.
13.5.2 Proposal certifications must be completed on-line. Research Offices should ensure that the Research Office delegate role is authorised in RMS to certify and submit proposals for their organisation.
14. Selection and approval process
14.1 Assessment and selection procedure
14.1.1 Assessment of Proposals is undertaken by the ARC, which has the right to make recommendations solely on the basis of its expertise, and which may:
a. consider if a Proposal satisfies the eligibility criteria set out in these Funding Rules;
b. identify and consider any other matters that these Funding Rules state may result in the ARC recommending that a Proposal not be approved for funding;
c. assign assessors to review Proposals;
d. seek comments on assessors’ reports from the parties involved in the Proposal;
e. rank each Proposal relative to the others on the basis of the Proposal, any assessors’ reports, and any response to those assessment reports;
f. assess and recommend the amount of funding to be made available for a Proposal; and/or
g. prepare funding recommendations.
14.1.2 The ARC College of Experts assists with the assessment of Proposals. The ARC has procedures for managing organisational and personal conflicts of interest experienced by members of the College of Experts, members of other ARC committees, ARC staff, and other assessors, and for enabling individuals to withdraw from the assessment process for particular Proposals where any actual or perceived conflict may exist.
14.1.3 In addition to assessment by the ARC, a Proposal may at the ARC’s absolute discretion be assessed by external assessors. Assessors may be drawn from a range of organisations to reduce the potential for conflicts of interest. Proposals will be assessed against the criteria set out in these Funding Rules and the reports by the assessors may include written comment.
14.1.4 The ARC reserves the right to make recommendations for funding to the Minister based on any number of assessments or solely on the assessment of the ARC.
14.1.5 Administering Organisations may provide written notification to the ARC naming any person or persons whom they do not wish to assess a Proposal on a “Request not to Assess” form available from the ARC Web Site. Such notifications must contain detailed justification and be submitted using the “Request not to Assess” form through the Administering Organisation’s Research Office. This notification must not accompany the Proposal. The notification must be sent to the address advised under ‘Contacts’ at the beginning of these Funding Rules and received by the ARC by the closing time for Proposals, 5:00 pm (AEST) Wednesday 13 May 2009.
14.1.6 The ARC will consider the justification put forward to exclude any person as an assessor, but may choose not to give effect to such a request.
14.2 Rejoinder
14.2.1 Assessors’ written comments, if obtained, may be provided to allow the opportunity for a rejoinder to the comments. Names of assessors are not provided. At the same time, the ARC may add questions to the material sent for rejoinder. A period of up to two weeks is given to submit a rejoinder to the ARC. Subject to subsection 14.2.2, rejoinders will not be accepted after the nominated closing time for rejoinder submissions. The ARC may limit the length of rejoinders which can be submitted.
14.2.2 The ARC may, in its absolute discretion, and only in exceptional circumstances, accept late rejoinders.
14.3 Recommendations and offer of funding
14.3.1 The ARC’s recommendations will be submitted in accordance with the ARC Act to the Minister for consideration. The Minister will determine which Proposals will be approved and the amount and timing of financial assistance to be paid to Administering Organisations for approved Proposals.
14.3.2 Under the ARC Act, the Minister must not approve for funding any Proposal that fails to meet the eligibility criteria set out in these Funding Rules.
14.3.3. Administering Organisations whose Proposals are approved will be notified in a letter of offer that will indicate the financial assistance to be offered and provided with a copy of a Funding Agreement for signing.
14.4 Exclusion of Proposals
14.4.1 The ARC will not recommend for approval, and the Minister will not approve for funding, any Proposal that fails to satisfy the eligibility criteria set out in these Funding Rules, including:
a. if the Proposal seeks funding for any of the items not permitted under Sections 6.4 or 6.5 and the ARC considers no other part of the proposed project remains worthy of support (subsection 6.5.2);
b. if the Proposal seeks salary funding for a CI, Mentor or Supervisor (subsection 6.4.2.b);
c. if the Proposal is not submitted by an Eligible Organisation (Section 7.1);
d. if the Proposal does not nominate at least one CI or Fellowship candidate (subsection 8.1.2);
e. if the ARC considers that a researcher nominated in the Proposal as a CI or Fellow does not meet the eligibility criteria as specified in Sections 8.2 or 8.3 for the role which that researcher is to perform (subsection 8.1.7);
f. if the ARC determines that a proposed project falls within the area of Medical and Dental Research (subsection 6.5.1.a and Section 9.3);
g. if a Proposal has not been submitted through the appropriate Research Office/Chief Executive Officer for certification (subsection 12.5.2 and 13.5.2);
h. if the Proposal is not for a program of research, or a program that supports the conduct of a program of research.
14.4.2 The ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend for approval a Proposal if:
a. in the opinion of the ARC, any researcher nominated in the Proposal as a CI, Mentor, Supervisor or Fellow has caused or has significantly contributed to the failure of an organisation to meet its obligations under any current or previous Funding Agreement with the ARC or all obligations regarding previously funded projects involving the candidate have not been fulfilled to the satisfaction of the ARC and NHMRC;
b. in the opinion of the ARC, any party involved in or associated with the Proposal or ARC-funded research project has failed to disclose to the ARC, or any other parties involved in the Proposal, any conflict of interest which has the potential to influence, or appear to influence, the research and activities, publications and media reports, or requests for funding related to the Proposal (subsection 4.5.2);
c. if the Proposal seeks funding which is less than the minimum amount or more than the maximum amount of funding allowed (subsection 6.1.2);
d. the limits on the number of Proposals and projects permissible are exceeded (subsection 6.6.2);
e. the ARC considers that the project described in the Proposal is the same as or similar (in whole or in part) to a project described in another Proposal that is submitted in the same funding round (Section 6.7);
f. the Proposal nominates a researcher for a Fellowship and seeks only salary and salary-related on-costs for the Fellow but does not confirm that the Fellow candidate will have her/his research costs funded on the proposed project (subsection 8.4.8);
g. in the opinion of the ARC, the Proposal duplicates or is likely to duplicate research already being funded, or which is likely to be funded, by the Commonwealth (subsections 9.2.1);
h. where required the Proposal does not include details of other funding or funding requests (subsection 9.1);
i. the ARC considers incomplete, inaccurate or misleading material has been provided in relation to the Proposal or if the Administering Organisation and/or researchers nominated in the Proposal have provided the ARC with incomplete, inaccurate or misleading information in relation to the provision of advice relating to, or in the reporting of progress of, a funded project (subsection 9.1.1 and Appendix A subsection A1.8.2 and A1.8.3);
j. the circumstances of a Proposal are such that an Eligibility Exemption/Advice is required but the required process has not been followed (Section 10.1);
k. when requested the Administering Organisation fails to provide the signed certifications and agreements of all parties necessary to allow the proposed project to proceed (Section 12.5 and 13.5);
l. the Proposal fails to meet any format and other submission requirements (Section 12.2 and 13.2); or
m. the on-line Proposal is not submitted, or the paper part of the Proposal is not received by the ARC, by the closing time (subsection 12.4.1 and 13.4.1).
15. Appeals process
15.1 Appeals will be considered only against administrative process issues and not, for example, against committee recommendations or assessor ratings and comments.
15.2 Appeals must be made on the appeals form available from the ARC Web Site. The form must be lodged by the Administering Organisation and must be authorised by a Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research), Chief Executive Officer or equivalent. Appeals must be received within 28 days of the date on the letter notifying the outcome of Proposals.
15.3 Appeals must be addressed and sent to the address advised under ‘Contacts’ at the beginning of these Funding Rules.
Appendix A – Other Matters
A1 Fundamental principles and requirements
A1.1 Ethics and research practices
A1.1.1 The NHMRC web site, http://www.nhmrc.gov.au, provides a series of publications which outline principles of ethical conduct in research. All Proposals and ARC-funded research projects must, unless otherwise approved by the ARC, conform to the principles outlined in the following and their successor documents:
a. NHMRC/ARC/UA Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2007);
b. as applicable, the NHMRC/ARC/AVCC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007); and
c. as applicable, codes on animal research promulgated by the NHMRC.
A1.1.2 If there is any conflict between a successor document and its predecessor, then the successor document prevails to the extent of any inconsistency.
A1.2 Acknowledging ARC support
A1.2.1 The Funding Agreement requires that any ARC contribution to research and other activities funded by the ARC be appropriately acknowledged. When, at any time during or after completion of a project, the researcher or any other party publishes or produces material such as books, articles, newsletters or other literary or artistic works which relate to the research project, the Administering Organisation must ensure (wherever possible) that the ARC’s contribution and support of the project is acknowledged in a prominent place and in an appropriate form. This acknowledgement should include the mention of the ARC as a funding body. Similar efforts should be made to acknowledge ARC support when participating in television and radio programs, when interviewed by the print media and when otherwise speaking publicly about the project.
A1.2.2 Advice on acceptable forms of acknowledgement and use of the ARC logo is provided on the ARC Web Site.
A1.3 Dissemination of research outputs
A1.3.1 The Australian Government makes a major investment in research to support its essential role in improving the wellbeing of our society. To maximise the benefits from research, findings need to be disseminated as broadly as possible to allow access by other researchers and the wider community.
A1.3.2 The ARC acknowledges that researchers take into account a wide range of factors in deciding on the best outlets for publications arising from their research. Such considerations include the status and reputation of a journal or publisher, the peer review process of evaluating their research outputs, access by other stakeholders to their work, the likely impact of their work on users of research and the further dissemination and production of knowledge. Taking heed of these considerations, the ARC endeavours to ensure the widest possible dissemination of the research supported under its funding, in the most effective manner and at the earliest opportunity.
A1.3.3 The ARC therefore encourages researchers to consider the benefits of depositing their data and any publications arising from a research project in an appropriate subject and/or institutional repository. If a researcher is not intending to deposit the data from a project in a repository within six months of the completion of the research, he/she should include the reasons in the project’s Final Report. Any research outputs that have been or will be deposited in appropriate repositories should be identified in the Final Report.
A1.4 Applicable law
A1.4.1 The ARC is required to comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act 1988 and the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
A1.5 Confidentiality
A1.5.1 The ARC will treat information contained in a Proposal as confidential. However, the ARC may disclose information contained in a Proposal, or otherwise provided to the ARC, to the extent that the information:
a. is disclosed by the ARC to its advisers (including external assessors), officers, employees or other third parties in order to assess, evaluate or verify the accuracy or completeness of a Proposal;
b. is disclosed to the ARC’s personnel to enable effective management or auditing of the ARC Discovery Indigenous Researcher Development scheme or any Funding Agreement;
c. is disclosed by the ARC to the Minister;
d. is shared by the ARC within the ARC’s organisation, or with another Commonwealth Department or agency, where this serves the Commonwealth’s legitimate interests;
e. is authorised or required by law to be disclosed;
f. is disclosed in accordance with any other provision of these Funding Rules or the Funding Agreement; or
g. is in the public domain otherwise than due to a breach by the ARC of any obligation of confidence.
A1.5.2 Where information contained in a Proposal is made available to third parties for evaluation or assessment purposes the ARC will require the third parties to maintain the confidentiality of the material.
A1.5.3 Notwithstanding the above, and in addition to the exemptions listed at Appendix A subsection A1.5.1, the ARC may publicise and report offers or awards of funding, including information about the proposed research; the name of the Fellows and their organisations; the name of the Administering Organisation and any other parties involved in or associated with the project; the title and summary descriptions of the project and its intended outcomes (including the national/community benefits that are expected to arise from the research); and the level and nature of financial assistance from the ARC. Administering Organisations should ensure that information contained in the project title and summaries would not, if released, compromise their own requirements for confidentiality (such as future protection of intellectual property).
A1.6 Project description
A1.6.1 In making public information about a Proposal which has been approved for funding, the ARC may use a project description, including title and summary, which may differ from that provided in the Proposal.
A1.7 Intellectual property
A1.7.1 The ARC does not claim ownership of any intellectual property in a Proposal or which is created or developed from the conduct of a project funded under ARC Discovery Indigenous Researcher Development scheme.
A1.7.2 However, all Proposals become the property of the ARC on submission. Administering Organisations submit their Proposals on the basis that the ARC may copy, modify and otherwise deal with information contained in a Proposal (and allow any external assessor or other third party to do the same) for any purpose related to:
a. the evaluation and assessment of Proposals;
b. verifying the accuracy, consistency and adequacy of information contained in a Proposal, or otherwise provided to the ARC;
c. the preparation and management of any Funding Agreement; or
d. the administration or management of the NCGP.
A1.7.3 If a Proposal contains information belonging to a third party, the Administering Organisation must ensure that it has in place all necessary consents to allow the ARC to deal with that information in accordance with these Funding Rules, prior to the Administering Organisation submitting its Proposal.
A1.7.4 Except with written approval from the ARC, all Proposals and ARC-funded research projects must comply with the National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research (available on the ARC Web Site) and accord with any intellectual property policies of the researcher’s organisations.
A1.8 Incomplete or misleading information
A1.8.1 It is a serious offence to provide false or misleading information to the Commonwealth.
A1.8.2 If the ARC considers that a Proposal is incomplete, inaccurate or contains false or misleading information, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to recommend that the Proposal not be approved for funding.
A1.8.3 If an Administering Organisation and/or the researcher nominated in a Proposal has provided the ARC with incomplete, inaccurate or misleading information in relation to any Proposal for, or in the provision of advice relating to, or reporting of progress of, a project funded by the Commonwealth, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend the Proposal for approval and/or terminate projects involving that organisation/person if funded and require the Administering Organisation to repay some or all of the funding.
A1.8.4 If the ARC considers that omissions, or inclusion of misleading information, are intentional, or if there is evidence of misconduct, the ARC may refer the matter for investigation with a view to prosecution under Commonwealth criminal law. The Commonwealth is committed to protecting its revenue, expenditure and property from any attempt, by members of the public, contractors, sub-contractors, agents, intermediaries or its own employees, to gain financial or other benefits by deceit.
A1.8.5 Examples of misleading information and misconduct are, but are not restricted to:
a. providing fictitious track records;
b. making false claims in publications records (such as describing a paper as accepted for publication when it has only been submitted); or
c. failing to disclose to the ARC the existence, and nature, of actual or potential conflicts of interest of any of the parties involved in the Proposal/project (such as any affiliations or financial interest in any organisation that has a direct interest in the matter or outputs of the project).
A1.9 Insurance and liabilities
A1.9.1 Administering Organisations are subject to the liability, indemnity and insurance provisions of the Funding Agreement.
Appendix B – Administration of Funding
B1 Administration of Funding
B1.1 Funding Agreement
B1.1.1 All parties involved in a Proposal should familiarise themselves with the draft Funding Agreement, but only the Administering Organisation and the ARC will be parties to the Funding Agreement. Parties involved in a funded project must accept the terms of the Funding Agreement and the Administering Organisation must sign the Funding Agreement before the ARC will commence payments.
B1.1.2 Projects must commence as required by the Funding Agreement. Failure to do so may result in termination of the Funding Agreement.
B1.1.3 Administering Organisations should note that the Funding Agreement covers the post-award management, including reporting requirements and financial management. The draft Funding Agreement can be viewed on the ARC Web Site.
B1.2 Varying the Funding Agreement
B1.2.1 Requests to vary the Funding Agreement must be forwarded in writing by the Administering Organisation’s Research Office to the ARC. Forms are available on the ARC Web Site. Amendment of any clauses of the Funding Agreement will be at the ARC’s absolute discretion.
B1.3 Varying the funding approval
B1.3.1 Requests to vary the funding approval must be forwarded in writing by the Administering Organisation’s Research Office to the ARC.
B.1.3.2 The funding approval may be varied in regard to the amount of financial assistance, the period of financial assistance, and/or the name of the organisation receiving financial assistance.
B1.3.3 The Minister may vary the funding approval if:
a. any of the organisations involved in the project end, or substantially change, their involvement with the project;
b. the research project changes so that it is no longer consistent with the description in the funding approval as previously approved or as otherwise varied;
c. the desirable period of funding for a project is not consistent with the period in the funding approval as previously approved or as otherwise varied; or
d. the ARC considers and recommends that the particular circumstances of the project warrant variation of the funding approval, providing such variation is reasonably justified upon the facts of the case and any variation or change to the project accords with the ARC Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development scheme objectives.
B1.4 Reports
B1.4.1 Administering Organisations are required to submit reports to the ARC concerning funded projects, in the format and by the due dates detailed in the Funding Agreement.
Appendix C – Eligible Organisations
C1.1 Higher Education Organisations eligible to submit Proposals
Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian National University
University of Canberra
Multi-State
Australian Catholic University
C1.2 Other Organisations eligible to submit Proposals
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)
Museums and herbaria which are Australian publicly funded organisations not directly funded to carry out research, but with research-related purposes and objectives.
Appendix D – Notional Fellowship salaries, relocation allowances and teaching relief contributions
D1.1 ARC Notional* Fellowship Salaries for funding commencing in 2010
The figures in the table below are based on the 2009 levels of funding and will be subject to variation (for example, due to annual indexation). Updated levels will be available on the ARC Web Site at www.arc.gov.au/applicants/salaries.htm.
Fellowship
Step/Option
Salary
28% on-costs
TOTAL
Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship
3 year, 100% option<br>4 year, 75/25% option
$62,642<br>$46,981
$17,540<br>$13,156
$80,182<br>$60,138
Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship Industry
100% option
$62,642
$17,540
$80,182
Indigenous Researcher Fellowship
100% option<br>50% option
$62,642<br>$31,321
$17,540<br>$8,770
$80,182<br>$40,091
Australian Research Fellowship - Indigenous
100% option
$78,567
$21,999
$100,566
Australian Research Fellowship
100% option<br>50% option
$78,567<br>$39,283
$21,999<br>$11,001
$100,566<br>$50,284
Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship
100% option<br>50% option
$93,432<br>$46,716
$26,162<br>$13,080
$119,594<br>$59,796
Australian Professorial Fellowship
Step 1 – 100% option<br>50% option
$108,296<br>$54,148
$30,324<br>$15,162
$138,620<br>$69,310
Australian Professorial Fellowship
Step 2 – 100% option<br>50% option
$125,284<br>$62,642
$35,080<br>$17,540
$160,364<br>$80,182
Future Fellowship
Step 1<br>Step 2<br>Step 3
$95,000<br>$115,000<br>$135,000
$26,600<br>$32,200<br>$37,800
$121,600<br>$147,200<br>$172,800
Australian Laureate Fellowship
ARC Salary Supplement
$100,000
$28,000
$128,000
D1.2 Maximum ARC Fellows Relocation Allowances
North America $17,000
Europe/Asia (Northern Hemisphere)/Africa/South America $14,000
Asia (Southern Hemisphere)/Oceania $11,000
Within Australia $8,000
Unless otherwise specified in these Funding Rules, travel associated with relocations will be funded only up to a maximum of one return economy class airfare for each person approved for relocation.
If teaching relief is approved for a Proposal, the funding contribution for teaching relief is limited to a maximum rate of $32,972 (2008$) for up to 6 months in each consecutive year (or pro rata for a lesser period) per CI (regardless of the level of appointment of the CI).
The ARC may fund justified teaching relief for up to 6 months in each consecutive year.
Appendix E – National Research Priorities and associated Priority Goals
Research Priority 1: An Environmentally Sustainable Australia
Transforming the way we utilise our land, water, mineral and energy resources through a better understanding of human and environmental systems and the use of new technologies.
Natural resources have traditionally fuelled our national and regional economies. They have the potential to generate further wealth and employment opportunities in the future. But our natural resources and biodiversity must be used on a sustainable basis so that the benefits continue to be enjoyed by future generations.
Australia faces significant environmental challenges:
Efficient and sustainable water use is a critically important issue for our economic and social development;
Significant land degradation issues, such as salinity, need to be arrested to underpin our agricultural production systems;
Climate change can be expected to have complex, long-term consequences for the environment, for our agricultural and marine production systems and for communities; and
The cleanliness and efficiency of our energy production systems should be enhanced.
There is substantial effort underway to develop more efficient water utilisation practices, to protect our rivers and groundwater resources, and to protect and remediate our fragile soils.
Our agricultural and mining industries are being transformed through the adoption of new technologies, and the development of new types of foods.
This will help to revitalise our regional communities and generate substantial export earnings for the nation over the coming decades.
Australia is well placed to take an international lead in developing new and improved energy technologies and in capturing and ‘sequestering’ carbon dioxide.
Other opportunities lie in managing and using our unique, rich land- and marine-based biodiversity, and in developing our deep earth resources.
Australia has a strong record of achievement in research in fields in the natural sciences, such as agriculture, natural resource management, climate change, horticulture, forestry, mining, energy, and marine sciences, as well as in the social sciences and humanities.
We must build on these strengths to improve our competitive advantages while enhancing our understanding of natural systems and the interplay of human activities.
In particular, there needs to be an increased understanding of the contributions of human behaviour to environmental and climate change, and on appropriate adaptive responses and strategies.
To understand and manage these complex interactions better will require significant collaboration within the research community and with other stakeholders.
Priority goals for research fall in the seven areas of water utilisation, transforming resource-based industries, overcoming land degradation, developing cleaner, more efficient fuels and energy sources, managing biodiversity, deep earth resources and responding to climate change and variability.
Priority Goals
Water – a critical resource
Sustainable ways of improving water productivity, using less water in agriculture and other industries, providing increased protection of rivers and groundwater and the re-use of urban and industrial waste waters.
Australia is one of the driest continents and is dependent upon access to freshwater supplies for economic and social development. It has a complex geological structure, a highly variable climate, unique ecosystems, flora and fauna and a distinctive indigenous and settler history. Enhancing our understanding of the links between these factors and water availability will result in a better understanding of sustainable water management practices.
Transforming existing industries
New technologies for resource-based industries to deliver substantial increases in national wealth while minimising environmental impacts on land and sea.
Resource-based industries underpin much of Australia’s prosperity and have the potential to do so in the future. For example, Australia remains highly prospective for minerals discoveries and highly attractive for the development of new era foods from agricultural and marine sources. Our competitive advantage and national well being will depend on research and on the development and adoption of new technologies.
Overcoming soil loss, salinity and acidity
Identifying causes and solutions to land degradation using a multidisciplinary approach to restore land surfaces.
The Australian landscape is fragile: soil salinity, acidity, and nutrient levels pose significant, long term challenges for agriculture and the environment. Research is helping to find solutions to these problems. For example, the National Land and Water Resources Audit shows the extent of salinity, soil erosion and soil acidification in the Australian environment and illustrates Australia’s leading edge in national mapping of critical resource data. Further multidisciplinary effort is required to develop sustainable land management practices that are appropriate for Australian conditions and mitigate major land degradation processes and increase biodiversity.
Reducing and capturing emissions in transport and energy generation
Alternative transport technologies and clean combustion and efficient new power generation systems and capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide.
Australia is well positioned to produce world class solutions to reduce and capture greenhouse gas emissions. We are also well placed to develop alternative energy technologies and ecologically sustainable transport and power generation systems.
Sustainable use of Australia’s biodiversity
Managing and protecting Australia’s terrestrial and marine biodiversity both for its own value and to develop long term use of ecosystem goods and services ranging from fisheries to ecotourism.
Australia has a unique and rich flora and fauna. Many of our complex ecosystems – on which our agricultural, fisheries and tourism industries depend - have adapted to events such as drought and fire, and have been shaped by indigenous and settler management practices. There is a need for a more comprehensive understanding of these natural systems and the interplay with human activities, and the effects of management and protection measures.
Developing deep earth resources
Smart high-technology exploration methodologies, including imaging and mapping the deep earth and ocean floors, and novel efficient ways of commodity extraction and processing (examples include minerals, oil and gas) while minimising negative ecological and social impacts.
Many of Australia’s known mineral assets may be nearly exhausted within the next decade. New land-based deposits are believed to be buried deeper in the crust and the deep marine areas surrounding Australia are also largely unexplored. New technologies, such as remote sensing, indicate scientists are on the brink of being able to ‘see’ inside the earth and identify deeply buried deposits.
Responding to climate change and variability
Increasing our understanding of the impact of climate change and variability at the regional level across Australia, and addressing the consequences of these factors on the environment and on communities.
Australia already has a highly variable climate, and climate change can be expected to have further significant impacts. It is important to enhance our understanding of the consequences of climate change and variability at the regional level across Australia, and the implications for the environment and for communities. It is also important to explore beneficial adaptation strategies to climate change and variability to ensure ongoing social, economic and environmental well being.
Research Priority 2: Promoting and Maintaining Good Health
Promoting good health and well being for all Australians
Average life expectancies have increased markedly in recent decades. Australians also expect to lead longer and healthier lives in the future, and to remain productive and independent over an extended period.
Enabling individuals and families to make choices that lead to healthy, productive and fulfilling lives will yield economic and social benefits and add materially to national well being.
Australians expect that their children and grandchildren should have a healthy start to life.
Developing strategies to promote the healthy development of young Australians, and addressing the causes and reducing the impact of the genetic, social and environmental factors which diminish their life potential will be critical.
A revolution is also underway at the other end of the life cycle. Australia, like many other developed nations, is undergoing a major demographic shift involving significant growth in the aged population.
To meet this challenge, it will be important to promote healthy ageing by developing better social and medical strategies to ensure that older Australians enjoy healthy and productive lives.
Informed insights into the causes of disease and of mental and physical degeneration will contribute to the achievement of this goal.
All Australians stand to benefit from preventive healthcare through the adoption of healthier attitudes, habits and lifestyles.
Evidence-based preventive interventions may help reduce the incidence and severity of many diseases, including major health problems such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, mental ill-health, obesity, diabetes, asthma and chronic inflammatory conditions. These could include interventions that reduce exposure to contamination of the physical environment (eg air pollution).
Improvements in the health and well being of the young, of older Australians and in preventive healthcare will be underpinned by research.
However, while Australia has an enviable record in health and medical research, the research effort is spread across the many universities, hospitals and health and medical research institutes, resulting in critical mass only in limited areas of research.
There is also a need to draw on multidisciplinary approaches that include research contributions from the social sciences and humanities.
This priority is designed to promote health and prevent disease through a more focused and collaborative effort.
Priority goals for research fall in the four areas of a healthy start to life, ageing well, ageing productively, preventive healthcare and strengthening Australia’s social and economic fabric.
Priority Goals
A healthy start to life
Counteracting the impact of genetic, social and environmental factors which predispose infants and children to ill health and reduce their well being and life potential.
Human health in the developing foetus and in early childhood is critical to the future well being of the adult. Research shows that health and well being in early childhood is predictive of later positive outcomes and that health in middle and late childhood is also crucial.
Ageing well, ageing productively
Developing better social, medical and population health strategies to improve the mental and physical capacities of ageing people.
Australia’s population is ageing, with a significant projected increase in the number of people aged over 65 and over 85. While Australia is relatively well-placed compared with many OECD nations, major shifts in cultural expectations and attitudes about ageing are necessary to respond constructively, at both an individual and population level. A healthy aged population will contribute actively to the life of the nation through participation in the labour market or through voluntary work.
Preventive healthcare
New ethical, evidence-based strategies to promote health and prevent disease through the adoption of healthier lifestyles and diet, and the development of health-promoting products.
Preventive healthcare research will improve the prediction and prevention of disease and injury for all Australians through the adoption of healthier behaviours, lifestyles and environments. Research will generate an improvement in the design, delivery and uptake of programmes such as exercise-based rehabilitation. There are several major disease targets amenable to immediate study, such as cardiovascular health, neurodegenerative diseases, mental ill-health, obesity, diabetes, asthma and chronic inflammatory conditions. Research on prevention will emphasise interdisciplinary approaches, including research on ethics, drawing on contributions from the social sciences and humanities, as well as from the health and medical sciences. It will also focus on developing new health promoting foods and nutraceuticals.
Strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric
Understanding and strengthening key elements of Australia's social and economic fabric to help families and individuals live healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives.
Living in today's society involves a complex web of choices, yet many of the traditional support structures are weaker than they have been in the past. Enabling people to make choices that lead to positive pathways to self reliance and supportive family structures is more important than ever. The interactions between the social safety net, social and economic participation, financial incentives and community and private sources of support are critical in helping people maximise their potential and achieve good, healthy, lifetime outcomes. In the decade ahead, it will be vital to understand and support the drivers for workforce participation and the broader social and economic trends influencing Australian families and communities. Research in this area will emphasise interdisciplinary approaches, drawing on contributions from the economic, behavioural and social sciences.
Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries
Stimulating the growth of world-class Australian industries using innovative technologies developed from cutting-edge research.
Progress and wealth often derive from the unforeseen application of new discoveries. Australia must be at the leading edge if it is to stay abreast of international developments and take advantage of opportunities.
Our national capabilities in emerging sciences and their underpinning disciplines determine our capacity to develop and implement new technologies. Australia has a strong base of expertise, skills and technological capacities in the fundamental sciences and key technologies.
Our strengths are in a wide range of areas such as biotechnology, material sciences, information and communications technology (ICT), photonics, nanotechnology and sensor technology.
ICT is currently the critical enabling technology and is a major contributor to national productivity and growth.
But breakthrough science underpins technological advancements in many areas and Australia needs to foster an environment that stimulates creativity and innovation.
Applications for frontier technologies are potentially very large. Australia has the capacity to exploit niche markets for new products and services.
Australia also has an enviable track record as an innovator and developer of advanced materials and must grasp the opportunity to stay ahead.
Smart information use involving improved data management, intelligent transport systems and digital media to develop creative applications for digital technologies provides huge opportunities to improve the performance of key Australian industries.
Australia needs to invest in this research area as it is fundamental to our future competitiveness and well being.
This priority will help to strengthen the capacity of Australian researchers to participate in new areas of research, enhance Australia’s international scientific reputation, stimulate local expertise, and help create vibrant new industries.
A better understanding of the conditions that are conducive to innovation will ensure that Australia’s investment in research will maximise the benefits for Australia.
Enhanced research effort will also be achieved through initiatives that develop a critical mass of researchers in key areas.
Priority goals for research fall in the five areas of breakthrough science, frontier technologies, advanced materials, smart information use, and promoting an innovation culture and economy.
Priority Goals
Breakthrough science
Better understanding of the fundamental processes that will advance knowledge and facilitate the development of technological innovations.
Breakthrough science underpins technological innovation across a range of industries critical to maintaining Australia’s position as a developed country. Some examples include bio-, cultural- and geo-informatics, nano-assembly and quantum computing. Technological advances are often unexpected and a strong foundation in mathematics and the fundamental sciences will provide an environment that fosters creativity and innovation. Early participation in leading edge areas of research will enable Australian researchers to benefit more fully from international developments.
Frontier technologies
Enhanced capacity in frontier technologies to power world-class industries of the future and build on Australia’s strengths in research and innovation.
The potential applications of frontier technologies across a range of industries in Australia are vast. Australia has significant capacity to exploit niche markets for new products and services emerging from frontier technologies. Australia has world-class research expertise in many such areas. Some examples include nanotechnology, biotechnology, ICT, photonics, genomics and phenomics. Also important are advanced frameworks such as complex systems in which these technologies are applied. Future directions in this priority area need to target the cutting-edge science critical for each emerging technology.
Advanced materials
Advanced materials for applications in construction, communications, transport, agriculture and medicine.
The development of advanced materials will underpin growth in many areas of industrial and economic activity in Australia. Australia has substantial infrastructure in this area and an enviable track record as an innovator and developer of advanced materials. The era of advanced materials is just beginning, in spite of the tremendous progress in recent years. Substantial scientific and technological challenges remain ahead, including the development of more sophisticated and specialised materials. Some examples include ceramics, organics, biomaterials, smart materials and fabrics, composites, polymers, and light metals.
Smart information use
Improved data management for existing and new business applications and creative applications for digital technologies.
ICT applications are providing huge opportunities to deliver new systems, products, business solutions, and to make more efficient use of infrastructure. Examples include e-finance, multi-media, content generation and imaging. Improved data management is central to the future competitiveness of key industries such as agriculture, biotechnology, finance, banking, education, transport, government, and health and ‘info-tainment’. The ability of organisations to operate virtually and collaborate across huge distances in Australia and internationally hinges on our capabilities in this area. The media and creative industries are among the fastest growing sectors of the new economy. Research is needed to exploit the huge potential in the digital media industry.
Promoting an innovation culture and economy
Maximising Australia’s creative and technological capability by understanding the factors conducive to innovation and its acceptance.
Understanding the factors that lead to highly creative and innovative ideas and concepts, and the conditions that lead to their introduction, transfer and uptake is critical for any nation that aspires to lead the world in breakthrough science, frontier technologies, and in other forms of innovation. Promoting an innovation culture and economy requires research with a focus on developing and fostering human talent, societal and cultural values favourable to creativity and innovation, and structures and processes for encouraging and managing innovation.
Research Priority 4: Safeguarding Australia
Safeguarding Australia from terrorism, crime, invasive diseases and pests, strengthening our understanding of Australia’s place in the region and the world, and securing our infrastructure, particularly with respect to our digital systems.
Australia has to be capable of anticipating and tackling critical threats to society, strategic areas of the national economy and the environment.
The threats can potentially come from within and outside Australia.
The world is now characterised by the widespread and rapid movements of people, digitally coded data, goods and services, and exotic biological agents.
Critical infrastructure in Australia is increasingly dependent on digital technology for its management and integration.
Information protection and the integrity of security systems are now more important than ever before.
It is also necessary to protect the status of Australia as a nation free of many of the diseases affecting primary production around the world.
Terrorism has emerged as a very real global threat and crime is taking a significant toll on Australian society and economy.
Maintaining the operational advantage of Australia’s defence forces through superior capabilities is also fundamental to our national security.
Enhancing our nation’s understanding of social, political and cultural issues will help Australia to engage with our neighbours and the wider global community and to respond to emerging issues.
Leading edge research in Australia is already yielding high dividends and as a national research priority will improve the effectiveness of that contribution.
Stronger research capabilities will ensure that solutions are tailored to Australia’s unique circumstances, reflecting its geographic features and small population.
Greater collaboration within the research community and with other stakeholders will allow us to better understand and manage potential threats to Australia.
Harnessing the knowledge and capabilities across Australia offers us the best chance of developing innovative and rapid solutions to serious threats.
Australia’s international relations and its regional influence will be strengthened through new collaborative approaches and new science and technologies that enhance security and safety.
The heightened interest in personal and electronic security across the world also provides opportunities for Australian solutions.
Priority goals for research fall in the five areas of critical infrastructure, understanding our region and the world, protecting Australia from invasive diseases and pests, protecting Australia from terrorism and crime, and transformational defence
Technologies
Priority Goals
Critical infrastructure
Protecting Australia’s critical infrastructure including our financial, energy, communications, and transport systems.
Protecting our critical infrastructure is important to national security and to the social and economic well being of Australia. An important aspect of this priority goal is e-security which is an enabler of e-commerce. Maintaining a critical mass of research in e-security will be essential in providing Australia with the tools to protect our way of life.
Understanding our region and the world
Enhancing Australia’s capacity to interpret and engage with its regional and global environment through a greater understanding of languages, societies, politics and cultures.
Social, cultural and religious issues are of growing significance due to the insecurities of globalisation and the increasing role of non-state players in the security environment. Australia’s capacity to interpret and engage with its regional and global environment will be substantially improved by enhancing its research base in apposite languages, societies and cultures. An approach that enhances Australia’s capacity to interpret itself to the rest of the world is also needed.
Protecting Australia from invasive diseases and pests
Counteract the impact of invasive species through the application of new technologies and by integrating approaches across agencies and jurisdictions.
Australia is free of many of the pests and diseases affecting primary production around the world. This status needs to be protected as the introduction of exotic species has the potential to adversely affect our exports and the environment. Australia already has strong skills and expertise in this area of research and further work will offer immediate benefits to the community. A greater level of coordination of our research effort will mean that Australia can more effectively develop innovative and rapid solutions to serious threats.
Protecting Australia from terrorism and crime
By promoting a healthy and diverse research and development system that anticipates threats and supports core competencies in modern and rapid identification techniques.
This threat requires a more sophisticated response which should harness Australia’s research capabilities, and which will focus on all phases of counter-terrorism; prevention, preparedness, detection, response and recovery. Crime takes a significant toll on Australian society and economy. Personal identification, information protection and the integrity of security systems are fundamental towards ensuring the national security of Australia. An effective solution will include building on Australia’s existing strengths in rapid detection using new analytical technologies and managing significant data collections.
Transformational defence technologies
Transform military operations for the defence of Australia by providing superior technologies, better information and improved ways of operation.
Australia has a small defence force to protect a large continent and a substantial maritime region of responsibility. Its operational advantage has been maintained through a superior capability which is dependent on leveraging innovative technologies. Although some benefits can be gained from overseas research, Australia has to conduct its own research to address uniquely Australian demands. A systems approach which harnesses the research capabilities of all stakeholders is essential to the successful development and introduction.