Australian Research Council Act 2001 - Federation Fellowships - Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008

Administered by Department of Education

Legislation au F2007L03521 Rules Not in force Legislative Instrument

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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

 

Funding Rules made under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001

 

Australian Research Council Federation Fellowships Funding Rules for Funding commencing in 2008

 

Issued by the authority of the Minister for Education, Science and Training

 

Subject: Australian Research Council Act 2001

Federation Fellowships Funding Rules for Funding commencing in 2008

Authority

Section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001 (the Act) provides that the Minister for Education, Science and Training must approve ARC funding rules. 

 

Purpose and effect

Federation Fellowships is a scheme funded under the Australian Research Council’s National Competitive Grants Program.  The scheme reflects the Australian Research Council’s commitment to support excellence in research by attracting world-class researchers to key positions, and creating new rewards and incentives for the application of their talents in Australia.  The award of Federation Fellowships are approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training.

 

In accordance with subsection 59 (2) of the Act, the Federation Fellowships Funding Rules for Funding commencing in 2008 contain:

(a) the eligibility criteria to be met in order for a proposal to be approved for financial assistance (including criteria relating to the kinds of organisation that may receive assistance and the kinds of research program in respect of which assistance may be provided);

(b) how to apply for financial assistance;

(c) the assessment process for deciding which proposals will be recommended for approval;

(d) the ways in which, and circumstances in which, a funding approval may be varied; and

(e) any additional accountability requirements that the CEO thinks desirable.

 

In accordance with subsection 59 (2) of the Act, the Federation Fellowships Funding Rules for Funding commencing in 2008 rules take account of, and are consistent with:

(a) the funding cap for the year, or each of the years, to which the rules apply; and

(b) the funding split determination for the year, or each of the years, to which the rules apply.

 

The Federation Fellowships  Funding Rules for Funding commencing in 2008 were approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, on 24 August 2007.  No amendments have been made.

 

Documents incorporated by reference

The following documents are incorporated into the Funding Rules by reference:

  • The Joint NHMRC/AVCC Statement and Guidelines on Research Practice (1997) (subsection 4.4.3.3) as applicable the NHMRC/ARC/AVCC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007); and/as applicable, the NHMRC’s other codes on animal research (see subsection 4.4.1.1 of the rules), available from (http://www.nhmrc.gov.au);
  • Federation Fellowships: Instructions to Applicants for Funding commencing in 2008 (see subsections, 10.4.1, 10.4.4.1, and 10.4.3.2), available from (www.arc.gov.au);
  • The Funding Agreement (see subsections 4.1.2; 13.1; and 14.6.1), available from (http://www.arc.gov.au); and
  • National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research (see subsection 14.4.4 of the rules), available from (http://www.arc.gov.au).

 

 

 

 

Consultation

On 28 April 2006, the ARC invited comments and feedback from all organisations eligible for ARC funding on funding rules for ARC schemes.  Submissions were received by the ARC in late May/early June 2006 from a number of organisations.  The ARC considered these submissions and, where appropriate, the funding rules approved by the Minister reflected this feedback.

 

Commencement

The Federation Fellowship Funding Rules for Funding commencing in 2008 shall take effect upon the day after registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.

 

Likely impact and effect

These Funding Rules provide the key criteria and requirements for proposals for, and the allocation and administration of, funding under the Federation Fellowships scheme for Federation Fellowships where funding will commence in 2008.

 

Explanation of provisions: provision by provision description

Sections 1-3 cover the name, commencement and interpretation of the funding rules.

 

Section 4 covers overview, objectives of the National Competitive Grants Program, the Federation Fellowships scheme, and fundamental principles and requirements, including ethics and research practices, non-duplication, conflict of interest, acknowledging ARC support and dissemination of research outputs.

 

Section 5 describes changes from last year.

 

Section 6 deals with funding matters including the level of funding, period of funding, the types of research supported, the areas of investigation/work not supported, restrictions on budget items and the number of proposals and funded projects.

 

Section 7 describes organisational types, roles and eligibility including eligible organisations.

 

Section 8 outlines roles and eligibility for Federation Fellows including eligibility criteria for Federation Fellows.

 

Section 9 deals with cross-scheme issues, including cross-scheme funding, cross-scheme eligibility, researchers from Commonwealth-funded Research Centres and funding of Medical and Dental Research.

 

Section 10 outlines the application process, including eligibility exemption and eligibility ruling process, proposals, certification and submission of proposals.

 

Section 11 describes the selection and approval process, including the selection criteria, assessment and selection procedure and offer of funding.

 

Section 12 details the Appeals process.

 

Section 13 describes the Administration of Funding, including the Funding Agreement, varying the Funding Agreement, varying the Funding Approval and Reports.

 

Section 14 deals with other matters, such as applicable law, confidentiality, project description, intellectual property, incomplete or misleading information and insurance and liabilities.

 

There are four appendices:

Appendix 1:  Descriptions of National Research Priorities and associated Priority Goals

Appendix 2:   Eligible Organisations

Appendix 3: Notional ARC Federation Fellowship Salaries for Funding Commencing in 2008

Appendix 4: Minimum Funding Contribution Requirements for Administering Organisations

Overview

The Australian Research Council Act 2001 was enacted to establish the Australian Research Council and to provide for the funding of research. The Act was introduced to address the need for a structured and competitive framework for the allocation of research funding in Australia. The Australian Research Council, as the enacting body, was tasked with ensuring that research funding is distributed effectively to support high-quality research outcomes. The policy objective of the Act is to foster excellence in research by attracting world-class researchers and supporting their work through various competitive grant programs, including the Federation Fellowships scheme. The Federation Fellowships Funding Rules for Funding commencing in 2008, approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, detail the criteria and requirements for eligibility, application, assessment, and administration of funding for these fellowships, ensuring alignment with national research priorities and ethical standards.

Scope and Application

The Australian Research Council Federation Fellowships Funding Rules for Funding commencing in 2008, made under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001, provide comprehensive guidelines for the administration, application, and assessment of funding for the Federation Fellowships scheme. These rules apply to eligible individuals and organisations that seek to participate in the Federation Fellowships program, with a focus on attracting world-class researchers to key positions in Australia. The rules are applicable nationally and are intended to align with the broader objectives of the National Competitive Grants Program. The rules outline eligibility criteria for applicants and organisations, the application and assessment process, funding details, and additional accountability requirements. Importantly, these rules are subject to the funding cap and funding split determination for the applicable years. The rules also reference other relevant documents and guidelines to ensure consistency in research practices and ethical conduct. The Federation Fellowships Funding Rules for Funding commencing in 2008 have been approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training and reflect feedback from eligible organisations. The rules establish the criteria and procedures for the application, assessment, and administration of funding for the Federation Fellowships scheme, ensuring that the program adheres to national research priorities and ethical standards. The rules also incorporate by reference several other documents, including the Joint NHMRC/AVCC Statement and Guidelines on Research Practice, the NHMRC/ARC/AVCC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research, and the National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research. These rules, once registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments, will govern the allocation and administration of funding for Federation Fellowships where funding commences in 2008.

Key Provisions

The key sections of the Australian Research Council Federation Fellowships Funding Rules for Funding commencing in 2008, as approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, lay out the framework for eligibility criteria, application processes, assessment, funding variations, and accountability requirements for the Federation Fellowships scheme. These rules (sections 1-3) cover the name, commencement, and interpretation of the funding rules, and are designed to support excellence in research by attracting world-class researchers to key positions in Australia. Section 4 outlines the objectives of the National Competitive Grants Program, including ethical conduct in research, non-duplication of research, and the dissemination of research outputs. Section 5 highlights changes from the previous year, while Section 6 deals with funding specifics, such as the level of funding, period of funding, and types of research supported. These rules impose obligations on various parties, including eligible organisations and Federation Fellows. Eligible organisations must meet certain criteria to receive funding, and Federation Fellows must meet specific eligibility criteria (Section 7 and Section 8). The application process (Section 10) requires applicants to submit certified proposals, and the selection and approval process (Section 11) involves the assessment of proposals against specific criteria. The administration of funding (Section 13) entails adherence to the Funding Agreement and timely submission of reports. Other matters, such as intellectual property, confidentiality, and insurance (Section 14), also form part of the obligations imposed by these rules. Breaches of these rules may lead to civil or criminal consequences, although the specific penalties are not outlined in the text. However, it is implied that failure to comply with the rules, such as providing incomplete or misleading information, may result in the revocation of funding or other sanctions. It is essential for applicants, eligible organisations, and Federation Fellows to familiarise themselves with these rules and adhere to the obligations and requirements to avoid any potential consequences.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.