Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2012

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Legislation au F2011L00403 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

 

Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2012

 

Issued by the authority of the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research

 

 

Subject: Australian Research Council Act 2001

Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2012

 

Authority

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

 

Purpose and effect

Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) is a scheme that provides funding to Eligible Organisations to support research by individual researchers. The objectives of the DECRA scheme are to: support and advance promising early career researchers; promote enhanced opportunities for diverse career pathways; focus research effort in the National Research Priority areas to improve research capacity and policy outcomes; and enable research and research training in high quality and supportive environments.

In accordance with subsection 59 (2) of the Act, the Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2012 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 ARC thinks desirable.

 

In accordance with subsection 59 (2) of the Act, the Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2012 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.

 

Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2012 were approved by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, the Hon Kim Carr MP, on 9 February 2011. No amendments have been made.

 

Documents incorporated by reference

The following documents are incorporated by reference:

  • the NHMRC/ARC/UA Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2007); the NHMRC/ARC/AVCC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007); and codes on animal research promulgated by the NHMRC (see subsection                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               the rules), available from (www.nhmrc.gov.au);
  • Instructions to Applicants for funding commencing in 2012 (see section 5), available from (www.arc.gov.au)
  • National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research (see subsection 12.4 of the rules), available from (www.arc.gov.au); and


Commencement

Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2012 shall take effect upon registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.

 

 

Explanation of provisions: provision by provision description

 

Section 1 provides the name of the Funding Rules.

 

Section 2 provides the commencement details.

 

Section 3 provides interpretations of the definitions.

 

Section 4 provides an overview and outlines the Discovery Early Career researcher Award (DECRA) scheme and the selection criteria.

 

Section 5 outlines the level of funding, restrictions on budget items, and types of research not supported.

 

Section 6 outlines organisational types, roles and eligibility.

 

Section 7 deals with number of proposals, funded projects and cross-scheme eligibility.

 

Section 8 outlines submission of proposals including the closing time for proposals and conflict of interest.  

 

Section 9 outlines the selection and approval process.  

 

Section 10 outlines the appeals process.  

 

Section 11 outlines reporting requirements including progress reports, end of year reports, final report and audited financial statement.

 

Section 12 outlines fundamental principles of conducting research including ethics and research practices, applicable law, confidentiality, intellectual property and incomplete or misleading information.  

 

Appendix A. Eligible Organisations

Overview

The Australian Research Council Act 2001 was enacted to establish the Australian Research Council (ARC) and to outline its functions, including the allocation of research funding. The Act introduced the Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) scheme, which provides funding to eligible organisations to support research by early career researchers. The primary objective of the DECRA scheme is to foster promising early career researchers, promote diverse career pathways, focus research efforts in national priority areas, and ensure research and training occur in high-quality and supportive environments. The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, acting under the authority granted by section 60 of the Act, approved the Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2012 on 9 February 2011. These rules, which are consistent with the funding cap and split determination for the applicable years, detail eligibility criteria, application processes, assessment criteria, funding variations, and additional accountability requirements as deemed necessary by the ARC. The rules incorporate several codes and principles, including the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research, and the National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research, all aimed at ensuring the integrity and ethical standards of the funded research.

Scope and Application

The Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2012, made under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001, govern the eligibility criteria, application process, assessment, and accountability requirements for the DECRA scheme. These rules apply to individual researchers seeking funding from Eligible Organisations, which include eligible Australian universities, eligible Australian research institutions, and eligible non-corporate entities. The DECRA scheme aims to support and advance promising early career researchers, promote diverse career pathways, focus research in National Research Priority areas, and enable research in high-quality environments. The rules set out the eligibility criteria for organisations and research programs, the application process, assessment criteria, and reporting requirements, ensuring consistency with the funding cap and split determinations for the relevant years. The rules also incorporate relevant codes of conduct and intellectual property management principles. These rules apply nationally and are subject to amendments only through subordinate instruments approved by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.

Key Provisions

The Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2012, under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001, primarily outline the criteria for eligibility and funding of early career researchers. Section 4 provides an overview of the DECRA scheme, highlighting its objectives, including supporting promising researchers, promoting diverse career pathways, and focusing research efforts in national priority areas. Section 5 specifies the funding levels, permissible budget items, and types of research not supported. For instance, it details the maximum funding amount and what constitutes allowable expenses. Section 6 describes the types of organisations eligible to apply and the roles within these organisations. It stipulates that only certain institutions, referred to as Eligible Organisations, can submit proposals for funding. These Funding Rules impose several obligations on the parties involved. Section 7 restricts the number of proposals an individual can submit, and it outlines the maximum number of funded projects an individual can have at any one time, ensuring that the funding is spread among a broader group of researchers. Section 8 details the submission process, including deadlines and conflict of interest declarations, ensuring transparency and fairness in the application process. Section 11 sets out comprehensive reporting requirements, including regular progress reports, end-of-year reports, a final report, and audited financial statements. These requirements ensure that funded research is conducted as per the agreed terms and that the funds are used appropriately. Breaches of these Funding Rules can lead to various consequences. Section 12 emphasizes fundamental principles, such as adherence to ethical conduct and applicable laws, and it warns that incomplete or misleading information can result in disqualification from the scheme. While the Funding Rules themselves do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, failure to adhere to the ethical and reporting requirements can have serious ramifications for researchers and organisations, including the potential loss of funding and reputational damage. Additionally, any legal or ethical breaches may lead to further investigation and possible legal action under other relevant legislation.

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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.