Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2013

Overview

The Australian Research Council Act 2001, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, established the Australian Research Council (ARC) to promote, support, and coordinate research within Australia. This legislation was introduced to address the need for a structured and coordinated approach to research funding, ensuring that research efforts are aligned with national priorities and that the research community is adequately supported. The Act provides a framework for the ARC to fund research projects, including the Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) scheme, which aims to support and advance the careers of early career researchers. The DECRA scheme, as outlined in the Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2013, seeks to promote diverse career pathways, focus research in national priority areas, and enable high-quality research and training environments. The rules, approved by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, establish eligibility criteria, application processes, assessment methodologies, and accountability requirements, all consistent with the funding cap and split determinations for the specified years. The Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2013, issued by the authority of the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, aim to provide clear guidelines for the DECRA scheme. These rules outline the criteria for eligibility, the application process, the assessment and selection process, and the reporting requirements for funded projects. They are designed to ensure that the DECRA scheme achieves its objectives of supporting early career researchers and enhancing research capacity and policy outcomes. The rules also incorporate various ethical and legal standards for conducting research, including the responsible conduct of research and ethical considerations in human and animal research. These rules take effect upon registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments and are compatible with human rights and freedoms as recognised in international instruments.

Scope and Application

The Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2013 apply to individuals who are early career researchers and the eligible organisations that support their research. These organisations include universities, government departments, and certain not-for-profit research institutions. The rules pertain to the eligibility criteria for researchers and organisations, the application process, assessment of proposals, funding variations, and accountability requirements. The rules are issued under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001 and have a Commonwealth jurisdictional reach, meaning they apply across Australia. The rules take into account the funding cap and funding split determination for the specified years. They incorporate several referenced documents, including the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research and the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. The rules ensure compliance with human rights and freedoms as recognised in international instruments. The rules are subject to registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments and may be subject to amendments or interpretations through subordinate instruments as necessary.

Key Provisions

The Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2013 (the "Funding Rules") are a comprehensive set of guidelines established under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001. They detail the eligibility criteria, application process, assessment procedures, and accountability requirements for the DECRA scheme. Section 1 provides the formal name of the Funding Rules, while Section 2 sets out the commencement details, indicating when the rules take effect. Section 3 includes definitions for terms used throughout the rules, ensuring clarity and consistency in their interpretation and application. The obligations and requirements imposed by the Funding Rules are extensive and cover various aspects of the DECRA scheme. Section 4 provides an overview of the scheme and the selection criteria, which focus on supporting promising early career researchers and enhancing diverse career pathways. Section 5 details the level of funding available, restrictions on budget items, and types of research not supported by the scheme. Section 6 outlines the types of organisations eligible to apply, their roles, and the eligibility criteria for individual researchers. Section 7 specifies the number of proposals an organisation can submit, the number of funded projects, and cross-scheme eligibility. Section 8 addresses the submission of proposals, including deadlines and conflict of interest declarations. Section 9 describes the selection and approval process, while Section 10 outlines the appeals process for unsuccessful applicants. Section 11 details the reporting requirements, including progress reports, end of year reports, final reports, and audited financial statements. Section 12 sets out the fundamental principles of conducting research, including ethical conduct, applicable laws, confidentiality, intellectual property, and the consequences of providing incomplete or misleading information. Failure to comply with the provisions of the Funding Rules may result in various civil or criminal consequences. While the specific offences and penalties are not explicitly detailed within the explanatory statement, breaches of ethical conduct, confidentiality, and intellectual property provisions could lead to legal actions under applicable laws. Additionally, the provision of incomplete or misleading information may result in the rejection of the proposal or the revocation of funding for ongoing projects. The consequences of such breaches would depend on the severity of the non-compliance and the specific laws or regulations involved.