Australian Research Council Funding Rules for schemes under the Discovery Program for the years 2015 and 2016

Administered by Department of Education

Legislation au F2014L01525 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

Funding Rules for schemes under the Discovery Program for the years 2015 and 2016—Australian Laureate Fellowships, Discovery Projects, Discovery Early Career Researcher Award and Discovery Indigenous

Issued by the authority of the Minister for Education

Subject: Australian Research Council Act 2001– Discovery Program for the years 2015 and 2016—Australian Laureate Fellowships, Discovery Projects, Discovery Early Career Researcher Award and Discovery Indigenous

Authority

Section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001 (the Act) provides that the Minister must approve ARC funding rules. 

Purpose and effect

These Funding Rules relate to schemes funded under the Discovery Program of the ARC’s National

Competitive Grants Program. The Discovery Program supports the growth of Australia’s research

and innovation capacity, which generates new knowledge resulting in the development of new

technologies, products and ideas, the creation of jobs, economic growth and an enhanced quality of

life in Australia.

These Funding Rules apply to: Australian Laureate Fellowships for funding commencing in 2015,

Discovery Projects for funding commencing in 2016, Discovery Early Career Researcher Award

for funding commencing in 2016, and Discovery Indigenous for funding commencing in 2016.

In accordance with subsection 59 (2) of the Act, the Funding Rules for schemes under the Discovery Program for the years 2015 and 2016 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 Funding Rules for schemes under the Discovery Program for the years 2015 and 2016—Australian Laureate Fellowships, Discovery Projects, Discovery Early Career Researcher Award and Discovery Indigenous 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 Funding Rules for schemes under the Discovery Program for the years 2015 and 2016—Australian Laureate Fellowships, Discovery Projects, Discovery Early Career Researcher Award and Discovery Indigenous were approved by the Minister for Education, the Hon Christopher Pyne, on 1 October 2014. No amendments have been made.

Documents incorporated by reference                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

The following documents are incorporated by reference:

  • NHMRC/ARC/UA Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2007);
  • NHMRC/ARC/UA National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007);
  • NHMRC Values and Ethics: Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research (2003);
  • Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Guidelines for Ethical Research in Australian Indigenous Studies (2011);
  • Australian Code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes (2013) endorsed by the NHMRC, the ARC, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and UA; and
  • National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research, available from (www.arc.gov.au).

 

Commencement

The Funding Rules for schemes under the Discovery Program for the years 2015 and 2016—Australian Laureate Fellowships, Discovery Projects, Discovery Early Career Researcher Award and Discovery Indigenous shall take effect upon registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments. 

 

 

The provisions include;

 

Part A – Provides general rules for the schemes under the Discovery Program which includes;

  • Name of Funding Rules
  • Commencement
  • Definitions
  • Introduction
  • Funding
  • General Eligibility requirements
  • Submission of proposals
  • Selection and approval process
  • Appeals process
  • Reporting requirements
  • Fundamental principles of conducting research
  • Eligible organisations

 

Part B – Provides scheme specific rules for Australian Laureate Fellowships for funding commencing in 2015

 

Part C – Provides scheme specific rules for Discovery Projects for funding commencing in 2016

 

Part D – Provides scheme specific rules for Discovery Early Career Researcher Award for funding commencing in 2016

 

Part E – Provides scheme specific rules for Discovery Indigenous for funding commencing in 2016

 

Overview

The Funding Rules for schemes under the Discovery Program for the years 2015 and 2016, published in 2014 under the Australian Research Council Act 2001, are designed to address the need for clear guidelines and procedures for the allocation of research funding within the Australian Research Council's National Competitive Grants Program. These rules were enacted by the Minister for Education and aim to support the growth of Australia’s research and innovation capacity by establishing eligibility criteria, application processes, assessment procedures, and accountability requirements. The rules ensure that research proposals are evaluated fairly and consistently, and that funding is directed towards projects that have the potential to yield significant advancements in knowledge, technology, and economic growth. These Funding Rules cover four specific schemes: Australian Laureate Fellowships for 2015, Discovery Projects for 2016, Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards for 2016, and Discovery Indigenous for 2016. They were approved by the Minister on 1 October 2014 and are consistent with the funding caps and splits determined for those years. The rules incorporate several ethical guidelines and principles to ensure the responsible conduct of research, including the NHMRC/ARC/UA Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research and the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. The provisions are structured into general rules applicable to all schemes, and specific rules for each scheme, ensuring comprehensive governance of the funding process.

Scope and Application

The Funding Rules, made under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001, apply to specific schemes within the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Discovery Program for the years 2015 and 2016, including Australian Laureate Fellowships, Discovery Projects, Discovery Early Career Researcher Award, and Discovery Indigenous. These rules outline the eligibility criteria for applicants, the process for submitting and assessing proposals, the conditions under which funding may be approved and varied, and additional accountability requirements deemed necessary by the ARC. The rules are designed to support the growth of Australia’s research and innovation capacity, contributing to the development of new technologies, products, and ideas, job creation, economic growth, and an improved quality of life. The rules incorporate various ethical guidelines and principles for the responsible conduct of research, ensuring that funded projects adhere to high standards of integrity and ethical conduct. The scope of these rules is national, extending across all states and territories of Australia, and they apply to eligible organisations which may include universities, research institutions, and other entities capable of conducting high-quality research.

Key Provisions

The Funding Rules made under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001 (the Act) are specifically tailored for the Discovery Program, which includes Australian Laureate Fellowships, Discovery Projects, Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards, and Discovery Indigenous for the years 2015 and 2016. Section 59(2) of the Act mandates these rules, which outline the eligibility criteria, application process, assessment criteria, funding variations, and accountability requirements for the funding schemes (section 59(2)(a)-(e)). The rules were approved by the Minister for Education on 1 October 2014 and are consistent with the funding cap and split determination for the applicable years. These rules impose several obligations on the parties involved. For instance, eligible organisations must ensure their proposals meet the specified eligibility criteria, which include the types of research programs and the kinds of organisations that can receive assistance (section 59(2)(a)). Applicants must follow the prescribed application process, including submission of proposals and required documentation (section 59(2)(b)). The Australian Research Council (ARC) is obligated to assess the proposals based on the criteria outlined in the rules, ensuring a fair and transparent selection and approval process (section 59(2)(c)). Additionally, the ARC may vary funding approvals under certain circumstances, as detailed in the rules (section 59(2)(d)). Failure to comply with the provisions of these Funding Rules can result in various consequences. Although the specific offences, penalties, or consequences are not detailed in the explanatory statement, breaches of the responsible conduct of research codes and ethical guidelines incorporated by reference, such as the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2007) or the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007), could lead to serious repercussions. These might include the withholding of funding, revocation of previously granted funding, or other administrative penalties. Additionally, non-compliance with ethical guidelines could result in civil or criminal liability, depending on the severity of the breach and the specific provisions of the relevant ethical codes and research regulations.

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Area of Law
Education Law
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Regulation
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Definitions & Interpretation
Eligibility requirements
Assessment process
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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.