Discovery Indigenous Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2012

Overview

The Australian Research Council Act 2001, enacted by the Australian Parliament, established the Australian Research Council (ARC) to manage research funding. The Act identified a need for specific funding rules to address the unique requirements of research initiatives led by Indigenous Australian researchers and to bolster the research capacity of early career researchers. To address this, the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research approved the Discovery Indigenous Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2012 under section 60 of the Act. These rules aim to support research programs led by Indigenous Australians while ensuring alignment with the broader objectives of the Act, including ethical standards and intellectual property management. The rules define eligibility criteria, application processes, assessment methods, funding variations, and additional accountability measures. They incorporate relevant ethical and research conduct codes and principles, ensuring that funded research adheres to high standards of integrity and responsibility.

Scope and Application

The Discovery Indigenous Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2012 apply to eligible organisations and researchers involved in research programs led by Indigenous Australian researchers. These rules, made under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001, were approved by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research on 04 April 2011. They outline the eligibility criteria for proposals, the application process, assessment methods, funding variations, and additional accountability requirements for the Discovery Indigenous scheme. The rules are designed to support research programs led by Indigenous Australian researchers and to build research capacity among higher degree research and early career researchers. They take into account the funding cap and split determination for the applicable years and are consistent with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research and other relevant ethical and intellectual property guidelines. The rules incorporate by reference various codes and principles available from specified websites, including those related to ethical conduct in human and animal research, as well as intellectual property management for publicly funded research. These rules apply nationally and are subject to registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.

Key Provisions

The primary sections of the Discovery Indigenous Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2012, as approved under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2011, set forth the criteria for eligibility, application procedures, assessment processes, funding variations, and additional accountability measures. Section 4 details the objectives of the Discovery Indigenous scheme, selection criteria, and strategic statement. Section 5 specifies the types of budget items and research activities that are supported or not supported. Section 6 outlines the eligible organisations and their roles, while Section 7 details the eligibility criteria for researchers. Section 8 defines the Discovery Indigenous Award (DIA), including eligibility criteria, funding levels, and duration. Section 9 addresses the number of proposals, funded projects, and cross-scheme eligibility. Section 10 covers the submission of proposals, including the closing time for proposals, certification requirements, and conflict of interest declarations. Section 11 outlines the selection and approval processes, while Section 12 details the appeals process. Section 13 specifies the reporting requirements, including progress reports, end-of-year reports, final reports, and audited financial statements. Section 14 addresses the fundamental principles of conducting research, including ethical and research practices, applicable laws, confidentiality, intellectual property, and incomplete or misleading information. The Discovery Indigenous Funding Rules impose specific obligations on eligible organisations and researchers. Eligible organisations, as detailed in Section 6, must meet the criteria for receiving funding and must ensure their research proposals align with the objectives of the scheme. Researchers, outlined in Section 7, must be Indigenous Australian researchers and must comply with the eligibility criteria. Section 8 specifies the terms and conditions of the Discovery Indigenous Award (DIA), including the level and duration of funding. Researchers and organisations must adhere to the submission requirements outlined in Section 10, ensuring proposals are submitted within the specified timeframe and are certified appropriately. Additionally, Section 13 mandates the submission of various reports, including progress, end-of-year, final reports, and audited financial statements. The rules also require compliance with the fundamental principles of conducting research, as detailed in Section 14, which includes adhering to ethical conduct, applicable laws, confidentiality, and intellectual property management. Breaches of the Discovery Indigenous Funding Rules may result in civil or criminal consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed within the explanatory statement, breaches of research funding rules under the Australian Research Council Act 2011 can lead to serious repercussions. Civil penalties may include fines or recoupment of funds, while criminal penalties could involve imprisonment, particularly if the breach involves fraudulent activities or significant misconduct. Additionally, organisations or researchers found to have provided incomplete or misleading information could face revocation of funding, exclusion from future funding opportunities, or other administrative penalties as deemed necessary by the Australian Research Council. Compliance with the rules is crucial to avoid these potential consequences.