Discovery Program Grant Guidelines (2021 edition) Variation No. 1: Australian Laureate Fellowships Future Fellowships Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Discovery Indigenous Discovery Projects

Overview

The Discovery Program Grant Guidelines (2021 edition) Variation No. 1, issued under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001, was enacted to provide updated guidelines for various research grant schemes within the Discovery Program. These schemes include the Australian Laureate Fellowships, Future Fellowships, Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards, Discovery Indigenous, and Discovery Projects. The primary objective of these guidelines is to support Australia's research and innovation capacity by fostering the development of new knowledge, technologies, products, and ideas, while also contributing to job creation, economic growth, and an enhanced quality of life. The variation, approved by the Minister for Education and Youth, was introduced to incorporate the Discovery Projects scheme into the guidelines, streamlining the grant processes and reducing regulatory burden on the higher education sector. The guidelines were developed following consultation with relevant departments and are deemed low risk, with measures in place to minimise the burden on the sector in terms of proposal preparation and submission.

Scope and Application

The Discovery Program Grant Guidelines (2021 edition) Variation No. 1, made under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001, applies to entities and individuals seeking funding through various schemes within the Discovery Program, which includes Australian Laureate Fellowships, Future Fellowships, Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards, Discovery Indigenous, and Discovery Projects. This legislation is applicable nationally and is designed to support the growth of Australia's research and innovation capacity, thereby fostering new knowledge and its application in technological, product, and idea development, job creation, economic growth, and an enhanced quality of life. The guidelines outline eligibility criteria, assessment processes, grant amounts, and the application procedures for these schemes. Notably, the variation introduces Discovery Projects into the guidelines, affecting the scope of the program. The guidelines are exempt from disallowance under section 10, Item 7 of the Legislation (exemption and other matters) Regulations 2015, as they are considered rules under the Australian Research Council Act 2001, not requiring parliamentary scrutiny.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Discovery Program Grant Guidelines (2021 edition) Variation No. 1 involve the introduction of the Discovery Projects scheme into the existing Grant Guidelines (Section 1). This variation also includes details such as the grant amount, eligibility criteria, assessment criteria, the application process, and the delivery or grant activities (Section 2). These provisions are intended to support the growth of Australia’s research and innovation capacity, resulting in the development of new technologies, products, and ideas, job creation, economic growth, and an enhanced quality of life in Australia. The Guidelines also outline the coordination efforts with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to minimise the burden on the higher education sector (Section 3). The obligations and requirements imposed by these Guidelines on the parties or entities they govern include ensuring that all grant applications meet the eligibility criteria and adhere to the assessment criteria. Applicants must follow the specified application process and deliver the grant activities as outlined in the Guidelines. Additionally, there is an obligation to coordinate with the NHMRC to prepare and submit proposals in a manner that reduces the overall regulatory burden on the higher education sector. The Guidelines also require that the Grant Guidelines be compatible with human rights and that a statement of compatibility be prepared as per the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 (Section 4). Any breaches of these Grant Guidelines may result in civil or criminal consequences, though the specific penalties are not detailed in the Explanatory Statement. Under the Australian Research Council Act 2001, violations of the Grant Guidelines could potentially lead to the revocation of grants, disqualification from future funding, or other administrative actions. The exact penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, but the Act provides the Minister with the authority to take appropriate measures to enforce compliance (Section 5). Given the importance of the Discovery Program in fostering research and innovation, adherence to the Guidelines is crucial for maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the funding schemes.