Australian society, history and culture

In January 2020, the Australian Government announced the establishment of the SRI for Australian Society, History and Culture. Between 2011 and 2020, just three per cent of Discovery grants were in the areas of Australian society, history or culture. To ensure funding in research benefits the broad Australian community, $12 million was provided.

The scheme will look at the way in which Australians live today as well as how the past has contributed to Australian society and culture. One focus is how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture is understood and has impacted modern Australian society. It is anticipated by the Government that the new initiative will bring a greater understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, heritage and the success of multiculturalism.

The SRI for Australian Society, History and Culture will fund approximately 40 projects providing between $20,000 to $100,000 per year for up to three years.

Australian Antarctic Strategy and 20 Year Action Plan

The Australian Government’s 2016 Australian Antarctic Strategy and 20 Year Action Plan called for a revitalisation of Antarctic science through the implementation of a coordinated Antarctic science funding model. To progress this, the Department of the Environment and Energy (now part of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment as of 1 February 2020) commissioned the Australian Antarctic Science Program Governance Review to examine the governance arrangements supporting the Australian Antarctic Science Program, and to provide advice on a new model. This review made nine recommendations centered on institutionalising long-term collaborative science, ensuring coherent science leadership, integrating strategy and planning, and streamlining administration.

As part of its response to the Australian Antarctic Strategy and 20 Year Action Plan, the Australian Government announced $56 million of funding over seven years to support the work of Antarctic researchers in Australian universities through the ARC’s SRIEAS round under the SRI scheme.

On 21 April 2020, two projects were announced under the ARC’s SRIEAS. Monash University will receive $36 million over seven years to deliver unprecedented Antarctic research capability working with 29 research partners and collaborating universities. The University of Tasmania will receive $20 million over three years to conduct world-leading research into changes that are happening in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean and the impact these changes are having on global climate systems.

These projects will support examinations of the strategic, economic, scientific and environmental significance of Antarctica to Australia.

Linkage Projects scheme evaluation

In December 2019, changes to the ARC Linkage Projects scheme were introduced in response to the ARC Evaluation of the Implementation of the continuous Linkage Projects process report, www.arc.gov. au > News and Publications > Media > Network Messages > Evaluation of the implementation of the continuous-Linkage Projects process. The Linkage Projects scheme round for funding commencing in 2020, whilst still open for applications continuously—to maintain opportunities for researchers, businesses and other end users to respond to time critical market or innovation opportunities—now provides clear deadlines for three assessment rounds per year.

Streamlining NCGP grants administration

In 2019, the ARC undertook a range of streamlining activities for the NCGP grants administration processes. The streamlining outcomes included changes to Grant Guidelines (from annual to multi-year) and updates to application forms. The streamlined application forms reduced duplication, improved consistency across schemes (where appropriate) and removed some questions that were no longer required. The ARC also implemented further enhancements to the Research Management System’s (RMS) functionality that auto-populates research outputs from researcher profiles into new NCGP application forms, taking into account feedback received from the research sector.

The streamlining of ARC grant applications and management processes is an ongoing business improvement activity for the ARC to maintain an efficient system that, as far as possible, minimises the administrative burden for researchers, research offices and ARC staff.

Embargoed notification of funding outcomes

In October 2019, the Hon Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Education (Minister Tehan) introduced a new process for notifying Administering Organisations of their funding outcomes for NCGP schemes under strict embargo, in advance of the Minister’s funding announcements. The notification of funding outcomes under embargo provides researchers with earlier certainty.

Through the ARC’s RMS, Administering Organisation administrators are notified of their application funding outcomes (successful and unsuccessful) under embargo prior to the full Ministerial announcement.

For successful applications, researchers are able to commence their research projects more quickly, maintain their partner organisation commitments, undertake recruitment and proceed with employment contracts.

Where an application is unsuccessful, researchers are able to proceed with alternative plans for their research and careers, including preparing applications for new ARC scheme rounds, or seeking alternative sources of research funding and/or employment.

Adopting new processes during the COVID-19 pandemic

An important role of the ARC is ensuring the delivery of funding outcomes in a timely manner. The ARC has constantly monitored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic closely, while continuing to progress NCGP grant applications and peer review processes, and to support researchers in the recovery period and beyond.

The ARC was cognisant that the COVID-19 pandemic was affecting many ARC-funded researchers (current and prospective), research administrators, peer review assessors and selection advisory committee members in different ways. The ARC CEO issued a number of special Network Messages to the sector outlining ARC support for researchers impacted by COVID-19. The messages addressed the introduction of a number of measures to support researchers on active ARC projects, researchers planning applications and to ensure continuity of NCGP peer review processes.

Supporting applicants

ARC Grant Guidelines make provisions for extensions to application submission dates on a case by case basis due to exceptional circumstances. However, due to the far-reaching impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, on 28 March 2020 the ARC extended the closing dates for all applications for the following NCGP schemes that were open for applications at the time:

• Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) 2021 (application closing date extended from 1 April 2020 to 29 April 2020).
• Linkage Projects 2020 Assessment Round 1 (application closing date extended from 8 April 2020 to 22 April 2020).
• SRI for Australian Society, History and Culture (application closing date extended from 22 April 2020 to 6 May 2020).

Early and mid-career researchers

To assist with the impacts on early and mid-career researchers who have specific eligibility timeframes to apply for the Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) and Future Fellowships schemes, a one year, automatic eligibility extension for all researchers currently in their final year of eligibility was introduced for both schemes. Researchers in their final year of eligibility for DECRA were advised that they could choose to apply in 2020 (for DECRA 2022) within the existing eligibility timeframes or in 2021 (for DECRA 2023) utilising the automatic one-year extension. Similarly, researchers in their final year of eligibility for Future Fellowships were advised that they could choose to apply in 2020 (for Future Fellows scheme 2021) or utilise the automatic, one-year extension to apply in 2021 (for Future Fellows scheme 2022).

In conjunction with this change, the closing date for DECRA 2022 applications was extended.

Supporting peer review and selection meetings

The ARC adopted changes to its Selection Advisory Committee (SAC) meetings to ensure that the process for peer review, which is critical to identifying excellence in research applications, could continue by adjusting to a virtual format via videoconference. All selection meetings from April 2020 were successfully conducted via video-conference.

Supporting researchers on active projects

To assist researchers with active projects, already in receipt of ARC funding and which were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the ARC published post award guidance, www.arc.gov.au > arc-post-award-guidance-including-major-investments-responding-impact-covid-19 material, in-line with Grant Agreement requirements, to provide a balance between accountability for expenditure of public money and to ease the burden on researchers and research offices.

The post award guidance covered streamlined mechanisms to notify some variations through the ARC’s End of Year Report process, extensions to notification and reporting deadlines, other variations which would be considered due to the impact of COVID-19, and Frequently Asked Questions.

The ARC is continuing to monitor the impact of COVID-19, addressing issues as they transpire, developing contingencies and providing additional advice to the sector about post award arrangements, including for grants arising out of new selection rounds.

Gender and the Research Workforce report

On 10 October 2019, Minister Tehan announced the release of the report, Gender and the Research Workforce: Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) 2018. Using ERA 2018 data, as well as those from previous ERA rounds, where relevant, the report provides further understanding of the state of Australian university research. The report provides detailed information about gender across university researcher employment levels, employment type and field of research. Data has been included in the Government’s monitoring of girls’ and women’s participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

ERA and EI national outreach

In December 2019, the ARC completed outreach visits to all 42 Australian universities to discuss the results and data from ERA 2018 and EI 2018. During the visits, ARC staff shared university specific data and insights, answered questions about ERA and EI and gained valuable feedback on both programs. Engagement with our stakeholders in this way provides opportunities for knowledge exchange and continues to build strong partnerships between the ARC and the university research sector. This is particularly important for the ongoing, successful development and implementation of ERA and EI, and the feedback from the outreach activities has helped shape the comprehensive review of the programs that commenced in 2020.

Australian and New Zealand Research Classification 2020

Over the past year, the ARC, ABS, New Zealand’s MBIE and Stats NZ have jointly reviewed the ANZSRC. On 30 June 2020, the revised ANZSRC was released. It provides the research community with a classification system that is contemporary and reflects the changes in research practices over the past decade.

There was a high level of engagement from the Australian and New Zealand research communities throughout the extensive review process. The process involved two public consultations, as well as many workshops, webinars, individual discussions and other targeted consultations with discipline peak bodies.

Over the coming years, the new ANZSRC classifications will assist the ARC with administering a range of its programs, including the NCGP, ERA evaluation and EI assessment.

People

The ARC was awarded the 2019 Organisational Champion of Flexible Work Award, in the government category, from the FlexAgile Group, founder of the Flexible Working Day, established to celebrate and promote the benefits of flexible working practices. The evaluation panel, which included a member from the Diversity Council Australia, considered the ARC’s promotion and top-down support of flexible working conditions as its prime reason for flexible working success.

At this time, the ARC had 139 staff, 24 per cent of whom worked part time, 11 per cent regularly worked from home, 5 per cent utilised compressed hours, and 2 per cent were on non-maternity leave without pay.

At the ARC, flexible work is promoted and supported through the organisation’s Flexible Work Policy. All employees are issued with a laptop allowing the ease and flexibility to work from home or remotely at other locations. Staff are encouraged to consider flexible work arrangements to better suit their circumstances when they arise, for example, family caring responsibilities.

The prime reason for the ARC’s flexible working success is support from the Senior Executive Service (SES). Eighty-five per cent of ARC staff in the 2019 State of the Service census responded that the SES actively support flexible work, compared to 62 per cent more generally across the Australian Public Service. Other important factors are a clear policy that supports flexible work, constant communication of the policy to staff, and communication between staff and managers who undertake flexible work.

July 2019

The ARC announced the official opening of the ARC Training Centre in Fire Retardant Materials and Safety Technologies at The University of New South Wales.

Minister Tehan announced funding of $28.7 million for 66 research projects under the Linkage Projects scheme.

August 2019

Minister Tehan launched the ARC Research Hub for Digital Enhanced Living at Deakin University.

Minister Tehan announced funding of:

• $18.1 million for four new Industrial Transformation Research Hubs:
  • ARC Research Hub for Sustainable Onshore Lobster Aquaculture at the University of Tasmania
  • ARC Research Hub to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance at University of New South Wales
  • ARC Research Hub for Microrecycling of Battery and Consumer Wastes at University of New South Wales
  • ARC Research Hub for Sustainable Crop Protection at The University of Queensland
• $3.7 million for the ARC Training Centre for Integrated Operations for Complex Resources at The University of Adelaide
• $3.97 million for the ARC Training Centre for Data Analytics for Resources and Environments at The University of Sydney
• $4.9 million for the ARC Training Centre in Surface Engineering for Advanced Materials at Swinburne University of Technology
• $35 million for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics to be led by The University of Melbourne.

September 2019

Minister Tehan announced funding of $53.8 million for 17 projects under the Australian Laureate Fellowships scheme.

Minister Tehan announced funding of $34.9 million for the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child at Queensland University of Technology.

October 2019

Minister Tehan announced the ARC would consult our options to address gender disparities in the ARC’s NCGP selection rounds, assessment processes and panel memberships.

Minister Tehan announced funding of:

• $35 million for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals at The University of Newcastle
• $3.9 million for the ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia’s Biosolids Resource at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University
• $35 million for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture at The University of Queensland
• $35 million for the ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology at Macquarie University
• $31.8 million for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society at RMIT University
• $3.99 million for the ARC Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics at Queensland University of Technology
• $34.9 million for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems at the Australian National University
• $3.6 million for the ARC Training Centre for Green Chemistry in Manufacturing at Monash University
• $5 million for the ARC Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies at Monash University
• $24.1 million for six new ITTCs (including those announced in August)
• $87.8 million for 100 projects under the Future Fellowships scheme
• $32.1 million for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course at The University of Queensland
• $35 million for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science at The University of Queensland
• $308.8 million for nine ARC Centres of Excellence (including those announced in August and September)
• $1.3 million for a project under the Linkage Projects scheme for Indigenous rock art research.

November 2019

Minister Tehan launched:

• the ARC Research Hub for Medicinal Agriculture at La Trobe University
• the ARC Training Centre for Medical Implant Technologies at The University of Melbourne
• the ARC Training Centre for the Development of Tools for Fragment Based Design at Monash University
• the ARC Training Centre for Uniquely Australian Foods at The University of Queensland.

Minister Tehan announced funding of:

• $2.1 million for five projects under the DECRA scheme at Griffith University
• $1.2 million for three projects under the DECRA scheme at University of Southern Queensland
• $1.5 million for four projects under the DECRA scheme at University of New England
• $2 million for five projects under the DECRA scheme at The University of Western Australia
• $416,000 for a project under the DECRA scheme at James Cook University
• $3.3 million for eight projects under the DECRA scheme at Queensland University of Technology
• $4.5 million for eight projects under the Linkage Projects scheme
• $81.8 million for 200 projects under the DECRA scheme.

December 2019

Minister Tehan announced funding of $285 million for 660 projects under the Discovery Projects scheme and $4.7 million for seven projects under the Discovery Indigenous scheme.

Minister Tehan launched the ARC Training Centre for Future Energy Storage Technologies at Deakin University.

January 2020

Minister Tehan announced funding of:

• $9.5 million for 20 projects under the Linkage Projects scheme
• $30.7 million for 47 projects under the LIEF scheme
• $7.5 million for 18 projects under the Linkage Projects scheme.

Minister Tehan announced the new SRI in Australian Society, History and Culture.

February 2020

Minister Tehan launched the ARC Research Hub for Integrated Energy Storage Solutions at The University of New South Wales.

March 2020

Minister Tehan announced funding of:

• $575,000 for a project under the Linkage Projects scheme for research into a new breed of pineapple at The University of Queensland
• $573,068 for a project under the Linkage Projects scheme for research into rare earth mineral deposits at James Cook University
• $4.2 million for 11 projects (including the two above) under the Linkage Projects scheme
• $6.4 million for 16 projects under the Linkage Projects scheme.

April 2020

Minister Tehan announced funding of:

• $10.9 million for 25 projects under the Linkage Projects scheme
• $56 million for two projects under the SRIEAS.

May 2020

Minister Tehan announced funding of:

• $35.1 million for 77 projects under the Linkage Projects scheme.