Background

The ARC is committed to ensuring that all eligible researchers, irrespective of gender, have the opportunity to participate in National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP) funding schemes. The ARC draws on the diversity and experience of the ARC Advisory Council, the ARC College of Experts and Selection Advisory Committee members, and research leaders (such as Australian Laureate Fellows) for advice on mechanisms to best support gender equality in all areas of research.

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Initiatives in Place

In support of its commitment the ARC:

Targeted awards
  •  offers two named Australian Laureate Fellowships targeted at outstanding women researchers. Recipients of these awards receive additional funding to undertake an ambassadorial role to promote women in research and to mentor early career researchers, particularly women, to encourage them to enter and establish careers in research in Australia

Eligibility
  • has extended the timeframe of eligibility requirements for early- career awards and mid-career fellowships in acknowledgement of the impact of career interruptions including those experienced as a result of maternity leave and caring responsibilities. Further information is provided in the ARC Policy Statement on Eligibility and Career Interruptions

Assessment
  • uses Research Opportunity and Performance Evidence (ROPE) as a selection criterion, to help mitigate the effect of career interruptions, including as a result of maternity leave and caring responsibilities
  • provides guidance for members of the ARC College of Experts, assessors and applicants in respect of the application of ROPE
  • monitors the gender balance of membership on ARC selection committees

Conditions of award
  • provides part-time opportunities for award and fellowship recipients under the Discovery Early Career Researcher Award, Future Fellowships, and Discovery Indigenous schemes
  • provides maternity and parental/partner leave in all fellowship and award schemes
  • requires ARC Centres of Excellence commencing in 2017 to implement a Centre-specific equity plan
  • requires Industrial Transformation Research Hubs and Training Centres to implement a gender equity plan
  • requires administering organisations, where relevant, to acknowledge and comply with their obligations under the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012
  • expects administering organisations to have a gender policy in place

Monitoring /reporting
  • provides gender disaggregated data in scheme selection reports and other reporting mechanisms
  • monitors the gender outcomes of selection rounds to identify any issues arising
Engagement
  • works closely with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) with regard to policy and best practice processes in gender equality
  • participates in relevant forums in relation to women in research
  • highlights the topic of gender equality and women in research to the wider community.

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Actions 2017

In 2017 the ARC will:

  • review the ARC ROPE statement (including implementation in application, assessment and meeting processes)
  • provide a report to administering institutions on the gender profile of researchers applying from the institution
  •  strengthen the profile on its website of female researchers, including providing profiles of (i) Kathleen Fitzpatrick and Georgina Sweet Australian Laureate fellows, and (ii) female researchers who have balanced family and research careers or successfully re-entered the research workforce from a career interruption
  • consider NCGP gender data within the context of research data collected through Excellence in Research for Australia.

The ARC will also continue to:

  • monitor the gender balance of membership on ARC committees relative to the overall gender balance in particular research fields
  • consider effective and efficient ways of implementing unconscious bias training for both general and detailed assessors
  • promote and engage with the sector about gender issues through ARC Executive presentations and participation of staff in relevant forums
  • hold an annual forum for Kathleen Fitzpatrick and Georgina Sweet Australian Laureate Fellows
  • analyse NCGP gender data, including by field of research over time.

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Contact details

Stakeholder Relations
Australian Research Council 
Phone: 02 6287 6600 
communications@arc.gov.au 
www.arc.gov.au
Level 2, 11 Lancaster Place, Canberra Airport ACT 2609
GPO Box 2702, Canberra ACT 2601

Printable version of ARC Gender Equality Action Plan 2017 – PDF Format (565KB) 

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Content Last Modified: 06/04/17

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