Skip to Specific Areas

Search ARC website

Site Navigation

Main Content

Breadcrumb Navigation

You are here:

Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development Selection Report for Funding Commencing in 2006

Overview and Objectives

Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development aims to:

  • evelop the research expertise of Indigenous Australian researchers to a level which is competitive with mainstream research funding;
  • support excellent fundamental research by Indigenous Australian individuals and teams;
  • provide Indigenous Australian researchers with experience in the preparation of research grant applications; and
  • expand Australia’s knowledge base and research capability.

Selection process

Each application was sent to two Australian-based readers for assessment and applicants were invited to submit rejoinders. A Selection Advisory Committee comprising three members of the College of Experts considered the assessments and rejoinders, ranked the applications, and prepared funding recommendations on 24 August 2005. Following receipt of the Selection Advisory Committee's report, the ARC Board submitted recommendations to the Minister for his approval.

Selection criteria

The Selection Advisory Committee’s assessment of applications was based on the scheme’s selection criteria.

Primary criteria were:

  • the quality of the research project being proposed;
  • the quality of the researcher(s) proposing the research project; and
  • the quality of the research environment and/or mentor.

 Other considerations were:

  • the probable impact of a successful outcome for the research project; and
  • the extent to which the successful completion of the research project would train and equip the researcher to compete for mainstream research funding.

Summary Outcomes

Of the eight applications received, five applications were approved for funding. Total funding approved from 2006 to 2008 is $481,821, with an average grant size of $96,364. Three applications are approved for funding for two years and two applications are approved for funding for three years. One application requested a Research Cadetship-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (RC-ATSI) and it is approved for funding.

Table 1. Applications and approved funding for Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development commencing in 2006

Discipline Applications received Unsuccessful Approved Success rate %
BSB 2 0 2 100%
EE 0 0 0 N/A
HCA 4 3 1 25%
MIC 0 0 0 N/A
PCG 0 0 0 N/A
SBE 2 0 2 100%
Total 8 3 5 62.5%

The average first-year funding per project for Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development is $41,815.

Scheme Budget

The following allocations from the Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development budget were approved for new projects to commence in 2006.

Table 2. Approved Funding for Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development grants commencing in 2006

2006 2007 2008h Total
$ 209,073 $ 188,835 83,913 $ 481,821

Gender of applicants

Seven Chief Investigators (CI) and one Research Cadetship -Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (RC-ATSI) applied on the eight applications. Of the seven CIs, two were female and five were male. The RC-ATSI applicant was female. Of the five applications approved for funding, one had a female CI and three had male CIs. The female RC-ATSI applicant was also approved for funding as an RC-ATSI.

Funding by Organisation

The following table shows application numbers and total ARC funding by organisation.

Table 3. ARC Indigenous Researchers Development: New Funding by Organisation 2006

Administering Institution Applications Received Funded
Applications		 Success
Rate (%)		 Total Allocations
2006-2008
Griffith University 1 1 100 $159,713
James Cook University 1 0 0 -
The Australian National University 1 0 0 -
The University of Melbourne 1 0 0 -
The University of New South Wales 1 1 100 $87,458
The University of Queensland 1 1 100 $48,570
University of Southern Queensland 1 1 100 $20,000
University of Tasmania 1 1 100 $166,080
Total 8 5 62.5 $481,821

Top of page