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Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development Selection Report for Funding Commencing in 2007
Overview
Selection Process
Selection Criteria
Funding Duration
Summary of Outcomes
Scheme Budget
Gender of Participants
Outcomes by Organisation
Overview
The Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development scheme aims to:
- develop the research expertise and competitiveness of
Indigenous Researchers;
- support fundamental research and research training by
Indigenous Researchers, either individually or in teams;
- provide Indigenous Researchers with experience in the
preparation of research funding Proposals; and
- expand Australia’s knowledge base and research capability.
Selection Process
The closing date for Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development (IRD) proposals was 16 June 2006. A Selection Advisory Committee (SAC) comprising four members of the ARC's College of Experts considered the assessments and any responses to those assessment reports, ranked the proposals, and prepared funding recommendations at a selection meeting conducted on 16 August 2006.
The CEO considered the recommendations of the SAC before making recommendations to the Minister who, in accordance with the ARC Act, determined the funding outcomes.
Selection Criteria
The assessment of proposals was based on the scheme's selection criteria:
- investigator(s)' track record relative to opportunities,
capacity to undertake the research, and extent to which the
completion of the research project will equip the researcher(s)
to compete for mainstream research funding; (40%)
- significance and innovation in the proposed research; and
(40%)
- quality of the research environment and/or Mentor and/or Supervisor (20%)
Funding Duration
Funding for Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development projects may be awarded for one to five years subject to parliamentary appropriation and the provisions of the ARC Act. Indigenous Researcher Fellowships (IRFs) may be awarded for a duration of one or two years.
Summary of Outcomes
Of the 21 proposals received, 15 were approved for funding. Total funding approved from 2007 to 2009 is $1,038,114, with an average approved funding per project of $69,208. Five proposals are approved for funding for one year, six proposals are approved for funding for two years, and four proposals are approved for funding for three years. Five proposals requested an Indigenous Researcher Fellowship (IRF), of which two are approved for funding.
The overall success rate for Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development proposals is 71.4%, compared to a 62.5% success rate for Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development proposals considered in 2005.
Total requested funding from 2007 to 2009 was $2,401,455. Total approved funding is $1,038,114 or 53.9% of the total funding requested by approved proposals.
Table 1. Numbers of proposals and success rates for Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development by discipline area
| Discipline* | Proposals Received |
Unsuccessful Proposals |
Approved Proposals |
Success Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSB | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100.0 |
| EE | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| HCA | 12 | 5 | 7 | 58.3 |
| MIC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 |
| PCG | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| SBE | 6 | 0 | 6 | 100.0 |
| Total | 21 | 6 | 15 | 71.4 |
*BSB = Biological Sciences and Biotechnology; EE = Engineering and Environmental Sciences; HCA = Humanities and Creative Arts; MIC = Mathematics, Information and Communication Sciences; PCG = Physics, Chemistry and Geoscience; SBE = Social, Behavioural and Economic Sciences
Scheme Budget
The following allocations from the Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development budget were approved for new projects to commence in 2007.
Table 2. Approved funding for Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development projects commencing in 2007
| 2007 ($) | 2008 ($) | 2009 ($) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 527,116 | 430,648 | 80,350 | 1,038,114 |
The average first-year funding per approved project for Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development is $35,141
Gender of Participants
The following table shows the role and gender of nominated researchers (Chief Investigators and Indigenous Researcher Fellows). Of the 15 proposals approved for funding, 11 are led by female researchers and four are led by male researchers.
Table 3. Comparative success rates for Participants by gender
| Role | Number of Participants |
Number of Approved Participants |
Success Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female Chief Investigators | 11 | 10 | 90.9 |
| Male Chief Investigators | 5 | 3 | 60.0 |
| Female Indigenous Researcher Fellows | 1 | 1 | 100.0 |
| Male Indigenous Researcher Fellows | 4 | 1 | 25.0 |
| Total | 21 | 15 | 71.4 |
Outcomes by Organisation
The following table shows proposal numbers and total ARC funding by Administering Organisation for Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development for funding commencing in 2007.
Table 4. Numbers of proposals and success rates for Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development for funding commencing in 2007, by Administering Organisation
| Administering Organisation | Proposals Received | Proposals Approved | Success Rate (%) |
Funding over Proposal Life ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Australian National University | 3 | 1 | 33.3 | 12,373 |
| Charles Darwin University | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 70,000 |
| Griffith University | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| James Cook University | 2 | 1 | 50.0 | 30,000 |
| La Trobe University | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 109,701 |
| Queensland University of Technology | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 99,000 |
| The University of Adelaide | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 85,800 |
| The University of Melbourne | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 165,240 |
| The University of Newcastle | 2 | 2 | 100.0 | 76,000 |
| University of South Australia | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 28,000 |
| The University of Sydney | 2 | 2 | 100.0 | 285,000 |
| University of Technology, Sydney | 4 | 2 | 50.0 | 22,000 |
| University of Western Sydney | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 55,000 |
| Total | 21 | 15 | 71.4 | 1,038,114 |
