Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA)

Fact Sheet (PDF 249KB)

Information on recently announced grant outcomes under the Discovery Early Career Researcher Award scheme is available on the following pages:

The DECRA scheme provides focused research support for early career researchers in both teaching and research, and research-only positions. It's objectives are to:

  • support outstanding early-career researchers with demonstrated capacity for high-quality research and emerging capability for leadership and supervision
  • foster collaboration, with national or international researchers
  • support excellent and innovative research that addresses a significant problem or gap in knowledge and represents value for money
  • create new or advanced knowledge resulting from the outcomes of the research with economic, commercial, environmental, social and/or cultural benefits for Australia
  • advance promising early career researchers and promote enhanced opportunities for diverse career pathways in high-quality and supportive environments.

The DECRA scheme provides funding for three-year DECRAs, providing a researcher with salary and on-costs, and up to $50,000 per year in project costs.

Project funding may be used for:

  • personnel, postdoctoral research associates and research assistants, technicians and laboratory attendants
  • access to research and infrastructure facilities and technical workshop services
  • essential field research
  • expert third party services
  • equipment and consumables
  • publication and dissemination of project research outputs and outreach activities
  • specialised computer equipment and software
  • travel costs essential to the project for up to $50,000 over the project activity period
  • web hosting and development
  • workshops, focus groups and conferences, and
  • reasonable essential costs for researchers who are carers or who themselves require care.

Key Documents and Information for Discovery Early Career Researcher Award 2027