1. ARC Workshop
10 am
DECRA and Discovery Projects: tips for writing successful proposals
Professor Claire Smith, ARC College of Experts member
11 am
Morning tea
11:15 am
Discussion re DP and DECRA Rules:
Dr Gayle Morris, RSO Director; Mark Saunders, Grants and Contracts Manager
11:30 am
Strategies to address ROPE
Professor Phyllis Tharenou, former ARC Executive Director
12 noon
LIEF 2013: tips for proposal writing
A/Prof Gunther Andersson and Dr Jonathon Bollen, successful LIEF Lead CI’s

2. ARC Discovery Projects (DP) & DECRA – Funding in 2013
OBJECTIVES
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
INTERNAL REVIEW AND KEY DATES
RSO CONTACTS
Dr Gayle Morris – Director, Research Services (RSO)
Mr Mark Saunders – Manager, Grants & Contracts, RSO

3. Discovery Project objectives
The objectives of the Discovery Projects scheme are to:
support excellent basic and applied research by individuals
and teams;
b. enhance the scale and focus of research in the National Research Priorities;
c. expand Australia’s knowledge base and research capability;
d. encourage research and research training in high-quality research environments;
e. enhance international collaboration in research; and
f. foster the international competitiveness of Australian research.

4. Discovery 2013 – 6 key facts! Period of funding = up to 3 years
Minimum funding = $30k per annum
Maximum funding = $500k per annum
Average funding (2012) = $304k per annum
Average amount requested awarded (2012) = 50.83%
Overall success rate = 21.95%

5. Discovery 2013 – How it is judged
Selection criteria and corresponding weightings for Discovery proposals are:
Investigators 40%
                                            Project Quality & Innovation 25%
Feasibility & Benefit 20%
Research Environment 15%

6. Discovery Funding (2013) Supports:
Research personnel, including:
Research Associates/Assistants
Technicians/Lab Attendants
PhD stipends
Equipment
Not large items (LIEF is more appropriate for these)
Travel
Domestic/International (<$50k) for CIs, PIs, and research support personnel
Conferences
Project personnel to visit one another
Others
Access to facilities, Maintenance, Specialised computer equipment & Teaching relief

7. DECRA objectives The objectives of the DECRA scheme are to:
a. support and advance promising early career researchers;
b. promote enhanced opportunities for diverse career pathways;
c. focus research effort in the National Research Priority areas to improve research capacity and policy outcomes; and
d. enable research and research training in high quality and supportive environments.

8. DECRA 2013 – 5 key facts!
Period of funding = 3 years full time or up to 6 years part time
Max salary funding for applicant = $85k per annum
Max non-salary funding = $40k per annum
Average amount requested awarded: 2012 = 94.9%
Success rate: 2012 = 12.8%

9. DECRA 2013 – How it is judged
Selection criteria and corresponding weightings for DECRA proposals are:
Project Quality %
DECRA Candidate 30%
Research Environment 10%
Feasibility and Benefit 10%

10. DECRA (2013) Supports (identical to DP):
Research personnel, including:
Research Associates/Assistants
Technicians/Lab Attendants
PhD stipends
Equipment
Not large items (LIEF is more appropriate for these)
Travel
Domestic/International (<$50k) for CIs, PIs, and research support personnel
Conferences
Project personnel to visit one another
Others
Access to facilities, Maintenance, Specialised computer equipment & Teaching relief

11. DECRA Eligibility Awarded a PhD on or after 1 March 2007; or
Have had a period of significant career interruption* (between 1 March 2007 to 1 March 2012) and have been awarded a PhD awarded on or after 1 March 2004. *=
Maternity of parental leave
Carer’s responsibility
Illness
Disruption due to relocation for international post-doctoral studies
Unemployment or non-research employment (<3 years)

12. DP and DECRA do not support Medical and Dental Research
Defined as “research and/or training primarily and substantially aimed at understanding or treating a human disease or human health condition”, including:
a. late pre-clinical or early human trials of a human therapeutic agent, material or diagnostic test or device; or other interventional research involving humans
b. using material collected from human subjects for the primary purpose of studying the underlying causes, prevalence, epidemiology or mode of inheritance of a disease or human condition
c. using established animal models or established cell lines for the purpose of studying the underlying causes, prevalence, epidemiology or mode of inheritance of a human disease or human health condition.

13. GRANT APPLICATIONS: WHAT’S IMPORTANT?
Time: allow adequate time:
on-going preparation
read and become familiar with the guidelines
seek reviews from colleagues, particularly those successful in the scheme, and the RSO
Good, clear presentation – Make it easy for the reviewer!
use the exact ARC titles in application form
use sub-sections, diagrams/figures/dot points to break up text and make important points stand out
use clear language – avoid acronyms and technical terms
Ask yourself the question, is it something I would like to read?

14. DP & DECRA IMPORTANT DATES
Opens in RMS
1 March 2013
TBA
Eligibility Exemption Requests Due in RMS
N/A
Flinders Quality Review Process & Feedback to Researchers
( applications to ADRs)
SE: Mike Bull, 28 February
SBS: Peter Monteath, 14 February
EHL: Richard Maltby, 14 February
HS: Keryn Williams, 18 February
RSO Compliance Review
30 January – 21 Feb
9 Feb – 14 March
Closes in RMS
21 March 2013

15. ARC Resources DP13 Funding Rules
Instructions to Applicants
DECRA 13 Funding Rules
ARC Research Management System (RMS)
Register RMS ID
Login to RMS to create, edit & submit proposals, rejoinders, eligibility requests

16. RSO Support RSO Contacts:
Grants & Contracts Officer, Christine Maher (ext:12045;
Grants & Contracts Administrator, Amy Petty (ext: 15173;
Manager, Grants & Contracts, Mark Saunders (ext: 15371;
All applications must be accompanied by:
Fully signed Flinders Certification Form, and
Fully signed relevant ARC Certification Form
If you don’t have these forms and/or are not sure where to find them, please us!  16