1. 1 REJOINDERS Where you are at Refereeing 2 x CoE readers 2 x Oz readers 4 x International readers You may have 0 – 6 reports. On average, applications receive 4 reports If you have 6 reports you will find the rejoinder writing very challenging!

2. 2 REJOINDERS Where you are at You only have the Oz reader and Int. readers reports - CoE 100-150 applications - Oz (paid) 10 – 25 - International 1 – 15 Their influence depends on the numbers read, but Ints. will have some influence beyond this number

3. 3 REJOINDERS Oz reader rankings count more. Useful to distinguish them from International and spend more effort replying to Oz reader More critical, less enthusiastic assessors may be Oz readers and Highly complementary assessors may be International readers

4. 4 REJOINDERS What happens to them? The CoE read the referees reports and the rejoinders, and may modify rankings of Oz/International, or their own, in the light of the rejoinder This will be taken most seriously if you are near the cut-off or if there is a major disagreement Remember the CoE are scanning ~400 reports & 100 rejoinders

5. 5 Things to Remember Significance/Innovation30 Approach20 National Benefit10 Track Record40 -Relative to opportunities -Capacity to do research

6. 6 Things to Remember Assessors Handbook 90-100Outstanding <2% Top of field 85 - 90Excellent< 20% Strongly competitive 80 - 85Very good 30% Sound, compelling 75 - 80Good 30% Not compelling 70 - 75Fair 20% 0 - 70Flawed ?

7. 7 Problems: Not all assessors read the guide to assessors, or mark, or use language that corresponds with ARC-speak Wimpy referees who are complementary to all Sour and jaundiced referees who are highly critical of all Remember it is rankings, not marks that matter Do not jump to conclusions too hastily. It has resemblance to judging the future from tea-leaves REJOINDERS

8. 8 ASSESSORS (ie you) Unhelpful assessments –Very positive comments and low rankings –Database reviewed to remove “”unhelpful”, tardy assessors If you are asked to be an assessor –Incorporate comments that will provide the applicant with overall feedback on relative ranking –Provide enough information to give applicant a chance to respond in rejoinder –If you have a grant, you are expected to be an Oz/International reader if requested Oz readers/panel members –Aware of budget issues and research funding in Australia –Ambit/inflated claims and padded budgets readily identified (conference travel, teaching relief, support costs)

9. 9 REJOINDER Finished kicking trees, complaining to colleagues, drowning your sorrows; recovered from hangover, dash off a draft…. …Pause!... Re-examine it, show it to colleagues/RO and get comments, or leave it for a few days, reread and start again. Several iterations needed.

10. 10 REJOINDERS Follow RO Advice Be succinct Highlight and respond directly to any criticisms What not to do Be hostile Use statements like “the referee did not understand/read the proposal” – instead, refute an erroneous assessment with fact Try and hide any negatives by repeating positive statements from other reports Remember… For your application to be pushed up in ranking, someone else must come down Panel has >600 reports plus assessments to read – need focused, well-argued rejoinders

11. 11 REJOINDERS No one way Do it by sections: S/I, App, NB, TR and comment on each in relation thereto Do it by referee Combine them Do not hide from criticism

12. 12 MY APPROACH 1.Some positive in case the CoE haven’t noticed 2.Address main criticisms with facts, rather than playing off one referee against another 3.New positives – publications, other grants, prizes etc.