Australian Research Council Grants

Mr Fletcher asked the Minister representing the Minister Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, in writing, on 9 October 2012:

Is it a fact that academics employed by the Australian Maritime College are eligible to apply for Australian Research Council grants, whereas academics employed by theological colleges are not; if so, why.

Mr Combet: The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

Researchers in all fields are eligible to apply for Australian Research Council (ARC) funding, through an Eligible Organisation, in accordance with the funding rules for each scheme.

ARC funding is awarded to Eligible Organisations which have the resources and infrastructure to best support research projects and researchers at every career stage. Researchers who are not employed by Eligible Organisations are eligible to be Partner Investigators on proposals submitted by Eligible Organisations.

Academics employed at the Australian Maritime College, an institute of an Eligible Organisation, the University of Tasmania, could apply for ARC funding subject to meeting the eligibility requirements of ARC schemes.

The MCD University of Divinity (formally Melbourne College of Divinity) is an Eligible Organisation under ARC funding schemes. Academics employed at other theological colleges could apply for ARC funding on the basis of their employment by an Eligible Organisation (or other affiliation that meets the eligibility requirements of the funding rules), or participate as a Partner Investigator.