Concerns Arise Over Rumoured Delays in Major Australian Research Council Grant Rounds

Concerns have been raised within the academic community regarding potential delays in several significant Australian Research Council grant rounds. Speculations stemming from the unofficial X account ARC Tracker have suggested that multiple university research offices were informed of possible extensive delays.

As per recent tweets from the ARC Tracker, it was indicated that the forthcoming rounds for grants such as Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards, Future Fellowships, and Laureate Fellowships could be pushed back by as much as six months. This news has sparked unease among researchers awaiting these funding opportunities.

While the ARC has not provided direct confirmation of the alleged delays, a spokesperson emphasized the importance of scheme calendars and acknowledged ongoing consultations with the research sector to establish a best practice scheme calendar for 2024-25. The council plans to release the revised scheme calendar in the near future.

Following concerns raised by the sector, the ARC had previously committed to enhancing transparency by outlining clear schedules for grant processing, aiming to facilitate better planning for applicants and research administrators.

An internal calendar from at least one university’s research office indicated potential timeline modifications, with the application deadline for Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards and Future Fellowships moved to ‘early to mid 2025,’ while the opening date for Laureate Fellowships was listed as September 2024, pending confirmation.

Expressing apprehensions over the delays, the manager of the ARC Tracker account highlighted the need for clear communication and potential adjustments to eligibility windows to prevent adverse effects on applicants. Many researchers voiced concerns about eligibility criteria and the lingering uncertainty potentially impacting their decisions to return to Australia for research opportunities.

The ARC assured that any adjustments to scheme timing would be made to ensure that applicants are not unfairly disadvantaged by the delays. It remains to be seen how the academic community will respond to these potential alterations in the grant application timelines.