Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA)

Research Office contact:
research-applications@newcastle.edu.au

Please subscribe to the Research Office ARC mailing list to receive updates for this scheme.

To be eligible for DECRA, applicants must have an award of PhD date on, or after 1 March 2019 unless non-overlapping eligible career disruption(s) exist.

For more information, visit the ARC DECRA page.

Key Dates

For Funding Commencing in 2025

Please subscribe to the Research Office ARC mailing list to receive updates for this scheme.

*Please note:

• To enable the allocation of appropriate resourcing, bookings must be made prior to the defined scheme Eligibility and Compliance Check period. Access to book an Eligibility and Compliance Check will no longer be available once the Eligibility and Compliance Check period has commenced. This does not apply for schemes with continuous rounds (i.e. ARC Linkage Projects and NHMRC Partnership Projects).
• The University deadline for final applications is one (2) weeks prior to the ARC closing date and requires provision of a final, submission-ready proposal and all associated documentation including a fully signed External Application Coversheet (DOC).
• Schools and Colleges have their own internal dates for the purpose of peer review and approval. Please contact your School Executive Officer and College Research and Innovation Officer for further information on School/College internal processes.
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to commence their application ASAP after the scheme opens in RMS so that they can:
• book their preferred day for an Eligibility and Compliance Check
• receive a copy of the scheme specific Essential Instructions developed by the Research Grants office to assist you with the completion of your application

Please review our ARC/NHMRC Grant Rounds Submission Procedures (PDF) for essential information regarding application submission under this scheme.

Documents

ARC Supporting Documents

The ARC is now required to publish Grant Guidelines and associated documents on GrantConnect, the Australian Government whole-of-government, centralised, web-based, grant information system. You will need to sign in or create a User Registration account in GrantConnect to access all relevant documentation including the Discovery Program Grant Guidelines, Instructions to Applicants and the Sample Application Form

If you encounter any problems using Grant Connect or accessing any of the relevant documentation, please contact research-applications@newcastle.edu.au or phone on (02) 492 17733.

University Supporting Documents

• UON Eligibility Exemption Research Form (DOC) - required if claiming a career interruption to meet the PhD timing eligibility requirements
• DE25 Administering Organisation Letter of Support (DOC) - Note that candidates from the College of Human and Social Futures (CHSF) are asked to liaise directly with your College Senior Research Manager , catherine.oddie@newcastle.edu.au  rather than using this template.
• External Application Coversheet (includes ARC/NHMRC) (DOC)
• Rejoinder Guide and Tips (PDF)

College Contacts

Please contact the following key staff within your College regarding your interest in the DECRA. Colleges can also assist with preparing your Statement by the Administering Organisation (SAO). It is recommended you inform the College contact as soon as possible regarding your intention to apply, as each College may have their own deadlines for aspects of the application process including preparation of the Letter of Support.

Eligibility Exemption Requests

A DECRA Candidate must have been awarded a PhD on or 1 March 2019, unless non-overlapping career interruption(s) exist in order to be eligible to apply.

Career Interruptions

All ARC Fellowship candidates who claim career interruption to meet the eligibility criteria must have an Eligibility Exemption Request approved by the DVCRI. See Key Dates for submission deadlines. The allowable career interruptions, and the period allowed for each are in Table 6 of the Grant Guidelines for the Discovery Program (2023 edition).

The ARC accepts the following types of career interruptions:

• disruption due to international relocation
• caring responsibilities
• Disability
• Disaster management and recovery
• Limited or no access to facilities and resources – such as through workplace interruptions
• Medical conditions
• Non-research positions, not concurrent with research employment
• Parental leave
• Unemployment

Please contact the Research Office for further information and timing of Eligibility Exemption Requests.

Presentations

The Research Advantage team have developed a Resources Hub which provides recordings and slides of recent presentations.

Further Information

For further information, please research-applications@newcastle.edu.au or phone (02) 4921 7733