Proposal to vary the Funding Agreement and remaining Deeds of Agreement to increase the flexibility around the use of funds
June 2013
NHMRC is proposing to vary the Funding Agreement and remaining Deeds of Agreement to increase the flexibility around the use of funds. Comments from the research community are sought on these proposed changes, via email to pa.info@nhmrc.gov.au, by COB 28 June 2013.
Variation to the May 2011 Funding Agreement, Deeds of Agreement - Research Support v3 and v4 and Deeds of Agreement – Researcher support v4 and v5
March 2013
Following consultation with the Australian Government Solicitor, the May 2011 Funding Agreement, Deeds of Agreement - Research Support v3 and v4 and Deeds of Agreement – Researcher support v4 and v5 have been varied. The variations have been introduced to:
- Implement the change in NHMRC grant payment arrangements from quarterly in advance to monthly in arrears;
- Make amendments to GST-related clauses in accordance with changes to A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999; and
- Remove the requirement for institutions to calculate interest earned on unspent NHMRC grant funds and attribute it to the relevant grants.
The Notices of Amendment, along with summary tables and a marked up version of the May 2011 Funding Agreement are available below:
- Notice of Variation to the May 2011 Funding Agreement (PDF, 367KB)
- Notice of Variation to the Deeds of Agreement – Research Support v3 and v4 (PDF, 140KB)
- Notice of Variation to the Deeds of Agreement – Researcher Support v4 and v5 (PDF, 140KB)
The Authorised Signatories and Research Administration Officers of institutions that are currently administering NHMRC funds on any or all of the above were informed of the variations, and provided copies of the above Notices of Variation on 27 March 2013.
Funding Agreement and associated documentation
- March 2013 version of the Funding Agreement (PDF, 207KB)
- Example Schedules 2011 (PDF, 164KB)
- Policy on Actions to be Taken in Response to Research Misconduct involving NHMRC Funding (PDF, 43KB)
- Institutional Annual Compliance report (PDF, 56KB)
Guidance documents for Administering Institutions
The following documents provide guidance to RAOs, Responsible Officers and researchers. All relevant individuals are expected to familiarise themselves with the Funding Agreement’s obligations.
- RAOs Contribution to Administering NHMRC's Funding Agreement (PDF, 12KB)
- Responsible Officers' Responsibilities (PDF, 12KB)
- Researchers' Main Responsibilities (PDF, 12KB)
- Accountability Mechanisms May 2011 (PDF, 17KB)
Direct Research Costs
NHMRC funds for a research activity may only be expended on Direct Research Costs. NHMRC is providing guidance on what constitutes Direct Costs of Research. The table of Direct Research Costs will also be provided to grant recipients with their NHMRC Letter of Offer.
- Direct Research Costs (DOC, 120KB)
- Use of NHMRC Project Grants funds and other research support grant funds for travel, conferences, and publication costs
Enquiries
Please direct any enquiries about changes to the Funding Agreement to:
Program Assurance Section
e-mail: pa.info@nhmrc.gov.au
Phone: 1800 223 391 or 02 6217 9050
Archived Documents
Funding Agreement May 2011
Please note the May 2011 version of the Funding Agreement has been superseded by the March 2013 version, as detailed above. The following documents are archived and are for information only
- NHMRC May 2011 Funding Agreement (PDF, 208KB)
- Example Schedules 2011 (PDF, 164KB)
- Major Changes to the Revised NHMRC Funding Agreement - March 2011 (PDF, 21KB)
- Changes to the NHMRC Funding Agreement - May 2011 (PDF, 50KB)
- Frequently Asked Questions - May 2011 (PDF, 13KB)
Deeds of Agreement
In October 2001, the NHMRC incorporated Deeds of Agreement into its research funding administration processes, for funding schemes commencing in 2002. The Deeds are now used for the majority of the NHMRC's funding schemes. Implementing the use of the Deeds has generally proceeded smoothly.
However, some changes to the Deeds are required as a result of the following:
- feedback from the research community following implementation of the Deeds;
- changes in the Commonwealth's legislative and accountability requirements; and
- changes in NHMRC's research funding administration processes.
The NHMRC has amended the Deeds in response to the above factors. These amended Deeds apply to all NHMRC funding commencing 1 January 2007 onwards.
The NHMRC engaged in wide consultation with the research community prior to amending the Deeds. The final versions of the deeds were approved by the Hon. Minister for Health and Ageing.
Research Support and Infrastructure Support Funding Groups
This deed applies for Project Grants, Program Grants, Partnership Grants, Development Grants, Strategic Awards, Transitional Institute Grants, and Transitional Block Grants.
- Deed of Agreement - Research Funding Schemes (PDF, 193KB)
- Deed of Agreement - Research Funding Schemes (RTF, 282KB)
People Support Funding Group
This Deed applies for Australia Fellowships, Research Fellowships, Practitioner Fellowships, Training (Postdoctoral) Fellowships, Industry Research Fellowships, Career Development Awards and Scholarships.
- Deed of Agreement - NHMRC Researcher Support Schemes (PDF, 173KB)
- Deed of Agreement - NHMRC Researcher Support Schemes (RTF, 272KB)
Conditions of Awards
Conditions of Award will continue to apply for continuing Training Fellowships, Postgraduate Scholarships, and Training Scholarships for Indigenous Health Research. However, these Conditions of Award have also been amended:
Training Fellowships
- 2004 NHMRC Conditions of Award for Training Fellowships (PDF, 100KB)
- 2004 NHMRC Conditions of Award for Training Fellowships (RTF, 123KB)
Postgraduate Scholarships
- 2004 NHMRC Conditions of Award for Postgraduate Scholarships (PDF, 78KB)
- 2004 NHMRC Conditions of Award for Postgraduate Scholarships (RTF, 90KB)
Indigenous Health Research
- 2004 NHMRC Conditions of Award for Training Scholarships for Indigenous Health Research (PDF, 74KB)
- 2004 NHMRC Conditions of Award for Training Scholarships for Indigenous Health Research (RTF, 80KB)
Continuing research grants (grants awarded in previous years) are covered under the appropriate year's Conditions of Award - see links below.
2005 Deeds
- Deed of Agreement - NHMRC Research Funding Schemes (PDF, 209KB)
- Deed of Agreement - NHMRC Research Funding Schemes (RTF, 31KB)
- Deed of Agreement - NHMRC Researcher Support Schemes (PDF, 177KB)
- Deed of Agreement - NHMRC Researcher Support Schemes (RTF, 233KB)
2003 Documents
- 2003 Deed of Agreement - NHMRC Research Funding Schemes (PDF, 284KB)
- 2003 Deed of Agreement - NHMRC Researcher Support Schemes (PDF, 85KB)
- 2003 NHMRC Conditions of Award for Training Fellowships (PDF, 135KB)
- 2003 NHMRC Conditions of Award for Postgradute Scholarships (PDF, 115KB)
- 2003 NHMRC Conditions of Award for Training Scholarships for Indigenous Health Research (PDF, 111KB)
2002 Documents
- 2002 NHMRC Deed of Agreement for Research Grants Schemes (PDF, 169KB)
- 2002 NHMRC Deed of Agreement for Researcher Support Scheme (PDF, 161KB)
- 2002 NHMRC Conditions of Award for Training Fellowships (PDF, 142KB)
- 2002 NHMRC Conditions of Award for Postgraduate Scholarships (PDF, 117KB)
- 2002 NHMRC Conditions of Award for Training Scholarships for Indigenous Health Research (PDF, 112KB)
2001 Documents
- NHMRC Project Grants (PDF, 38KB)
- NHMRC Training Scholarships for Indigenous Health Research (PDF, 32KB)
- NHMRC Program Grants (PDF, 34KB)
- NHMRC Training Fellowships (PDF, 44KB)
- NHMRC Postgraduate Research Scholarships (PDF, 34KB)