UWA provides strategic funding for a variety of internal schemes to support our research activities. In the allocation of these strategic funds, UWA commits to the principles of inclusion and diversity.

UWA Research Collaboration Awards

The UWA Research Collaboration Awards (RCA) are intended to promote research collaborations that will lead to innovative research and long term productive research alliances. The RCA scheme provides enhanced research opportunities for UWA research staff and students in relation to high quality indexed research outputs, grant collaborations, and research training of PhD students and ECRs.

Collaborations may involve participants from any industry partner or university, however collaborations with Priority Partner Universities are especially encouraged. This includes the University of Arizona (United States), the University of Southampton (United Kingdom), and Zhejiang University (People’s Republic of China).

Applications are also encouraged with universities in the Matariki Network and Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) Top 100 Universities.

Key Dates

Call for Applications: 30 March 2022

Applications Close: 5pm (AWST), 9 May 2022

Awards Announced: June 2022

Funds Distributed: Round 1 - July 2022; Round 2 - January 2023

Key Information

Funding Available and Project Duration

Up to $20,000 may be requested in each grant application. The maximum value of the award may be increased to $30,000, but only where well justified, and such applications must involve a Priority Partner University or include international collaborations.

Applicants must nominate which round(s) they wish to be considered for. Although applicants may nominate for both rounds, no more than one award will be granted to each CI.

Round 1: For funding commencing 1 July 2022 to be expended in line with the proposed budget in the following 6 months, concluding 31 December 2022.
Round 2: For funding commencing January 2023 to be expended in line with the proposed budget in the following 12 months, concluding 31 December 2023.

Please note: A minimum of three awards have been reserved for projects involving the three Priority Partner Universities.

 

Eligibility 

  • A researcher may only be named as a Chief Investigator on one application to this scheme;
  • Undergraduate and postgraduate students are not eligible to be Chief Investigators;
  • The first-named Chief Investigator must, at the time of award and for the entire award period: (i) hold a full-time or fractional (at least 0.4 FTE) UWA appointment; or hold an adjunct, clinical or honorary appointment, and not be employed by another university; and (ii) have no overdue final reports from a previously awarded RCA.
  • The involvement of Early Career Researchers (ECRs) is strongly encouraged in this scheme. An ECR is defined as someone who has held their PhD for no more than 5 years (from the date of conferral) as at 9 May 2022.
  • In order for an application to be eligible, all named UWA CIs must have up to date profiles on the UWA Research Repository, including a photograph and a populated ‘Personal Profile’ section (at least 150 words).
  • Applicants may only request eligible budget items (see Guidelines and Conditions). 

Submission Process

Applicants must submit an electronic copy of the application form (as one single PDF document) via the following process:

  1. Create a new Research Collaboration Award application in UWA's Research Online Application Portal (ROAP). To do this, click ‘Applications’ in the yellow ribbon, then the blue ‘+New Application’ button and select ‘UWA Research Collaboration Award’
  2. Within the ‘Attachments’ section of the ROAP form, upload a completed copy of the application form as a single PDF document.
  3. Submit the form within ROAP no later than 5pm on Monday 9 May 2022 - late applications will not be accepted.

Key Documents

RCA Guidelines [PDF, 264.7 KB]
Updated 31 Mar 2022


UWA Internal Grant Scheme Appeals Procedure

An applicant may appeal against a decision by the Research Committee, but only on the grounds that the Committee’s procedures for the assessment of the application have not been observed. Appeals based on any other grounds, including the quality of the proposal or the track record of the applicant, will not be considered.

  1. An applicant wishing to lodge an appeal must write to the Chair of the Research Committee within twenty-eight days of receiving notification of the decision, upon which the appeal is based, giving full details of why proper procedures are considered not to have been observed.
  2. Preliminary consideration of the appeal shall be given by the Chair, who may consult others, including the applicant, if deemed necessary.
  3. In the event of the matter not being resolved to the satisfaction of the appellant and the Chair within fourteen days of the notification of the outcome of the appeal (taking the End of Year shutdown into account), the Chair shall refer the appeal to the Registrar, together with a written statement outlining the Chair’s views on the matter.
  4. The Registrar shall then refer the applicant’s appeal to a Review Panel comprising of the following persons:
    • the Registrar, or nominee, as Convenor
    • The Chair of the Academic Board, or nominee;
    • a former member of the Research Committee.
  5. If the Review Panel finds evidence that due process had not been observed in reaching the original decision, it shall direct that the application be reappraised.
  6. The decision of the Review Panel shall be binding on all parties

Appeals should be submitted to [email protected]

UWA Research Collaboration Awards point of contact

UWA Research Priorities Fund

he Research Priorities Fund (RPF) is intended to provide a source of cash support for applicants seeking external competitive research funding. Applicants will need to show evidence that a UWA cash co-investment is a specific requirement of the external funding scheme.

RPF allocations will only be made with the approval of the relevant Executive Dean(s) and Associate Dean(s) (Research) and by applying the following criteria:

  • Research excellence
  • Alignment with faculty and university research priorities
  • Leverage (at least 1:6 funding)
  • Impact and collaboration 

Key Dates

There is no formal submission deadlines associated with this scheme. Applications can be made at any time.

Key Information

Allocations from the RPF will be restricted to cases where there is evidence that University cash co-investment is a specific requirement of a competitive application for external funding.

In cases where cash co-investment is not a requirement of the funding scheme, applicants may include a HDR scholarship(s) as a UWA cash commitment by applying for the UWA HDR Scholarship Priorities Scheme.

On occasion, RPF can be used to support other research priorities at the discretion of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).

In cases where a proposal to obtain external funds is not subject to recognised peer review, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) may seek an external assessment of the quality and viability of the proposal.

Decisions on RPF applications will be made by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).

Submission Process

Applicants for RPF must submit their case using the application form provided and must include a copy of the application for external funds. Alternatively, if the application is not available, the purpose of the request for funds should be set out in detail.

Key Documents

Research Priorities point of contact

UWA Research Impact Grants  Deferred

Knowledge transfer and research impact are priorities for The University of Western Australia as our goal is to serve our stakeholders and communities.

The UWA Research Impact Grants scheme will provide funds to promote academic impact on a discipline through high quality publications and presentations at international conference. More importantly, it will also focus on supporting interactions with non-academic users and beneficiaries of research through events such as industry showcases, public awareness campaigns, and stakeholder and community engagement activities.

UWA Fellowship Gap Central

The Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) supports excellence which will enhance the University’s research reputation.  UWA Fellowship Gap Central funding is available to provide salary support for fellowships awarded through the Australian Competitive Grant schemes and fellowships funded from other sources to be agreed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) on a case by case basis. The central support is provided to the Fellow when there is a salary shortfall in the amount received by the external funding agency and the equivalent UWA level.

Key Dates

There are no formal submission deadlines associated with this scheme.

Key Information

Eligibility

The following will be eligible for gap central funding:

  • Fellows funded by schemes listed on the Australian Competitive Grants Register (ACGR) and fellowships funded from other sources to be agreed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) on a case by case basis
  • The Fellowship/grant must be administered by UWA
  • Fellows who hold a fractional fellowship appointment at UWA to undertake research will be funded at a pro-rata rate commensurate with the fractional appointment.
  • Fellows who transfer their fellowship to UWA, assuming they adhere to all other eligibility and conditions of award
  • UWA Fellowship applicants; including current fellows re-applying, will be required to  submit their application and UWA Application Cover Sheet to the Research Grants and Contracts Office by the internal deadline. Internal deadlines will be specific for each scheme and included in the internal guidelines for major ARC and NHMRC Schemes. The internal deadline for all fellowship schemes will be 3 weeks prior to the external deadline. Please contact the Research Grants and Contracts Office for clarification about relevant internal deadlines.

The following will not be eligible for gap central funding:

  • Adjunct staff who are employed by another organisation
  • Fellows who may be covered under affiliation agreements with alternative arrangements

Level of Funding

While the expectation is that applications will be made at a level that's commensurate with the applicant's track record, taking account of the equivalent UWA levels, Fellowship Gap Central will cover the full gap.


Conditions of Award
  • The Fellow is expected to supervise research students (Honours, Masters and PhD), mentor early career researchers, and may teach in coursework units where possible and appropriate.
  • During the period of gap central funding, all publications must carry the UWA by-line and all other grants should be submitted through UWA.
  • The Fellow is expected to review the Australian Competitive Grant applications of others and participate in cultural change that will enhance UWA’s Australian Competitive Grant competitiveness.

Submission Process

This scheme does not have an associated application process. This award is allocated to all UWA Staff members that meet the eligibility criteria

Key Documents

UWA Fellowship Gap Central point of contact

Young Lives Matter Foundation - UWA Grants  Deferred

The Young Lives Matter Foundation - UWA Grants have been established to distribute philanthropic donations, which have been received by Young Lives Matter Foundation - UWA (YLM), through a competitive and transparent process. Through these grants, YLM will only fund research projects which focus on practical outcomes and that have the potential to result in tangible benefits to the community.

The objectives of this scheme are to seed fund research projects with a primary goal of reducing the number of people that die by suicide. Priority will be given to projects that will contribute to YLM’s key objective, the creation of a Developmental Vulnerability Index

UWA Industry Research Projects Seed Fund

The University Research Committee and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) has approved the continuation of the Industry Research Projects Seed Fund to support the preparation of high-value research funding applications which engage industry and/or community partners.

The Fund is reviewed annually, and total available pool is dependent on IP income per year. Award of funding is at the discretion of the DVCR.

Initiatives must align with the UWA Research Priorities. Strong applications will also align with the UWA research strategy to sustain (ERA 5) or improve (ERA 3 or 4) our ERA FoR ratings

“High-value research applications” may include applications to schemes including:

  • Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs)
  • CRC-Projects (CRC-Ps)
  • ARC Industrial Transformation Research Program (ITRH and ITTC)
  • ARC Linkage Projects
  • NHMRC Partnership grants
  • NHMRC Development grants
  • Submissions to the MRFF
Or any other schemes which engage with either industry or community partners.

Key Dates

There are no formal submission deadlines for this scheme, applications will be addressed on an ad-hoc basis by the DVCR. Applications will continue to be considered until all funds have been expended.

Please follow the submission process to submit your request at any time.

Key Information

Applicants may request up to $20,000 (under special consideration).

Applicants should note: total pool of funds is variable, and not all applications or full budgets may be awarded (depending on the competitiveness of groups within their chosen scheme, potential return to the University, strategic alignment, and remaining available funds).

Examples of eligible expenditure include:

  • Consultant fees
  • Bid preparation fees (e.g. grant writing or reviewing)
  • Workshops to bring industry partners together
  • Expenses to facilitate partner collaborations

As the intent of the scheme is to support applications to upcoming major grant rounds, awarded funds must be spent prior to the close date for nominated grant schemes. Applicants will be required to return any unspent funds to the Office of Research.

To substantiate your budget request applicants should include:

  • Quotes from third parties/suppliers with ABN listed
  • Credentials for consultants
  • Travel information/dates (if available at time of application)
Please include sufficient detail in each line item to substantiate the requested amount (e.g. hourly rates, number of attendees, cost per head).

Submission Process

Please submit completed Expression of Interest form and supporting documentation to:

[email protected]

And cc your relevant Office of Research staff member assisting with the external submission.

Your application will be reviewed by the Director, Office of Research before being considered for funding by the DVCR. Applications will be reviewed on an ad-hoc basis throughout the year – please allow up to 10 working days for notification of outcome.

Key Documents

Industry Research Projects Seed Fund points of contact

UWA Research Fellowship Relocation Support Scheme

This scheme is intended to assist research fellowship recipients to relocate to Western Australia from other states or overseas, in order to take up the fellowship at UWA. Preference will be given to applicants whose relocation costs are not otherwise supported or minimally supported by the fellowship, or can otherwise demonstrate need.

Key Dates

Applications can be submitted at any time

Key Information

Level of Funding:

Applicants may apply for a one off payment of $5,000.

Eligibility:
  • The fellowship must have been granted on or after 13 December 2021 via a competitive external peer-review process, providing the fellowship holder with salary for a minimum of one year at UWA.
  • The fellowship holder should have the support of a host mentor/supervisor/collaborator at UWA and a home UWA School (or equivalent) as supported by the Head of School (or equivalent), and hold an appointment letter from UWA Human Resources (or advice from HR that such a letter will be forthcoming)
  • The fellowship must be administered by The University of Western Australia and the fellow must be employed by the University; the exception being for some international or foreign government schemes which specify the employing organisation. Note: this is not a ‘visitor scheme’ for which other opportunities exist (e.g. Institute of Advanced Studies visitor scheme).
  • The fellowship holder must be moving from interstate or overseas in order to be eligible for this relocation scheme.
  • Applicants who have received other relocation support for the fellowship will usually be deemed ineligible unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated.
Number of Applications:

Applicants may submit one application per fellowship

Conditions of Award:
  1. Funding under this scheme may only be requested after a fellowship has been successful.
  2. The award is not transferable to another recipient or another administering organisation.
  3. Funding may only be used to cover the reasonable costs of relocation, including airline flights, freight transport, removalist costs, and reimbursement of visa costs (on the condition that the visa application is successful).
  4. Funding cannot be used for fellowship salary shortfalls, operating costs or scholarships.
  5. Funding under this scheme will be paid on a reimbursement basis upon provision of receipts.
  6. Funding must be repaid to UWA if the fellowship recipient does not complete one year at UWA, unless agreement of exceptional circumstances has been agreed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).
Selection Criteria:

Awards under this scheme will be made based on demonstrable need by the fellowship recipient. Considerations may include, but are not limited to: relative distance/complexity and costs of relocation, number of dependents moving together with fellowship recipient, and level of support provided by fellowship funding to assist with relocation.

Submission Process

Applicants must submit an electronic copy of the application form via ROAP as follows: 

  1. Log into the ROAP portal (https://www.research.uwa.edu.au/staff/roap)
  2. Click on the ‘Applications’ tab
  3. Click the ‘+ New Application’ button
  4. Select ‘UWA Fellowship Relocation Support Scheme' tab
  5. Populate the ROAP form, upload the completed application form (available for download below) and submit via ROAP. 

Key Documents

UWA Internal Grant Scheme Appeals Procedure

An applicant may appeal against a decision by the Research Committee, but only on the grounds that the Committee’s procedures for the assessment of the application have not been observed. Appeals based on any other grounds, including the quality of the proposal or the track record of the applicant, will not be considered.

  1. An applicant wishing to lodge an appeal must write to the Chair of the Research Committee within twenty-eight days of receiving notification of the decision, upon which the appeal is based, giving full details of why proper procedures are considered not to have been observed.
  2. Preliminary consideration of the appeal shall be given by the Chair, who may consult others, including the applicant, if deemed necessary.
  3. In the event of the matter not being resolved to the satisfaction of the appellant and the Chair within fourteen days of the notification of the outcome of the appeal (taking the End of Year shutdown into account), the Chair shall refer the appeal to the Registrar, together with a written statement outlining the Chair’s views on the matter.
  4. The Registrar shall then refer the applicant’s appeal to a Review Panel comprising of the following persons:
    • the Registrar, or nominee, as Convenor
    • The Chair of the Academic Board, or nominee;
    • a former member of the Research Committee.
  5. If the Review Panel finds evidence that due process had not been observed in reaching the original decision, it shall direct that the application be reappraised.
  6. The decision of the Review Panel shall be binding on all parties

Appeals should be submitted to [email protected]

UWA Research Fellowship Relocation Support Scheme - Point of Contact