Australian Biological Resources Study
Issue 26
Australian Biological Resources Study, April 2002
ISSN 0814 B8880
As outlined in detail in the last issue of Biologue, ABRS has changed the awarding of research grants from calendar to financial year. The first year of full implementation of the financial year arrangement is 2002/2003 and grants were called in October 2001, with a closing deadline for applications on 10 November 2001. Over 150 applications were received across a wide range of taxa. It is the first time ABRS has accepted electronic applications, and only required one original paper copy for audit verification. In January 2002, ABRS distributed the new grant applications via e-mail for external peer review, and accepted electronic assessor reports. This has helped streamline the procedure and we thank you all for your help in its implementation.
The Advisory Committee met on 19-21 March 2002 to consider the grant applications, plus programme operational and policy issues. Recommendations from the Advisory Committee on successful grants were sent to the Minister, and notification to applicants will follow ministerial approval of the Committee recommendations. Letter are likely to be distributed in May with signed offer-of-grant forms to be returned in June. This will be in time for the July 2002 grant payments. Some Participatory Programme projects may be offered under an agreed contract for service and will require a period of negotiation with ABRS staff before settlement.
ABRS Administration and Support Unit is keen to receive any feedback on the new electronic processing of grant applications. Contact Liz Visher on phone 02 6250 9554 or e-mail abrs@deh.gov.au if you have any ideas on improvements on the processes for next round.