Module 1: Research Strategy and Planning

Frequently asked questions

• What are the main sources of research grants in Australia?                   

The Australian federal and state governments are major sources of research grants. Significant research funding bodies are:

• Australian Research Council (ARC)
• National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
• Rural Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC)         

Grants and research contracts are also available from commercial enterprises. Your university's research branch and research commercialisation company can help identify potential sources of funding for your idea.

• Why do I need to understand the university and government strategies around research? I just want to obtain the resources to follow my research interests.

Public universities are established to support the needs of and contribute to society. Direct and indirect funding to the universities from governments are linked to serving the community in the broadest sense, including through the creation and dissemination of knowledge. Universities need to prioritise how they focus their financial and people resources to create the critical mass needed to meet their charter. If you wish to create a major body of research work, then it will be useful to know where the best support for your research direction can be found.

• Are cross-institutional or multi-disciplinary research projects likely to attract funding from granting bodies?

Multi-disciplinary research is seen as a potential source of new research discoveries, and many research questions cannot be investigated adequately just by people from within a single discipline. Federal and state governments often prefer to fund large-scale projects that span a number of institutions.

• Is there any benefit to applying a research project management approach to the work of a sole investigator?

Any research project needs to be scoped. The Work Breakdown Structure and project planning tools can help you to make the best use of your best resource – you. They help you to stay focused on the main issue that you are investigating, and therefore keep the project to a manageable level. The interesting insights along the way can become the basis for future projects.

• Are all activities projects?

A project is an activity with specific objectives and a definite start and end point.