amount of co-funding for application to be considered Substantial Supplement Partners — the ABRS will partner with organisations or consortia interested in bringing significant funding to a broad area of taxonomic research to secure matching funding for that area from the NTRGP () 1.3 Programme Benefits Benefits of the Programme include: Increased support for early career researchers (including provision for retired taxonomists to mentor younger researchers through support for non-salaried researcher positions) Provision for major, national-scale investigations incorporating multiple researchers and institutions 1.4 Programme Review The ABRS undertakes periodic reviews on the effectiveness and efficiency of the Programme and makes adjustments to the Rules and the Application Form as necessary. The ABRS welcomes feedback from applicants and the community on the Programme. Feedback should be addressed to: Director Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA Email:
2. Budget and Timeframes 2.1 Programme Budget The budget of the NTRGP is $2.03m (GST exclusive). Approximately $100,000 (GST exclusive) per annum of this budget is available for new grant projects under the Capacity-Building Grant funding stream. The ABRS may vary the proportion of funds available under each stream of the Programme based on funding received, out-year commitments and the number of applications received per stream. The remaining funds are used to meet out-year commitments for existing grant projects and for other one-off grants and contracts. 2.2 Available funding for the Grants Stream A number of set amounts of grant funding are available under the Capacity-Building Grants stream. These amounts are: $10,000 Honours Scholarships (1 year or 2 years part-time); $10,000 Masters Scholarships (1 year or 2 part-time); $10,000 Research Training Program (RTP) Top-Ups (3 years); and $5,000 Non-salaried Researcher Grants (1 year). All grant funding amounts are per annum and exclude GST. Applicants must request one of these set amounts. Where an applicant applies for an Honours or Masters Scholarship and chooses to study part-time, funds will be split over the two years. 2.3 Timeframes 1 shows key dates for the implementation of the Capacity-Building Grants stream. Table 1: key dates for the implementation of the Capacity-Building Grants stream Opening date for submitting applications 7 September 2017 Closing date for submitting applications 2 November 2017 Notification of application eligibility November 2017 Finalise recommendations to the Minister December 2017 Applicants notified of application outcome February 2018 Funding agreements signed May/June 2018 Funding agreement activity period commences and initial payments available 1 July 2018
4. Eligibility The NTRGP is a competitive grant funding programme. Submission of an application, or meeting the eligibility criteria listed in these Rules, does not guarantee funding. The ABRS will assess whether an application the eligibility requirements listed in these Rules and may decide that an application that does not meet the requirements be deemed ineligible. The ABRS may deem an application ineligible at any stage during the review and assessment of the application, which will result in the application not progressing further. 4.1 Who is Eligible to Apply? Applications for Honours Scholarships, Masters Scholarships and RTP Top-Ups are accepted on behalf of Students who hold Australian citizenship, or have permanent Australian residency status. Applications for Honours Scholarships, Masters Scholarships and RTP Top-Ups are accepted on behalf of students only. Supervisors are not able to The proposed research for Honours Scholarships, Masters Scholarships and RTP Top-Ups must be undertaken at an Australian institution. Applications for Non-salaried Researcher Grants will be accepted on behalf of Australian citizens only. Researchers applying for a Non-salaried Researcher Grant can be affiliated with an appropriate institution (see 4.5.a for a definition of an ‘appropriate institution’) or can be retired researchers. 4.2 Research Training Program (RTP) Top-Ups RTP Top-Ups are used to supplement the existing RTP rate ($26,682 in 2017) by $10,000 (GST exclusive) per annum for three years. RTP Top-Up applicants must have applied for an RTP that commences in 2018. RTP Top-Up applicants must be enrolled as full-time students. The host institution for RTP Top-ups must be an Australian university. Other institutions will not be accepted. The PhD research project of students must be focused on taxonomy or systematics analysis and address the Priority Areas for Research Grants listed at . Evidence of an RTP and enrolment will need to be provided to the ABRS prior to or upon acceptance of an offer of a grant. If this evidence is not provided, the grant cannot be accepted. Students applying for an RTP Top-Up must supply the ABRS with a PDF copy of their most recent academic transcript with the application submission. 4.3 Honours and Masters Scholarships Students applying for an Honours or Masters Scholarship must have at least one year (from the close date of applications – i.e. from 2 November 2017) of study remaining to be eligible to apply.
7. Further Information Applicants requiring further information should contact the Grants and Business Manager of the ABRS. General Information Grants and Business Manager Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA Phone: 02 6250 9558 Appeals Director Australian Biological Resources (ABRS) GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA Email: Freedom of Information FOI Officer Department of the Environment and Energy GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA
Attachment B: Priority Areas for Research Grants Projects funded under the National Taxonomy Research Grant Programme (NTRGP) must have public good focus and support the Australian Government’s National Research Priorities. Within the National Research Priorities, the following specific criteria are used by ABRS to determine whether a project will be eligible for an ABRS grant. Biodiversity, Conservation and Vulnerable and Endangered Species Public, Plant and Animal Health Building Taxonomic Capacity 1 Biodiversity, Conservation and Vulnerable and Endangered Species Through their work, taxonomists provide information that is fundamental to the understanding and management of our biological world. To be considered for ABRS funding under this criterion, the researcher is required to demonstrate that the intended project will encompass one or more of the following four areas: 1.1 Studies that contribute to documentation of Australia’s biodiversity, through identification, revision and documentation of understudied taxonomic groups. This may include, for example, studies of taxonomic groups in largely unexplored habitats or molecular projects that make genetic information publicly available. For vascular groups in 2018-19 - funding priority under this Subcriterion will be given to taxonomic revisions and treatments developed for the Flora of Australia on the e-Flora platform – for any of the taxa listed in the Final Priority Plant Taxa List at . 1.2 Taxonomic research that provides critical data underpinning national responses to change, for conservation planning or for the rehabilitation of degraded environments. This may include, for example, taxonomic or systematic research on a likely to be effective as an indicator of climate change, or focused taxonomic research on a region subject to major development. 1.3 Taxonomic research that contributes to a greater knowledge of Australia’s vulnerable and endangered biological heritage, especially that listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This may include, for example, a revision of a genus to clearly establish the taxonomic position and conservation status of undescribed species, and including species currently listed under the EPBC Act. 1.4
Tools and products that contribute to the identification of Australia’s biodiversity. This may include, for example, an identification key for a taxonomic group at a national scale. For vascular plant groups in 2018-19 - funding priority under this Subcriterion will be given to tools and products developed for the Flora of Australia on the e-Flora platform – for any of the taxa listed in the Final Priority Plant Taxa List at . 2 Public, Plant and Animal Health This criterion focuses on a range of research activities relevant to protecting Australians and Australia’s natural resource industries and biodiversity from disease or pests. To be considered for ABRS funding under the criterion of Public, Plant and Animal health, the student/researcher is required to demonstrate that the proposed project contributes to the following: 2.1 Taxonomic research on native species that are, or have the potential to become, or agents of disease, or may be venomous or toxic and thereby threaten public, plant or animal health in Australia. This may include the Australian component of a large taxonomic group that has non-indigenous representatives constituting a significant biosecurity risk, where there is a need to be able to distinguish between native and exotic species. 3 Building Taxonomic Capacity This criterion focuses on support for training and/or recruitment of taxonomists, especially for research on critical taxonomic groups. To be considered for ABRS funding under this criterion, the student/researcher is required to demonstrate that the proposed project will encompass one or more of the following three areas: 3.1 Taxonomic studies that include clearly specified opportunities for capture and passage of skills and information from professionals to junior colleagues This may include, for example, a project where there is a component that includes a clearly documented opportunity for passing knowledge from a more senior taxonomist to an early career researcher. 3.2 Taxonomic studies that include clearly specified opportunities for capture and passage of skills and information from retired professionals to younger colleagues. This may include, for example, a project where there is a component that includes a clearly documented opportunity for passing knowledge from a retired taxonomist. 3.3 Projects that facilitate international exchange of research expertise and training in that will boost Australia's taxonomic capacity. The lasting benefits to Australian taxonomy must be clearly specified and must include capacity building. For example, support may be sought for salary and travel to bring an international expert to Australia or to enable an Australian researcher to train overseas.
Attachment C: 2018-19 Final Priority Plant Taxa List Old Volume # Class/Order Family Tribe/other #genera in Aust (approx.) #species in Aust (approx.) 5 Caryophyllales Montiaceae 2 60 5 Caryophyllales Portulacaceae 6 20 6 Dilleniales Dilleniaceae 3 300 7 Malvales Elaeocarpaceae 9 33 9 Ericales Ericaceae 44 600+ 10 Rosales Cunoniaceae (incl. Eucryphiaceae & Davidsoniaceae) 15 35 10 Rosales Crassulaceae 7 44 10 Rosales Surianaceae 3 5 20B Myrtales Myrtaceae Kanieae 6 c. 10 20B Myrtales Myrtaceae Syzygieae 1 70 20B Myrtales Myrtaceae Myrteae 12 78 21A&B Myrtales Myrtaceae Chamelaucieae 20+ 800+ 21A&B Myrtales Myrtaceae Chamelaucieae (Western Baeckea group) 25 ?600 21A&B Myrtales Myrtaceae Chamelaucieae (Actinodium, Chamaelaucium, Pileanthus) 3 55 21A&B Myrtales Myrtaceae Chamelaucieae (Darwinia, Western species) 1 66 24 Rhamnales Rhamnaceae 26 200
24 Polygalales Polygalaceae 4 61 27 Geraniales Oxalidaceae 2 19 27 Geraniales Geraniaceae 3 40 27 Apiales Araliaceae 17 128 27 Apiales Apiaceae 34 67 30A Solanales Menyanthaceae 4 27 31 Lamiales Lamiaceae 44 750 32 Plantaginales Plantaginaceae 22 148 32 Scrophulariales Scrophulariaceae (+ Myoporaceae) 18 200 32 Scrophulariales Oleaceae 8 50 32 Scrophulariales Orobanchaceae 2 3 33 Scrophulariales Pedaliaceae 2 8 33 Scrophulariales Bignoniaceae 10 40 34 Campanulales Campanulaceae subfam. Lobelioideae 6 70 34 Campanulales Campanulaceae subfam. Campanuloideae 2 40 34 Campanulales Stylidiaceae 5 250 36 Rubiales Rubiaceae Opercularia, Pomax 2 20 38A Asterales Asteraceae Gnaphalieae 84 481 38B Asterales Asteraceae Astereae 30 330 41-42 Cyperales Cyperaceae 53 600 47 Orchidales Orchidaceae 110 800