ACURF FAQ
Question: The guidelines make reference to various templates, but I can’t see them in the
application form on ORION. How do I access the templates?
Answer: Links to the downloadable templates are located within the specific sections of the form to
which they relate. Some templates do not appear until you have selected the appropriate answer to
the relevant question(s). For example, until you have selected either Project <$50,000 or Program
>$50,000, the project description template does not appear.
Question: Can I access the RPR templates outside of ORION?
Answer: No, you can only access the templates in the RPR form in ORION. You can, however,
download the template and work offline and then upload it when you have completed it and are back
online.
Question: How is a research concentration defined? How do I know if our group qualifies as
an area of existing research concentration?
Answer: A research concentration may comprise an existing Institution, centre, SPRT, RST or some
other group or cluster of researchers working in a closely related area. This includes emerging
research concentrations not yet formerly recognised. Please refer to the ACURF Guidelines for more
information.
Question: How do I access the budget template?
Answer: There is not a budget template, only a budget section to be completed as part of the RPR
ORION form online.
Question: There is no area on the form where I can indicate that I want to apply for
Collaborative Research Network (CRN) funding. What do I do?
Answer: Although there are particular requirements relating to the distribution of CRN funds
mentioned in the ACURF Guidelines, the applicant does not directly apply for funding from the CRN
Program. The University’s Research Funding Panel will take account of requirements for CRN funding
when allocating funds from the ACU General Research Funds and/or the CRN Program funds. The
budget allocation will be determined by the University‘s Research Funding Panel and the DVCR. To
maximise your success for CRN please refer to page 3 of the guidelines 2.1 eligibility criteria.
Question: Can a group of researchers apply as an emerging group of research
concentration?
Answer: Yes a group of ACU researchers can apply as an emerging research concentration. On the
Orion form click existing group which will bring up the template on which you indicate that you are a
proposed/new research concentration and complete the template.
Question: Could you provide examples of what is expected in the ‘Proposed Outcomes Table’?
Answer:
Research
Program/Project
Outcome
Measurement
Metric Description
of Outcome
Milestone of Metric
achievement
Submission of quality
peer-reviewed
publications (or
contribution to ACU
research income)
Metric value = 3
(publications)
Anticipated
submission of
publications:
Metric description:
Targeted journals &
impact factors*:
P1: Journal name:
Impact Factor:
(e.g.,Q1-4)
P1:
Expected Milestone
Date
Program/Project
Objective as
defined in the
Research
Description
Specific research
objective addressed:
Nominated FoR
code(s) defined in
research
application
P1:
P1:
P2:
P2:
P3:
P3:
FoR Codes targeted
for each publication:
6/2015
P2:
3/2016
P3:
7/2016
P2: Journal name:
Impact Factor:
P3: Journal name:
Submission of
National Competitive
Grant Applications
(or contribution to
ACU research
income)
Impact Factor:
Metric value = 1
(submission)
Establish collaborators
6/2014
Establish projects
Metric description:
NHMRC Program
Grant: $260,000
Proposed CIs:
9/2014
Collection and analysis
of pilot data
7/2015
Outcome must relate
to an objective in the
description and
should be explained
here
List FoR codes
anticipated to relate
to proposed
submission(s)
CI1:
CI2 etc.,
HDR Student
Completion (or
improve the research
capacity and
capability of ACU)
Build/strengthen
collaboration
Metric value = 2
Metric Description:
PhD Students
(scholarships)
Metric value = 2
Metric description:
New collaborations
established with
specific institutions
(including ACU),
organisations,
agencies or industry
partners etc.
Proposed
collaborative
Institution name(s):
Proposed
Collaborator
name(s):
Publication of pilot
evaluation data
Recruitment
10/2016
2/2014
Enrolment
3/2014
Supervision and
Mentoring plan
established
5/2014
Confirmation
9/2014
Yearly progress
3&9/2015, 3&9/2016
Completion
Established link with
institution/collaborator
2/2017
2/2014
MOU/agreement with
7/2014
collaborators/institution
negotiated/signed
Submission of joint
publications
10/2015
Submission of
competitive joint
research funding
application: details
5/2016
Outcome must relate
to an objective in the
description
List FoR codes
relevant to candidate
projects
Outcome must relate
to an objective in the
description
List FoR codes
relevant to
collaborative
research activities
and proposed
outputs
*Impact factors: The following recommendations should be considered when selecting source of proposed publication(s):
Journals: please use the Quartile in Category (Q1-4) for journals. If impact factors and quartiles are unavailable for journals in your discipline,
then state the old ERA ranking for that journal (A*, A, B, C).


Journal impact factors and calculated quartiles can be found in the Web of Knowledge database (within Web of Knowledge, click Select
a Database Tab>Journal Citation Reports) on the ACU Library website.
Please justify your choice if low impact journal selected.
Books: should be published by a reputable academic publisher
Creative works: Indicate how the impact of this type of output is defined and measured in your discipline.
Question: How do I include a budget item that is spread across 3 different programs? (e.g. a
coordinator that will be working on each of 3 programs but only as a total of .6FTE?)
Answer: In the first instance, if you are applying for a program grant of greater than $50,000 you
are advised to contact either the Dean of Research or the DVCR prior to developing your application
(please refer to the ACURF Guidelines. It is advisable that each program grant for which you are
applying is able to stand on its own. Therefore, it is important that you include all necessary items in
each program’s budget. For example, if you are requesting funds for personnel who will work across
all of your funded programs, you should include the proportion of their salary and on costs needed
for each program in that program’s budget (e.g. a .6 FTE across 3 programs = .2 FTE for each of the
3 programs).
Question: How much of a levy charge is applied to the ACURF?
Answer: There are no levy charges applied to internal grants.
Question: If funded, can I commence my program or project any time during the
commencement year?
Answer: You should indicate your start and end date in the application form.
Question: How many pages is the project description including references?
Answer: Applicants are required to submit no more than four pages for the project description plus a
fifth page for references. Refer to the instructions in the Research Description Template
Question: How many pages is the program description including references?
Answer: A program description is no more than 10 pages with an additional page for references.
Refer to the instructions in the Research Description Template
Question: Is there anything else I should know when applying for a program grant?
Answer:-Only a group of researchers is eligible to apply for a program grant i.e., funding in excess of
$50,000. A group may comprise (but is not necessary limited to) the following:
a. A new/proposed or existing group of ACU researchers (ACU research concentration) whose
research may or may not involve external collaborators. In this case, a research
concentration profile of up to 25 pages must accompany the application.
b. An ACU researcher (at least 0.4 FTE) collaborating with external research partners only
In either case, applicants are advised to first consult the Dean Research or the DVC Research
prior to commencing preparation of the program application.
Question: What is the project application number?
Answer: The project application number is the ‘code’ number generated by your application. It
appears in the first column of the project summary table under ‘My Project Requests’ on ORION
Question: Can other ACU Chief Investigators access the application in ORION or can it only
be accessed by the Chief Investigator who started the application?
Answer: Only the person who has set up the specific application can access it. This person is referred
to as the Program or Project Leader or Lead Researcher on the proposal. The Lead Researcher can,
however, download, print and circulate the templates for use by other Chief Investigators and then
later upload the completed documents to the application.
Question: Is the budget section meant to include all budget related information including
any in-kind contributions made by collaborators?
Answer: The budget is intended to capture all costs for the program/project for which you are
requesting funds. However, you may wish to note in-kind contributions so the University, Selection
Committee and Funding Panel are aware of this contribution.
Question: (a) I am unclear of the correct focus of the ACU Research Concentrations and the
required Profile.
(b) Should I include external collaborators in the profile?
(c) If I do, will the assessment of our research concentration include both ACU staff and
external collaborators?
Answer: (a) The focus of the profile is on the ACU researchers that constitute the concentration
(b) Details of external collaboration that is an integral part of the concentration and its research
should be clearly articulated in the concentration profile
(c) Assessment will be based on the strength of the ACU researchers within the concentration rather
than the (research record of the) external collaborators
- You may wish to indicate in the concentration profile those external collaborators
that are CIs on relevant ACURF proposals (for which track records are provided)
Question: Is it possible to employ a post doc through ACU, but who will be residing and
working in another country?
Answer: Yes this is possible. Please refer to ACU website: International applicants and download the
relevant city Information Pack. The person will need Work Rights, an Australian Tax File Number, an
Australian bank account and Superannuation will be contributed for this person.
Further Questions: Email: Research.Development@acu.edu.au