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Appeals process

The Grant Guidelines for Funding Entities’ programs may make provision for an appeals process to ensure that the applicant is being treated fairly and consistently in the context of the selection procedures. 

National Intelligence and Security Discovery Research Grant (NISDRG) Program

Under the NISDRG Grant Guidelines, RGS will only consider appeals against administrative process issues (including an application’s ineligible ruling) and not against committee decisions or assessor ratings and comments.

Administering Organisations will have 30 days to submit an appeal from the date of the eligibility/application outcome notification. Appeals must be submitted by email to ARC-NISDRG@arc.gov.au using the RGS Appeals Form.

The closing date for other appeals against administrative process is 5:00 pm (AEST) 30 calendar days after public announcement. 

RGS will release grant outcomes for successful and unsuccessful grant applications in RMS in accordance with funding entity requirements.

Applicants should provide RGS with all the information necessary to enable the appeal to be considered without the need for further written or oral explanation or reference to additional material. An RGS Appeals Committee on behalf of the Funding Entities will consider the submitted appeals and advise the Administering Organisations of the outcome.

At any time, applicants may seek to appeal any ARC/RGS decision using an alternative external appeal mechanism.

Potential external options for appeal include:

  • Commonwealth Ombudsman
  • Privacy Commissioner
  • Australian Information Commissioner
  • Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT)*
  • Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) (ADJR)
  • Scheme for Compensation for Detriment caused by Defective Administration (the CDDA Scheme).

*Regarding available options for external appeal, the AAT does not have general power to review ARC/RGS decisions.

 

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