Australian researchers change lives and save lives

Australian researchers are some of the world’s best, doing cutting edge work that saves and changes lives, says Education Minister Jason Clare.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare speaking at Charles Darwin University with Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles. Photo: Floss Adams.

Australian researchers are some of the world’s best. Brilliant researchers doing cutting edge research that saves and changes lives. In August, I announced a review of the Australian Research Council. It’s the first independent review of the ARC in 20 years.

That review is being led by Professor Margaret Sheil AO, vice-chancellor of the Queensland University of Technology. It also includes Professor Mark Hutchinson from the University of Adelaide and Professor Susan Dodds from La Trobe University.

They will report to me by the end of March next year.

I have also issued a new Letter of Expectations to the ARC. I know the way the national interest test has been operating has been causing problems. I think we need a national interest test, but I think we can make it clearer and simpler.

I think we also need to take the politics out of research. When grants are delayed or rejected because the minister doesn’t like the title page, it’s harder to recruit and retain staff and it undermines confidence in our research system.

That’s why I have said we need to make sure all future grant rounds are delivered on time, to a predetermined time frame.

Research will also form an important part of the Universities Accord. This will be a broad ranging review of higher education and an opportunity to build together a long-term plan for our universities.

Research done today helps build the country we will live and work in, in the next decade and the one after that. That’s why what we do here matters.

It won’t always work out or take us to where we expect, but it’s big ideas and the research you do that will change the world and I thank you for it.

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Read more: Stories from Research Magazine 2023