MERI Updates
Ethics and Travel Update
Contact information for MERI
Visit the MERI contact page to learn more about the team.
General inquiries: bblaher@unimelb.edu.au
Grants: mgse-grants@unimelb.edu.au
Graduate research: mgse-research@unimelb.edu.au
Human ethics:mgse-ethics@unimelb.edu.au
Ethics Updates
DET update: Research activity in government schools and early childhood settings
All research and evaluation activity involving Victorian government schools and Victorian early childhood services requires approval through the Department of Education and Training’s (DET’s) Research in Schools and Early Childhood settings (RISEC) process.
The move to increased restrictions across Victoria necessitates that the DET again pauses the RISEC process and research and evaluation activities involving schools and early childhood sites. These activities are suspended for the remainder of 2020.
Therefore, the following should not proceed:
- RISEC-approved research and evaluations
- Any other contact with schools or early childhood sites, staff, or children to conduct, or to recruit for, research and evaluation activity
- RISEC applications and amendment requests.
There is no guarantee that this suspension of activities will not continue into next year. MERI encourages all supervisors to continue to discuss with Grdaute Researchers how to redesign their project so that it can go forward.
A message from Catholic Education Melbourne (CEM)
CEM is still accepting applications to conduct research in CEM schools and these applications will be subjected to the usual review process. However, even if approved, researchers are not yet permitted to approach schools until they are given written permission by CEM. All approvals at the moment are ‘conditional’. Some projects have been exempt from this current ban on approaching schools (e.g. research that has been instigated by a school not an external researcher, or research that had already begun pre-COVID), but this is considered by CEM on a case-by-case basis. At the moment non-essential staff or visitors (e.g. researchers) are not permitted in CEM schools.
Reminder: for staff who submit ethics applications and amendments
Please ensure that once you have submitted a new application, revisions or an amendment to an existing application, to email mgse-ethics@unimelb.edu.au and include your ethics id number in the subject line as this alerts the ethics officer to contact you if there are any issues with your application.
To check the status of your ethics application or amendment please review the spreadsheet under the FAQ: ‘How can I track the progress of my application?’. This spreadsheet is updated regularly. If you cannot find your application on the spreadsheet contact mgse-ethics@unimelb.edu.au.
Themis Human Ethics Workbench Clean Up
In October 2020, access to Themis Human Ethics Workbench will be disabled and replaced with Infonetica Ethics Review Manager (ERM).
To ensure a smooth transition of your research applications to the new system:
- Continue using Themis Human Ethics Workbench to submit new human ethics research applications
- Progress draft applications up until 5 October, as draft applications will not move to the ERM
- Save a copy of any historical/completed applications that you wish to refer to in future by October 5, as these will not move to the ERM
- Use a unique Project Title and attachment File Names to ensure your projects and attachments are moved into the ERM. These must be within 200 characters (including spaces) with no special text or characters.
In the coming months, you will receive communications providing further details and instructions to ensure your readiness for the ERM.
Travel update to China, Hong Kong and Indonesia
China
China will not allow most foreigners to enter China due to COVID-19 and direct flights between China and Australia have been significantly reduced. DFAT advises that if, despite that advice, you travel to China you will be subject to 14 days mandatory quarantine and quarantine requirements may change at short notice. If you’re already in China and wish to return to Australia, DFAT recommends you do so as soon as possible by commercial means. Australians are advised that they may be at risk of arbitrary detention.
Hong Kong
National Security legislation for Hong Kong came into effect on 1 July 2020. This law could be interpreted broadly and the full extent of the law and how it will be applied is not yet clear. You could break the law without intending to. You may be at increased risk of detention on vaguely defined national security grounds. Visit the Smart Traveller website and select 'Local Laws' to find out more.
Indonesia
New regulations are in place for researchers wishing to conduct research in Indonesia and foreign researchers are advised to confirm compliance with following new regulations:
“Foreign nationals conducting research in Indonesia are advised to reconfirm their compliance with local regulations, following a legislative amendment in July that introduced new requirements. Foreign researchers must now seek ethical approval from the Research, Technology and Higher Education Ministry, alongside the pre-existing visa and permit requirements for conducting research. Penalties for non-compliance with this policy now include criminal prosecution with the possibility of imprisonment. Travellers intending to conduct research are advised to contact their nearest Indonesian Embassy for advice.”
The University of Melbourne would like to emphasise that researchers are to contact their nearest embassy or consulate for specific guidance if they are currently conducting research in Indonesia or will be in the future.
For more information:
University travel portal
The University’s health and safety travel portal has been updated with the most recent DFAT travel advice.
Research News
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Campus-based research update
In light of Stage 4 restrictions, the research and research return to campus pages on the Central University's COVID-19 website have been updated with the latest information on eligibility criteria for on-campus research to ensure compliance with relevant Stage 4 restrictions, as well as advice regarding the new worker permit processes.
All previously approved on-campus research is to be reassessed to ensure it complies with Stage 4 restrictions. This work is being undertaken at the Academic Division level.
For immediate action, all staff with current approval for on-campus research purposes are asked to review the urgency and criticality of their work. They are also asked to defer or pause components of their work or the work of their teams in order to restrict or otherwise reduce the need for attendance on campus. No new approvals for return to campus can be given at the Divisional level but are to be managed via the process that was in place for Phase 1 requests. Requests will be routed to the DVCR for approval.
Guidance on the website will continue to be updated in line with new advice from PRG or any further clarifications from the Victorian government.
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Survey - How international is the MGSE curriculum?
Academics are invited to respond to a brief survey by Thursday 20 August about the internationalisation of the MGSE curriculum. The purpose of this survey is to inform:
- The UoM’s Teaching and Learning Quality Assurance Committee report
- The development of MGSE’s International Strategy.
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Applications now open for TRAM Track
TRAM (Translating Research at Melbourne) Track applications are now open for their Semester 2 cohort. In response to popular demand, this second intake of TRAM Track will create more opportunities for all researchers to interact with and participate in their programs. TRAM Track is undertaken by dynamic research teams over eight weeks to build their understanding of how to achieve impact. To do this, Track will support you to engage with customers to understand what problems they care about, generate a business model, and get your head into a business mind frame.
Applications are open from Wednesday 26 August through to Wednesday 21 October.
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Where do we store our digital research treasures?
The University holds digital collections of great historic, cultural, and scientific interest and value. Research Computing Services (RCS) provides the storage environment for hundreds of these digital collections, working with archivists, researchers, and other experts around the University and beyond, to provide the right storage solutions for these valuable digital research treasures.
Research Events
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Producing excellent graphs
Date: Thursday 13 August
Time: 11.30amThis free half-day seminar online via Zoom will discuss the principles of producing graphs to enhance the quality of your thesis and research presentations. It will cover a software package freely available to University of Melbourne graduate research students and staff. If you are frustrated about the quality of the graphs you are currently creating and how much time it is taking, this seminar is for you.
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Research impact and alternative funding routes through translation
Date: Monday 17 August
Time: 10am - 11amDavid Gurr is an Associate Professor in Educational Leadership, with leadership involvement in two of the most important international educational leadership projects of the past two decades. In this seminar, he will draw on a recent chapter he wrote that frames a book focussed on leadership in schools with complex and challenging circumstances. Initially highlighting eight trustworthy claims at the end of the chapter, he will discuss the construction of the chapter and how he arrived at these claims. David will also discuss the role of international networks and collaborations in the work of academics, and how they influenced the conception of the book.
Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to download the chapter to review before the seminar.
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Human research ethics drop-in
Date: Monday 24 August
Time: 11am - 12pmDo you need a hand with your ethics? Not quite sure how to tackle a particular problem? Come chat with Tricia Eadie, Acting HEAG Chair, and Tim Mattingsbrooke, Ethics Consultant at MERI, and get all your questions answered.
For more information please contact mgse-ethics@unimelb.edu.au.
Funding opportunities
MGSE funding submission essentials
This process is in response to both the MGSE Submissions Policy and the MGSE Grants Notice of Intent (NOI) Policy. It applies to both lead proposals (submitted via University) and non-lead proposals (submitted through other institutions).
It's essential to notify the MERI Grants team of your intent to apply for any funding opportunity, as all funding proposals (internal and external) need to be endorsed by the Dean, as Head of Department.
As all applications require several internal approvals, MERI sets its own close dates in advance of both the funding body (for submissions direct to sponsor), as well as the Research, Innovation, and Commercialisation (RIC) closing dates. This allows time to process your application before it is formally submitted.
If you're not sure you can make the MERI close date, email the Grants team with your intent to apply.
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Opportunities closing soon
Helen MacPherson Smith Trust
Deadline: Monday 17 August 5pm
The Helen MacPherson Smith Trust large grant round is now open.
As the University can only submit one application, there is an internal selection process to choose the most competitive project for submission.
If you are interested in applying, please:
- Contact tracy.houston@unimelb.edu.au for the EOI form
- Submit your completed EOI form and email it to georgina.luck@unimelb.edu.au by 5pm, Monday 17 August
Note: If you have previously submitted an internal EOI form for your project for another funding round (either with HMST or another foundation), you don’t have to fill out the form again. Simply email Georgina by the date listed above, and include:
- the name of your project
- an indication that you have previously submitted an EOI.
A selection panel will choose the project which aligns most strongly with HMST guidelines. Advancement will then support the submission.
ECR Grants
Deadline: Tuesday 25 August 5pm
Are you an ECR and can demonstrate clear evidence of high research potential?
Apply now for an ECR grant, and if successful, receive funding in January 2021 for 12 months. Education researchers are eligible to receive up to $25,000.
Chancellery will provide half of the awarded funding and the remainder via co-contribution from the Academic Division.
To apply you'll need to:
- Create a draft project description and application as a PDF within SmartyGrants
- Email your project description and application form to our Grants team.
Only selected applicants will be invited to proceed to the final application stage.
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ARC Linkage Projects
Linkage Projects 2020 Assessment Round 3
- Submit review ready application to MERI: 26 October 2020
Submit review ready application to RIC: 2 November 2020
Request not to Assess due to RIC: 15 November 2020
Request not to Assess Close: 17 November 2020 - Final Application due to MERI: 17 November 2020
Final Application due to RIC: 24 November 2020
Final Applications due to ARC: 1 December 2020
If you are contemplating submitting an application in round 3, you must email the Grants team as soon as possible.
- Submit review ready application to MERI: 26 October 2020
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Melbourne Social Equity Institute Seed Funding Scheme
The Melbourne Social Equity Institute supports collaborative, interdisciplinary research between academics, members of community organisations, policy makers and people with lived experiences of disadvantage or marginalisation in order to create fairer societies.
The Institute is inviting proposals for interdisciplinary, community-engaged, and innovative research projects to be completed by the end of 2021.
You can apply for a minimum of $25,000 and a maximum of $40,000.
Deadline to contact the Grants team
Wednesday 2 SeptemberFormal applications to the Institute close on Wednesday 9 September. Visit the Funding Opportunities page to learn more about the application process.
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Australia-Korea Foundation Grants
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade invites applications for its Australia-Korea Foundation Grants. These aim to increase public awareness of Australia in Korea, and of Korea in Australia, and to develop partnerships in areas of shared interest in the bilateral, regional, and global context.
Grants are worth between AUD $5,000 and $AUD 40,000 each per year for up to three years.
Deadline to contact the grants team:
Friday 18 September 2020 -
2021-2022 ARC Scheme Dates
Official key dates for the new ARC grants rounds have been published online. Explore them today and save the most important key dates in your calendar.