Please find below the new ARMS–Universities Australia (UA) practical guide, When in doubt disclose: Guidance tool for Australian Research Council (ARC) disclosures.
The guide has been developed to support a clearer and more consistent approach across universities to completing ARC RMS disclosures. It is intended as a practical resource for ARC Chief Investigators and Partner Investigators, particularly in areas where the ARC requirements can be difficult to interpret in practice.
The central message is straightforward: Researchers should ensure that information provided to the ARC is complete, accurate, current and transparent, and should review their RMS profile before every application. The guide provides practical advice on matters including employment and appointments, foreign financial and in-kind support, talent recruitment programs, the different disclosure periods in RMS and ROPE, and what may occur where the ARC seeks further information or institutional assurance. It also reinforces that ARC disclosure requirements and universities’ own disclosure-of-interest processes are separate obligations and both need to be met.
The ARC RMS questions, applicable Grant Guidelines, Instructions to Applicants and the ARC Research Security Framework remain the authoritative sources. The guide is designed to help researchers apply those requirements in practice and to encourage them to seek advice from their Research Office where they are uncertain.
We sincerely thank all members of the Working Group, with special recognition to Dr Tania Bezzobs (UTS) and Dr Erin Semon (Macquarie University), who led the working group and generously contributed their time and expertise to developing the guidance tool. The broad institutional input has been invaluable in creating a resource for use across the sector. Contributing institutions are acknowledged in the guide.
