The Discovery Indigenous scheme provides grant funding to support research projects conducted by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander researchers. The scheme, administered by the Australian Research Council (ARC), supports the retention of excellent Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander researchers in higher education institutions to expand research capacity in Australia.

Overview

The Discovery Indigenous scheme aims to support excellent pure basic, strategic basic and applied research and research training across all disciplines excluding clinical and other medical research, by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander researchers as individuals and as teams. The scheme also seeks to enhance the scale and focus of research in Australian Government priority areas and to create economic, commercial, environmental, social and/or cultural benefits for Australia. National and international research collaboration is supported.

Intended outcomes include an expanded knowledge base and research capacity in Australia, along with economic, commercial, environmental, social and/or cultural benefits for the nation.

Funding and Benefits

• Estimated Grant Value: From $30,000.00 to $2,500,000.00 AUD
• Project Duration: Up to five consecutive years
• Location: ACT, NSW, VIC, SA, WA, QLD, NT, TAS

Eligibility

An application may only be submitted through the Research Office of an Eligible Organisation listed in the Grant Opportunity Guidelines. The application must nominate at least one Chief Investigator (CI) or Discovery Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Award (DAATSIA) candidate.

• To be eligible to apply as a CI or DAATSIA candidate, the individual must be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander researcher.
• The DAATSIA candidate must not be nominated for more than one DAATSIA in any grant opportunity.
• To be eligible to apply as a CI, DAATSIA candidate or Partner Investigator (PI), the individual must have met their obligations regarding previously funded projects, including submission to the ARC of satisfactory final reports, as at the grant opportunity closing date.
• At the grant commencement date, a CI or DAATSIA candidate must be an employee for at least 20 per cent of full time equivalent (0.2 FTE) at an Eligible Organisation, or be a holder of an honorary academic appointment at an Eligible Organisation and not employed at another organisation for more than 0.2 FTE.
• A CI or DAATSIA candidate can be concurrently funded through the Discovery Program for a maximum of: two projects as a CI; or one ARC Fellowship and one project as a CI; or one ARC Fellowship or project if the individual is also a Director on an active ARC Centre of Excellence or a Special Research Initiative project. Limits are calculated at the closing time for submission of applications and may be re-calculated as other grant opportunity announcements are made.
• A DAATSIA recipient cannot begin another ARC Fellowship until the DAATSIA is complete.
• To be eligible to apply as a PI, the individual must not meet the eligibility criteria for a CI as at the grant commencement date or during the project activity period.
• For other eligibility requirements, refer to the Grant Opportunity Guidelines.

Research Areas

The scheme supports research across all disciplines, including:

• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Research
• Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

Clinical and other medical research is excluded.

Application Process

The application must be submitted as a mature research plan presenting the proposed project ready for implementation. It must contain all information necessary for assessment without the need for further written or oral explanation, or reference to additional documentation, unless requested by the ARC.

Administering Organisations must submit applications through the Research Management System (RMS) unless otherwise advised by the ARC. All applications must meet the format and content requirements, including certification, as set out in the RMS online form and the Instructions to Applicants for Discovery Indigenous for funding commencing in 2027.

Registered users can login at https://rms.arc.gov.au using their email address and password. To request a new account, visit the same URL and click on the Request New Account link.

All queries by researchers should be directed to the administering organisation of the application.

Deadline and Timeline

• Close Date: 25-August-2026 at 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time)
• Publish Date: 2-June-2026
• Internal Reference ID: IN27 Round 1
• GO ID: GO8444
• Selection Process: Targeted or Restricted Competitive

Contact Information

• Phone: (02) 6287 6600
• Email: arc-ncgp@arc.gov.au
• Web Address: https://www.arc.gov.au/funding-research/arc-funding-schemes/discovery/discovery-indigenous