Since 2014, the ARC has required researchers to outline how they plan to manage research data arising from ARC-funded research. From 2020, this requirement formed part of the agreement for funding under the National Competitive Grants Program,

The ARC's requirement is designed to encourage researchers to consider the ways in which they can best manage, store, disseminate and reuse data. Researchers, in consultation with institutions, have a responsibility to consider the management and future potential of their research data, taking into account the particular approaches, standards and uses for data that may exist in different institutions, disciplines and research projects. Some institutions may have infrastructure and/or processes in place for storing, managing and sharing data - these are valuable resources that should be utilised.

Whilst the ARC does not require that full, detailed data management plans be submitted for assessment, it is required that such plans are in place prior to the commencement of the project. Currently, the ARC does not mandate open access to data.

ARC Research Data Management statement

In relation to management of research data, the NHMRC Open Access Policy (2022, updated Nov 2023) at 2.3, states, 

Researchers are encouraged to adhere to the F.A.I.R. (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) Principles and CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance. 

NHMRC strongly encourage researchers to develop a research data management plan at the start of each research project, as a matter of best practice. Research data management plans should consider collection, curation, quality assurance, storage, preservation and dissemination in an appropriate manner. Planning for well-managed data collections before the project commences will facilitate making the data findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable.

View the policy for more information.

GRDC RD&E Data should be findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR) to realise its maximum value.

From 2023, GRDC research contracts require research partners to:

1. Identify RD&E datasets to be created in each investment and record them in a GRDC-compliant Research Data Management Plan. Please see the UWA-specific template below with some information about UWA's Teams and the UWA Repository pre-filled.
2. Store data in approved secure storage. At UWA, we recommend creating a Research Project space in UWA's Teams and SharePoint.
3. Upload RD&E Datasets to the agreed Approved Repository according to the Research Data Management Plan. UWA-led projects must fulfill this requirement by recording details of GRDC-funded data in the UWA Profiles and Research Repository and, if possible, upload the data itself.
4. List datasets in the GRDC's Data Catalogue. From the UWA Repository, information about GRDC-funded datasets will be sent to the GRDC Data Catalogue.

The checklist and video below, demonstrate the steps for recording GRDC-funded datasets in the UWA Profiles and Research Repository with sufficient detail to fulfil GRDC requirements. 

Checklist

Video

Important notes

• Ensure that data is well managed and that metadata is recorded throughout your project to meet GRDC data requirements.
• Statements about the security of UWA research data storage options are provided for use in your GRDC RDMP.
• Assign a data management role within your project team from the start and ensure that this is funded in your project budget. The data manager is responsible for the organising, cleaning, documenting, storing and disseminating the project data. The UK Data Service Data Management and Costing Tool may be helpful.
• Speak to your GRDC Manager regarding agreeing on access conditions (whom may access the data, how 'open' it should be) before uploading GRDC-UWA co-owned data.
• The GRDC default data retention period is 7 years.

For further assistance with fulfilling these data requirements, please contact staffsupport-lib@uwa.edu.au. 

Additional support for GRDC funding applicants is available on the UWA Office of Research GRDC funding intranet page.