The APSF supports high quality biological or biophysical research by scientists in Australian institutions, and similar institutions in other countries of the South west Pacific.

The Foundation typically provides project grants up to A$20,000 (ex GST) per year for up to three years, which are awarded exclusively for activities within the South West Pacific region. Occasional support may be given to capacity building activities, such as training.

Grants are made in annual instalments, and payments are dependent upon the receipt of satisfactory annual reports and financial statements. An additional progress report is required six months after the start of the project.

Eligibility

• The project will be undertaken within Australia or other countries of the South West Pacific region under the umbrella of a university or other appropriate institution within those countries.
• The project is in the biological or biophysical sciences or has application in those areas, as exemplified in projects described on this web site, and is not medical research.
• Projects that seem likely to lead to improved systems of managing land, water, plants and animals in ways which will enhance the productivity and quality of food, fisheries, plants and forests, while simultaneously conserving the natural environment, preserving biodiversity, avoiding pollution of soils and water, and enhancing human welfare are particularly favoured.
• Capacity building in developing countries within the Pacific region is also a priority of the Foundation, which may necessitate greater weight being given to the input of students.
• The project must form an identifiable element of work that would not be undertaken without the support of the Foundation. If the project is a sub-project of a larger investigation, it must be sufficiently discrete for the outputs and outcomes to be independently evaluated. Projects that may be seminal to subsequent larger grants from other sources are attractive to the Foundation.
• Project leaders may submit only one application to each round and may not hold more than one grant concurrently. Applications from students as project leaders are not accepted.
• Project leaders are expected to devote an appropriate amount of time to projects supported by the Foundation.
• Funding is limited to no more than three years and A$15,000 (ex GST) annually. Salaries of technicians and research assistants may be supported, but grants do not cover the salaries of scientific research staff or stipends of students.
• Administrative costs are not funded, but APSF grants may be assessed by Australian Universities as Category 1 Australian Competitive Grant Income.
• The components of the project budget for which funds are sought from the Foundation must be justified — both travel and equipment for which funding is sought must be essential for this project.
• The Foundation does not fund costs associated with attendance at conferences, either domestic or international. Publication costs levied by scientific journals are not supported by the Foundation.

• Phone: 0418 517 001
• Email: grants@apscience.org.au
• Website: http://www.apscience.org.au/contact-us/