Submissions and position statements
The EMCR Forum represents the Australian early- and mid-career researcher (EMCR) community by making formal submissions to government inquiries and reviews. Below is a list of the Forum’s past submissions, alongside articles that reflect its perspectives on key challenges affecting the research sector.
2025
2024
- Removing the Emerging Leadership (EL) eligibility barrier from the Investigator Grant Scheme
On 4 December 2024, the EMCR Forum submitted comments on the NHMRC public consultation on proposed updates to the Investigator and Synergy Grant assessment framework, specifically regarding removing the Emerging Leadership (EL) eligibility barrier from the Investigator Grant scheme (PDF, 230KB).
- NHMRC Good Institutional Practice Guide
On 12 July 2024, the EMCR Forum submitted a feedback survey on the NHMRC Good Institutional Practice Guide (PDF, 185KB). We requested consideration of impacts on and empowerment for EMCRs. We also queried why research misconduct, integrity and bullying are outside the scope of the Guide.
- Australian Animal Welfare Strategy: discussion paper
On 1 July 2024, the EMCR Forum made a submission on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Renewing the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy: discussion paper (PDF, 185KB)
- Australian Research Council Policy Review of the National Competitive Grants Program
On 15 May 2024, the EMCR Forum made a submission to the ARC on the Policy Review of the National Competitive Grants Program (PDF, 336KB).
- The Australian article
On 8 March 2024, Dr Mohammad Taha’s comments on the EMCR Forum’s submission to the Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review were published by The Australian in a women in education special report, ‘Plugging the gaps in a leaky pipeline’.
2023
- Submission on the draft National Science and Research Priorities
On 29 September 2023, the EMCR Forum made a submission to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources on the draft National Science and Research Priorities (PDF, 211KB)
- Future Campus Article
The EMCR Forum’s op-ed titled Research misconduct linked to bullying: EMCRs was published in Future Campus, Issue 14, on 21 September 2023.
Download our article (PDF, 195KB)
- Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review: draft recommendations:
On 8 September 2023, the EMCR Forum made a submission to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources on the Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review: draft recommendations (PDF, 245KB) highlighting diversity and inclusion issues from the EMCR perspective.
- Australian Universities Accord Interim Report:
On 1 September 2023, the EMCR Forum made a submission to the Department of Education on the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report (PDF, 285KB).
- Improving alignment and coordination between the Medical Research Future Fund and NHMRC’s Medical Research Endowment Account:
On 14 July 2023, the EMCR Forum made a submission to the Department of Health and Aged Care on improving alignment and coordination between the MRFF and NHMRC’s MREA (PDF, 284KB).
- Australia’s science and research priorities: conversation starter
On 5 April 2023, the EMCR Forum made a submission to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources on Australia’s science and research priorities: conversation starter (PDF, 216KB).
- Australian Research Council’s Discovery Program Grant Process Review
On 17 March 2023, the EMCR Forum made a submission to the ARC’s Discovery Program Grant Process Review (PDF, 287KB).
- Sydney Morning Herald article
The EMCR Forum Executive shared our views on the preprint ‘The Australian academic STEMM workplace post-COVID: a picture of disarray’ in an article in the Sydney Morning Herald on 16 February 2023 ‘Psychopaths get an edge’: Half of young researchers harassed or bullied, says study’.
- Nature career news article
The EMCR Forum Executive shared our views on the preprint ‘The Australian academic STEMM workplace post-COVID: a picture of disarray’ in an article in Nature on 23 January 2023 ‘Early-career researchers in Australia are miserable at work’.
2022
2021
2020
2019
- Increasing the diversity of Australia’s research workforce
The EMCR Forum made a submission to the Australian Research Council consultation on Increasing the diversity of Australia’s research workforce: a pathway to gender equality in ARC grant funding processes
- NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme
The EMCR Forum made a submission on the NHMRC consultation on the Post Graduate Scholarship Scheme.
- Position statement on the 2019 Federal Election
The EMCR Forum released a position statement on the 2019 Federal Election putting forward its recommendations and shared commitments to support STEM professionals in Australia.
- The social and economic benefits of improving mental health
The EMCR Forum and the Australian Brain Alliance EMCR Network made a submission to the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into the effect of mental health.
2018
- Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
The EMCR Forum made a submission to the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science’s consultation on a National Strategy for Women in STEM.
- Funding Australia’s Research
The EMCR Forum made a submission to the House of Representative’s Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training Inquiry into Funding Australia’s Research.
- Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)
The EMCR Forum Executive made a submission to the MRFF consultation to inform the second Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities 2018 – 2020
- Women in STEM Decadal Plan
The EMCR Forum made a submission to help inform the Australian Academy of Science’s development of the Women in STEM Decadal Plan.
- On 29 October 2018 the EMCR Forum released a statement (PDF, 75KB) expressing their concern that Ministerial veto has been made on grant applications recommended for funding by the Australian research Council.
2017
2016
2015
2014
2012
