Grant applications are now open for the 2018 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. If you’re 18-35, this is your chance to apply for a grant of up to $22,000 to fund your project on an innovative or emerging scientific issue that will benefit Australia’s primary industries.

The Science Awards encourage young scientists, researchers and innovators with original projects that will contribute to the ongoing success and sustainability of Australia’s agricultural, fisheries and forestry industries.  The Science Awards have already helped more than 210 young Australians make their ideas a reality and showcase their talent to the world.

There are eleven industry Science Award categories open for applications: cotton; dairy; established, new and emerging rural industries; fisheries and aquaculture; grains; health and biosecurity; meat and livestock; pork; red meat processing; viticulture and oenology and wool. Each category includes a $22,000 grant, and is generously supported by the research and development corporations and industry organisations as our Science Award partners.

Winners of the industry category Science Awards are then invited to apply for the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources’ Award, which provides additional funding for an extended research project.

Applicants may include young producers (farmers, fishers, foresters etc), scientists and researchers, extension officers, students or industry advisers.

To be eligible, applicants must meet all the requirements below:

• be between the ages of 18 and 35 (inclusive) by the closing date.
• be Australian citizens or permanent residents by the closing date.
• be working, employed or studying in an agriculture, fisheries or forestry related industry (including food and sustainable natural resource management). Proof such as a letter of employment, scholarship or current pay slip may be requested by the organiser if this information is not immediately discernible.

An applicant is ineligible if they are:

• employed by a sponsoring organisation in the award category they are applying for.
• have an immediate family member (a sibling or parent) who is employed by a sponsoring organisation in their selected award category.
• employed by a Non Corporate Commonwealth entity.

Note: Employees of entities that are classified as Corporate Commonwealth entities are eligible for the Awards.  Corporate Commonwealth entities are legally separate from the Commonwealth; non-Corporate Commonwealth entities are part of the Commonwealth (see PGPA Act, Section 11).

For clarification on the PGPA Act and the relevant entities, visit the Department of Finance website and the document List of GGS, PNFC and PFC entities under the PGPA Act.

Note: New Zealand citizens currently permanently residing in Australia are advised to check their eligibility under Section 6. ‘Who is eligible to apply for funding’ in the Grant Programme Guidelines. .

The age range of 18–35 years for the Awards is considered to have an exemption under the Age Discrimination Act 2004.

Need advice? Contact the Science Awards team at scienceawards@agriculture.gov.au or phone 02 6272 2303 / 02 6272 2260.

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