Discovery Indigenous

Status: Open

Find out information about the aims, funding, key dates, resources and contacts for the Discovery Indigenous scheme.

Aim

The ARC Discovery Indigenous scheme provides funding to Administering Organisations to support research programs led by an Indigenous Australian researcher and build research capacity of higher degree research and early career researchers.

The Discovery Indigenous scheme objectives are to:

• support the retention of excellent Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander researchers in higher education institutions to expand research capacity in Australia;
• 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;
• enhance the scale and focus of research in Australian Government priority areas and create economic, commercial, environmental, social and/or cultural benefits for Australia; and
• support national and international research collaboration.

The ARC advised on 7 April 2026 that the eligibility requirements for Chief Investigators (CIs) changed for the 2027 round that opened on 2 June 2026. All CI roles must now be held by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander researchers, reflecting the scheme’s focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led research across all disciplines. In previous rounds, only the lead CI was required to be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander researcher. This change will reinforce Indigenous leadership and strengthen Australia’s Indigenous researcher workforce. Researchers who are not Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander may continue to participate as Partner Investigators, or may be eligible to apply for funding under other ARC schemes, where appropriate.