What is the Army History Research Grants?
The Army History Research Grants is a scheme which aims to encourage and support researchers to undertake substantially new research in the Australian Army’s history, providing new insights, understanding and information on an aspect of Army’s history. All research is to be underpinned by rigorous scholarship and evidence, and be available to both the Army and the public.
Background
Established in 1993, the Australian Army History Research Grants Scheme supports and encourages research into the Australian Army’s history and development both on operations and during peace.
The Australian Army and Australian Army History Unit (AAHU) values new research that identifies how Army specifically has approached challenges in the past, and which is accessible to both Army and the public.
Since its inception, the Scheme has supported over 300 applicants and has a strong track record of delivering unique research that promotes Army’s history and preserves Army’s heritage by encouraging applications from a broad spectrum of researchers. As this Scheme involves the gifting of public monies, it undergoes a rigorous approval process and requires ministerial approval.
Objectives
The Army History Research Grants Scheme is intended to contribute the Australian Army by:
- Enhancing an understanding of Australian military history;
- Examining the Australian Army’s development, performance, heritage, and contribution to the Nation in war and peace;
- Creating a better understanding of the Army in order to create utility to the Army’s current and future development and operations; or
- Contributing to the professional military education of Army’s members.
Funding
The Army History Research Grants Scheme is open to both academic and non-academic researchers, and individual grants are up to a maximum of $15,000 for one year and up to $45,000 for three years.
Eligible Projects
Research supported by the Scheme must have as its primary focus, the history of the Australian Army. Please note that research focusing on pre-Federation military forces may be considered if they can demonstrate direct relevance to the modern Australian Army. Areas of research supported by the Scheme include:
- Operational research and battle studies;
- Corps, Division, Brigade and Unit histories;
- Research on Australian Army doctrine or the Australian Army as an organisation;
- Specific problems that have face the Australian Army on one or more occasions;
- Diversity within the Australian Army;
- Biographies of significant individuals that have contributed to the development of the Australian Army as an organisation, or through doctrine or operations;
- Social and cultural histories of or directly related to the Australian Army; and
- History of Australian Army heritage.
Applications should be analytical rather than narrative based, and offer new or unique insights into the history of the Australian Army. Applicants are to identify how the project will enhance and extend understanding of the history of the Australian Army whilst demonstrating relevance and utility to the Army’s development.
The following list outlines approved expenditure categories:
- Travel and accommodation for research activities:
- All travel and accommodation for research activities should be realistic in time frame and justified in the application; and
- A per diem amount as determined by the ATO Tax Determination
- Research expenses
- Services such as digitisation, transcription and translation;
- Employment of a research assistant where accessibility of archives and travel concerns limit an applicant’s capacity to conduct the research activities personally; and
- Employment of a translator.
- Other expenses
- The applicant should list any other specific expenses necessary to undertake the proposed research.
Eligible Applicants
The Scheme is open to domestic and international applicants, applying for grants either as individuals and research teams. Where an application has previously received funding through this Scheme for a separate research project or activity, the applicant is required to have submitted a progress report and financial acquittal for the previous grant before applying for a second grant. Members of the Australian Army History Unit are ineligible to apply however volunteers are still eligible to apply for a grant.
Timing
Applications close 5 March 2021.
