Frequently asked questions
Q) Is there a preference for a project team to be from a single research organisation, or from across multiple organisations?
A) The Centre has no preference for either a single organisation or a multi-organisation project team. EOIs will be accepted from either and will be evaluated against the evaluation criteria in the same way.
Q) Can the proposed project team include researchers from government agencies or research consultancies, as well as university-based researchers?
A) EOIs will be accepted from multi-organisation project teams, and project teams can include researchers at government agencies and research consultancies. The proposed project team's capacity to undertake the project will be evaluated in the same way whether researchers are university-, consultancy- or agency-based.
Q) Would academic salaries (excluding administrative overheads) be eligible to budget?
A) Yes, academic salaries can be included within the project budget, but only when they are direct project costs and their salary is not already covered elsewhere. E.g. the salary costs of a contract researcher who is actively working on the project can be included up to the FTE component they are contributing. However, the salary costs of a tenured academic who is already paid through the university/research organisation would be included as an in-kind contribution up to the amount of their FTE contribution to the project.
Q) What do you mean by "peer review"?
A) This is a quality control process. The final report must be reviewed by someone who is an expert in the field and independent of the project.
Q) At what rate can salary on-costs be charged?
A) Administrative overheads are limited to direct salary-related on-costs. Indirect cost recoveries are not to be included. Other administrative overheads and indirect costs can be included as in-kind contributions. Where the salary on-cost rate exceeds 28% this will need to be justified.
Q) Can equipment costs be included in the budget?
A) Ordinarily, project funds are not to be used to purchase equipment. Where funds for equipment are requested, they will need to be justified
Q) What is the budget for the project?
A) The Centre has not specified a budget for this project intentionally. We request applicants to proposed a budget for what they think they project required to meet the outcomes. The research team should note and consider the value for money criteria when proposing their budget.
Q) Can international research teams apply? Alternatively, can international research teams be part of a consortium bid?
A) International research teams can be part of research projects when they are part of a consortium submission that is led by an Australian research organisation. The international team would need to be subcontracted by the lead Australian based research organisation. Please note that all budget submissions must be in Australian dollars and the lead organisation must bear the cost of funds transfer and responsibility for due diligence as required under Australian Foreign Interference regulations.
Q) Is there an option of registering my interest as an independent researcher that could assist a larger team or are you only able to consider proposals that address the entire project?
A) Yes, you can submit an EOI as an independent researcher addressing part of the project requirements. In the EOI submission form, please outline which aspects of the project you can address. Once the EOI closes, we can consider linking researchers together, although whether or not we can do that will depend on a range of factors, so we can’t guarantee that outcome.
Of course, the other option is to reach out to potential collaborators now about putting in a joint EOI submission that addresses the entire project.
Q) How will potential research collaborators be connected? Should we independently canvass one another to identify key interests and strengths, or will CFA assist by matching individuals who express interest in contributing to fewer than all four work packages?
A) We’re unable to facilitate matchmaking before submissions close due to probity requirements, so this session is your opportunity to connect with others. You’re encouraged to reach out directly to potential collaborators and share your strengths or areas of interest in the chat. While we can provide limited support after submissions, it’s best to proactively contact people now, especially if you’re considering submitting for individual work packages. Please feel free to note others’ details and follow up with them directly.
Q) To what extent is the data-collection system being developed specifically for this project and its service providers, and to what extent is it being designed for longer-term use beyond the project so it can be adopted by others?
A) At the moment, there’s no existing system in use, so our focus is on establishing a consistent and systematic data-collection approach. If the system proves effective, there’s no reason it couldn’t be adopted more broadly, particularly as other fire agencies look to CFA’s experience in grass and crop fire research. Our aim is to develop a framework that works for this project and has the potential to be applied across other jurisdictions in the future.
Q) For the agricultural fire reporting, will the project focus solely on incidents already reported through 000 and recorded by CFA, or is there also an expectation to identify fires that were not reported via 000?
A) Yes, we would welcome any data on fires that were not reported through 000. This will often rely on local relationships—speaking with CFA members or tapping into community events where unreported incidents are discussed informally. Remote-sensing platforms may also help, though small, non-spreading fires can be harder to detect. Because underreporting is a significant issue, any additional information you can gather on unreported fires would be extremely valuable for understanding the true level of risk.
Q) What proportion of the project is focused on understanding ignition patterns versus developing operational applications? Is it roughly a 50–50 split, or another balance?
A) The primary focus of the project is understanding where ignitions occur and why—that’s the most significant component. The operational applications then flow from those insights, informing how we respond to fires and provide guidance to farmers on practices like harvesting or hay storage. Identifying better practices used in other jurisdictions is also valuable, but the ignition-trend analysis remains the core emphasis.
Q) CFA’s incident reports appear to cost $70 each to access individually. Will the CRA be able to provide these reports—or other relevant data—to researchers directly?
A) Yes, CFA can provide researchers with incident reports at no charge as part of the project. However, additional data on unreported fires will require fieldwork with local members or farmers, which should be factored into the project budget. We can also provide access to weather databases like VicClim, as well as remotely sensed crop and harvest detection data. Work Packages 2 and 3 will be closely linked, with field surveys informing the ignition trends analysis, which will draw on both historical data and recent fieldwork.
Q) Would the researcher undertaking Work Package 3 also be expected to conduct Work Package 2? If not, can they provide input or suggestions on additional items to include in the Work Package 2 survey? (follow on above question)
A) It’s not necessary for the same provider to undertake both Work Packages 2 and 3, and it may be difficult to complete both within the timeframe. However, the work on these packages will need to be concurrent, and the providers must collaborate closely. Work Package 3 can rely on Work Package 2 for additional data collection and may include some fieldwork itself, but care should be taken to avoid overburdening farmers or regional CFA staff.
Q) For Work Package 2 surveys, are we expected to work with farmers and CFA crews in specific locations, or is there flexibility in where we collect data?
A) You have flexibility in choosing survey locations, provided there are fires in the area. We can connect you with engaged CFA staff and volunteers, particularly in northwest Victoria and other cropping regions, who can help get you started. Beyond that, you have freedom to select areas that work best for your data collection.
Q) How does CFA envision engaging local staff, and how will you ensure that this engagement builds on existing trust without biasing the sampling toward particular sectors of ignition trends, especially considering the ethical requirements for the project?
A) Ethics approval is required at CFA’s discretion, but all research should adhere to ethical standards, even without a formal HREC. If seeking ethics approval, include it in your budget. Regional engagement is important and will involve working with local CFA staff, landowners, and farmers after incidents. CFA will support this partnership, helping maintain strong stakeholder relationships and avoid overburdening participants. Existing data channels and a standardized data-collection tool can also assist in gathering information efficiently.
