Australian Research Management Society

Australian Research Management Society
Name	Australian Research Management Society
Abbreviation	ARMS
Formation	1970s
Type	Professional association
Headquarters	Australia
Region	Australia and New Zealand
Membership	Research managers, administrators, professionals
Website	(official website)

Australian Research Management Society is a professional association serving research managers, administrators, and professionals across Australia and New Zealand. It connects members working in universities, research institutes, medical research, indigenous research centres, and corporate research units, providing professional development, networking, and sector-specific guidance. The Society engages with national funding bodies, research councils, and peak bodies to shape practice in research support, compliance, and translation.

History

The origins trace to practitioner networks active during the 1970s and 1980s alongside institutions such as University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, Australian National University, Monash University, and University of Queensland. Early meetings involved administrators from Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and medical research organisations including Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Formalisation followed models used by Society of Research Administrators International and British counterparts like Association of Research Managers and Administrators (ARMA), responding to changes introduced by funding reforms associated with bodies such as the Australian Research Council and National Health and Medical Research Council. Over subsequent decades the Society expanded activities concurrent with sector shifts driven by policies from Department of Education, Skills and Employment and initiatives led by universities including University of Western Australia and University of Adelaide.

Structure and Governance

The Society is governed by an elected board drawing expertise from sectors represented by members at institutions such as Griffith University, Flinders University, Deakin University, Curtin University and research organisations like CSIRO and The Garvan Institute of Medical Research. Committees mirror functions found in tertiary institutions hosting centres such as South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and national facilities like Australian Synchrotron. Governance incorporates codes and procedures similar to those used by Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission-regulated entities and aligns with standards referenced by Australian Prudential Regulation Authority for organisational oversight. Strategic plans often cite collaboration with peak bodies including Universities Australia and the Council of Australian University Librarians.

Membership and Chapters

Membership spans professionals from vice-chancellor offices at institutions like University of New South Wales and research offices at La Trobe University to managers in institutes such as Telethon Kids Institute and Garvan Institute. Chapters operate regionally in capitals including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and locations hosting medical research hubs like Darwin and Hobart. Special interest groups mirror disciplines and sectors represented by organisations such as Cancer Council Australia, Menzies School of Health Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and indigenous research units like Lowitja Institute. Affiliate relationships exist with international associations such as SRA International and professional bodies including Australian HR Institute.

Activities and Programs

Programs focus on professional development delivered through workshops, mentorship and accredited training similar to offerings from Institute of Public Administration Australia and Australian Institute of Management. Skill areas include grants management aligned with processes used by Australian Research Council and National Health and Medical Research Council, research integrity practices referenced by Australian Research Integrity Committee, and commercialisation pathways connected to organisations like UniQuest and Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia. The Society runs leadership development inspired by programs at Australian Institute of Company Directors and offers tailored sessions for research finance, compliance, and data stewardship paralleling guidance from National Computational Infrastructure and Australian Research Data Commons.

Conferences and Events

Annual conferences bring delegates from universities such as Macquarie University and University of Tasmania, research hospitals like Royal Melbourne Hospital and institutes including Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity. Events feature panels with representatives from funding agencies including Australian Research Council and NHMRC, technology partners such as CSIRO-linked startups, and international speakers from Research Councils UK and National Institutes of Health. Regional seminars and themed symposia run in partnership with state-based entities such as Cancer Council Victoria and industry partners including Bioplatforms Australia.

Publications and Resources

The Society publishes newsletters, best-practice guides and toolkits referencing frameworks used by Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research and resources akin to those from Office of Research Ethics Committees. Resource topics include grant writing templates compatible with ARC Discovery Project and NHMRC Investigator Grants workflows, research data management patterned after Australian Research Data Commons materials, and compliance checklists reflecting standards from Therapeutic Goods Administration where relevant. Members access a library of case studies drawn from institutions like Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and policy briefs that mirror analyses by Grattan Institute and Australian Council of Learned Academies.

Advocacy and Policy Influence

The Society engages in consultative processes with policymakers at agencies such as Australian Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, and departments handling research funding and tertiary policy. Submissions and position statements often address research workforce issues seen by universities including University of Wollongong and national concerns raised by peak bodies such as Universities Australia and Research Australia. Collaborative advocacy has intersected with initiatives led by Australian Academy of Science and Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences on matters of research integrity, funding models, and translation pathways.

Category:Professional associations based in Australia