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Media Centre
Media Release
Major funding boost for Learned Academies
The Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop
MP, today announced an increase in funding of $8 million over four years for
Australia’s four Learned Academies as part of the 2007-2008 Budget.
The four Learned Academies are the Australian Academy of the Humanities,
the Australian Academy of Science, the Academy of the Social Sciences in
Australia and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and
Engineering. Also benefiting from the funding increase is the Academies’
umbrella organisation, the National Academies Forum.
The approximately 2,000 Fellows of the Academies include most of
Australia’s best known, most eminent and internationally acclaimed
researchers. "The Academies include Australia’s finest scholars," Minister
Bishop said.
The Learned Academies have contributed to a number of issues of national
importance:
the Australian Academy of the Humanities on significant matters
relating to culture and heritage;
the Australian Academy of Science on the development of the
Commonwealth Government’s Primary Connections programme,
aimed at improving students’ learning in science and literacy, and
to a better understanding of a range of scientific issues;
the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia on issues such as
the ageing of the population, child care policy and approaches to
policing; and
the Australian Academy of the Technological Sciences and
Engineering on issues including population, water, climate and
energy.
"This additional funding will place the Learned Academies on a strong
financial footing over the long term and allow them to continue to build the
engagement of their members with issues of public importance," Minister
Bishop said.
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Media Contacts |
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| Minister Bishop’s Office: |
Tory Vidler |
0414 228 727 |
| Dept of Education, Science & Training: |
Virginia Cook |
0412 971 323 |
| Non-media queries: |
1300 363 079 |
Supporting Information
Why is this important?
The Learned Academies’ approximately 2,000 Fellows include most
of Australia’s most eminent researchers. The Academies play an
important role in enhancing Australia’s intellectual capital and
international research standing. The Government looks to the Learned
Academies to provide expert and impartial advice on issues of public
importance.
The contributions of the Learned Academies range over many
issues. A few examples include:
advice provided by the Australian Academy of the
Humanities on significant matters relating to culture and
heritage;
contributions made by the Australian Academy of
Science to the development of the Commonwealth Government’s Primary Connections
programme, aimed at improving students’
learning outcomes in science and literacy;
projects and fora conducted through the Academy of
the Social Sciences in Australia on issues such as the ageing of
the population and approaches to policing;
projects and fora conducted through the Australian
Academy of the Technological Sciences and Engineering, including
on issues relating to population, water, climate, energy,
information technology and technological education.
The Learned Academies need to be resourced at a level which
allows them to draw together members with the expertise to address
issues as they arise and to deepen the engagement of academic
researchers with those issues.
Who will benefit?
The whole community stands to benefit from the increase in the
capacity of the Learned Academies to contribute to issues of public
importance.
The additional funding is provided to the Australian Academy of
the Humanities, the Australian Academy of Science, the Academy of
the Social Sciences in Australia and the Australian Academy of the
Technological Sciences and Engineering and the Academies’ umbrella
organisation, the National Academies Forum.
What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?
Funding is being increased by around 50 per cent, to $3.065 million in 2007-08.
Core funding for the Academies is indexed.
What have we done in the past?
The Commonwealth provides Grant-in-Aid funding for the Learned
Academies through the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
When will the initiative conclude?
The funding increase is ongoing.
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