Case Study - March13 Open Access -- Open access—The sharing of research insights for mutual benefit

Use the link to access the new ARC Open Access Policy introduced as follows: "The debate over open access reflects changes in the way that researchers now do their research. Technology now allows academics to access research instantly at their desktops. There is general consensus that a wider distribution of this information is beneficial to the research and wider communities. These factors have made open access a current hot topic. It has always been important for us to find ways to leverage the research we support to the maximum extent, and this change to the way we access the output of the world’s knowledge presents a new opportunity. The open access debate is an important one and following consultation with the sector, the ARC has introduced a new Open Access Policy. The overarching aim of the ARC's Policy is to ensure that the findings of publicly funded research are made available to the wider public as soon as possible. Both the research community and the public gain from knowledge derived from ARC funded research, and both wish to derive maximum benefit from these outputs. This policy brings the ARC further into line with the NHMRC and with other international research funding agencies such as those in the United States and the United Kingdom. Open access will now be a requirement in all scheme Funding Rules released in 2013 and beyond. This means that all researchers who receive grants from the ARC under these rules are required to make the published results of their research available in an institutional repository within a 12 month period from the date of publication. The policy takes effect from 1 January 2013. Full details of the policy can be found on the ARC website."