Each grant application goes through a large review process by a panel of experts in the relevant field.
Generally, a grant review process involves:
1. An initial assessment (by the general assessor) against the selection criteria.
2. Scores and comments (by the detailed assessor) against the specific assessment criteria.
3. Each application receives a final score based on all assessments.
4. The applicants receive a rank based on score at the selection meeting. The selection meeting with the Selection Advisory Committee (SAC) and general assessors to discuss the applications. The SAC gives advice on the applicants that will receive funding and to what extent.
The National Health and Medical Research Council identifies eight key principles of peer reviewing:
1. Fairness
2. Transparency
3. Independence
4. Appropriateness
5. Research community participation
6. Confidentiality
7. Impartiality
8. Quality and excellence
Further resources on grant reviews:
- Read more here from the Australian Research Council