[ASA] Fwd: STA Member Update | 12 December 2025

[Richard McDermid]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Ryan Winn <ceo at sta.org.au>
Subject: STA Member Update | 12 December 2025
Date: 12 December 2025 at 5:04:07 pm AEDT
To: Richard <richard.mcdermid at mq.edu.au>
Reply-To: Ryan Winn <ceo at sta.org.au>

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The STA Member Update is sent to the leadership of member organisations. Please forward to your executive and membership.
12 December 2025
Dear Richard,

Where did the last two weeks go, and for that matter 2025?! Just hours after my previous Member Update, the 2026 Parliamentary Calendar was released and so I can now confirm Science Meets Parliament will be held from 25-26 March 2026.

This year’s event is shaping up to be our biggest yet. If you click on the banner below, it will take you straight the event page with program details where you can also secure early bird registration.



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I was pleased to convene the National Research Innovation Alliance this Monday, there was plenty to talk about in the meeting. That morning the Strategic Examination of Research & Development report landed on the desk of Ministers Tim Ayres and Jason Clare. We have had ongoing discussions with SERD panel members and look forward to responding and providing briefings for our members when it is publicly released.

Also on the agenda was the National AI Plan launched last week<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/kzUOCyojxQT24rmk0TAuDFx2eWK?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>, which has brought some welcome certainty for our sector, albeit still a bit too silent on the important role of the research sector in Australia’s development and use of AI, compared to industry needs. We’ve called on the government to make substantial investment in infrastructure and the future workforce to support it.

The $4 billion Australia spends on AI is a drop in the ocean compared to other countries. We joined other industry bodies for a government briefing after its release and look forward to supporting the Plan’s implementation. In particular, we are already progressing conversations to assist the ‘compute mapping’ outlined in the Plan, that’s so critical to Australian research’s high-performance computing needs.

For our university-linked members, I’m sure you noticed that legislation was introduced into Parliament to establish the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) and the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee released its final report on university governance. While ATEC will not (initially) have specific responsibilities for research, including HDR studies, we are engaging closely with this work. As we all know, the intrinsic nature of research is weaved into the fabric of university teaching and activities and the draft SERD recommendations. Australian STEM needs a healthy, productive and trusted university sector.

CSIRO Doug Hilton AO appeared for the final 12 minutes of Senate Estimates this year. He didn’t have much opportunity to answer questions. But as I said on ABC Radio the following morning, the cuts at CSIRO are a symptom of a Research and Development sector that’s been chronically underfunded for years. We will continue to advocate our position on behalf of all members when the Senate inquiry into CSIRO job cuts gets underway properly next year (but submissions are open!) that we need real, substantial and sustainable science investment in Australia. Science must be seen as an economic investment not a cost that needs to keep being slimmed down to fit an ever-decreasing budget.

On submissions, our policy team are working hard on a range of submission due over the coming weeks, from research infrastructure to First Nations education policy, so please reach out if you would like to contribute to an STA submission [see the list below].

Last week was also our final STA board meeting of the year<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/rjBmCzvkyVCwrMN9xuBCYF9Makn?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>. It was great to have our new President Jas Chambers lead our meeting, joined by new Board Directors Professor Virginia Kilborn and Associate Professor Kalinda Griffiths. The meeting also saw the appointment of Mark Stickells AM as Vice-President and Dr Lila Landowski became the Chair of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Finally, thank you for all your support in 2025. We are proud to represent all of our around 140 members as we continue to create a better science and technology sector. I hope you and all your loved ones have a restful festive season and I look forward to all we will achieve together in 2026.

With best wishes,

Ryan Winn
CEO, Science & Technology Australia

REPORTS AND POLICY

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Minister for Science Tim Ayres and Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and Digital Economy released the National AI Plan<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/55BbCANpgjClRNJ2nfOFnFGMBv0?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>.
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The ARC issued a statement on its organisational review<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/zrcTCBNqjlCRn7JBMh7HJF2MtVV?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUBMISSIONS

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The Senate Standing Committees on Economics have called for feedback on its Funding and resourcing for the CSIRO inquiry<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/dRGnCD1vlpTJx5r0nunIjFjO4gJ?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>. Submissions due 30 January.


For policy related matters contact STA Director of Policy and Engagement Sarah Tynan<mailto:sarah.tynan at sta.org.au>.
Browse the complete list of reports, policy news, and opportunities for submissions in our LinkedIn newsletter.
View LinkedIn newsletter<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/WXvACE8wmrt0q3oMgtKSMF7Y9CD?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>
GRANT FUNDING AND OPPORTUNITIES

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Grants of up to $2 million are available through the Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship (WiSE) program<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/X8liCGv0oyCO81ZG0uBT0FBixza?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>. These grants are for projects that address systemic barriers to women entering and remaining in STEM. Applications close 18 February 2026.

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Nominations for the 2026 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/ZQE8CJyBrGfAnqL51F8UqFygwZG?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com> close next week 18 December. Nominating someone for one of these prestigious awards is an excellent way to acknowledge their important work. Prizes range from $50,000 to $250,000.

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The 2025-26 Victorian Government’s Premier’s Awards for Health and Medical Research<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/MtEkCK1DvKTM12xmBhXcMF5498H?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>have five categories of awards open for applications. Winners receive $5,000 with an additional $15,000 being awarded to the winner of the Premier’s Excellence Award. Applications close 21 December.

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Applications are open for the NSW National Science Week Community grants<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/wdTJCL7EwMfw3RM4muxf6FyosZW?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>. These grants support projects hosted during National Science Week 2026. A maximum of $5000 are up for grabs.

MEMBER NEWS
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Science Meets Parliament 2026 Scholarships
Thanks to our generous scholarship partners, STA is offering scholarships across seven categories to attend Science Meets Parliament 2026. Successful applicants will receive full registration to the two-day event which includes attendance at the gala dinner, a meeting with a Parliamentarian and a ticket to the National Press Club address. Apply for a scholarship now<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/lzZvCOMKzVTZOpr40TlsEFGq6wX?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>.
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Science Meets Parliament 2026 Early-bird Registrations
Registrations for Science Meets Parliament 2026<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/Nr7QCROND2u0OvPBRt7ClF1f5Ic?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com> have officially opened! STA’s two-day annual flagship event will take place in Canberra at Australian Parliament House from Wednesday 25 March to Thursday 26 March 2026. Make sure you register while the early-bird discount is still available.
<mailto:tristan.scotcher at sta.org.au>
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Science Meets Parliament 2026 Partnership Opportunities
Science Meets Parliament 2026 will be held at Parliament House in Canberra on 25-26 March 2026. We have multiple partnership opportunities to have your brand and staff associated with STA’s flagship event. Partnerships can include registrations to SMP, extra gala dinner tickets, tickets to the National Press Club address, speaking opportunities, branding in the delegate handbook, acknowledgement as a partner during the event and many more benefits. Further information on SMP2026 partner opportunities can be found here<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/VQpPCWLVXkUX45wGPsvHgFoHZ4M?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>.
STA delivers strong benefits to members, including discounted professional services via our Member Benefits Program<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/ncF-CXLW2mUD9X70qtRI3FWP8gf?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>.

Want the latest news from Science & Technology Australia? Subscribe to our media release distribution list<mailto:media at sta.org.au>, it is open to all.

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