Open Access Publishing for Australian Researchers: What You Need to Know

Prof. David Chen · 2024-07-01 · 7 min read · Research

Understanding open access requirements, ARC and NHMRC mandates, and institutional repositories at Australian universities.

Introduction

Open access (OA) publishing — making research freely available to anyone — is becoming increasingly important in Australian academia. Both the ARC and NHMRC have OA mandates, and universities are investing in OA infrastructure. This guide explains what postgraduate students need to know.

What Is Open Access?

Open access means research outputs are freely available online, without subscription barriers. There are several models:

Gold Open Access

  • Published in an open access journal
  • Freely available immediately upon publication
  • Usually involves an Article Processing Charge (APC) paid by the author, institution, or funder
  • APCs can range from $500 to $5,000+ AUD

    • Green Open Access (Self-Archiving)

  • Published in a traditional subscription journal
  • A copy (usually the accepted manuscript) deposited in an institutional repository
  • May be subject to an embargo period (6–12 months)
  • No cost to the author

    • Hybrid Open Access

  • Published in a subscription journal, but the specific article is made OA
  • Author pays an APC to make their article freely accessible
  • Often more expensive than pure Gold OA
  • Increasingly controversial ("double dipping")

    • Diamond/Platinum Open Access

  • Published in an OA journal with no APC
  • Funded by institutions, learned societies, or grants
  • Ideal but less common

    • Australian Funder Requirements

    ARC (Australian Research Council)

  • ARC-funded research must be made OA within 12 months of publication
  • Deposit in an institutional repository is sufficient (Green OA)
  • Check the ARC Open Access Policy for current requirements

    • NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council)

  • NHMRC-funded research must be made OA within 12 months
  • Deposit in PubMed Central or an institutional repository
  • Applies to all peer-reviewed publications arising from funded research

    • Universities

    Most Australian universities have their own OA policies requiring deposit in the institutional repository. Check your university's research output policy.

    Institutional Repositories

    Every Australian university maintains a repository for research outputs:

  • **University of Melbourne:** Minerva Access
  • **ANU:** ANU Open Research
  • **University of Sydney:** Sydney eScholarship
  • **UNSW:** UNSWorks
  • **Monash:** Monash University Research Repository

    • Your thesis will typically be deposited automatically after graduation.

    Read and Publish Agreements

    Many Australian universities have "Read and Publish" deals with major publishers (Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley, Taylor & Francis). These agreements:

  • Cover APCs for corresponding authors affiliated with the university
  • Allow you to publish Gold OA at no personal cost
  • Check your university library's website for current agreements

    • Preprints

    Preprints are research papers shared publicly before peer review:

  • Common platforms: arXiv (sciences), SSRN (social sciences), bioRxiv/medRxiv (biology/medicine), OSF Preprints
  • Increasingly accepted in many disciplines
  • Establish priority for your findings
  • Get early feedback from the community
  • Check journal policies before posting (most allow it, but some don't)

    • Tips for Postgraduate Students

    1. **Check if your university covers APCs** through Read and Publish agreements

    2. **Use Green OA** (self-archiving) as a cost-free option

    3. **Deposit your thesis** in your university's repository

    4. **Choose OA journals** where appropriate — they often have faster turnaround times

    5. **Be cautious of predatory OA journals** — verify legitimacy through DOAJ or Think-Check-Submit

    6. **Include OA in your data management plan**

    7. **Understand copyright** — know what rights you retain when publishing

    Conclusion

    Open access is increasingly the norm in Australian research. Understanding the landscape helps you comply with funder mandates, maximise the impact of your research, and contribute to a more equitable knowledge system. DissertlyPro can help you navigate OA publishing requirements and prepare manuscripts for submission.