Each member institution will have a notional annual travel allocation, $5000 for full members and $1000 for associate members. These travel allocations will be held by AMSI and will cover reimbursements to member institutions for authorised receipted travel expenses of their staff and students to attend AMSI workshops, meetings and courses.

The mechanics of this will be as follows.

1. When a student or member of staff is approved by the Head of Mathematics or Statistics to attend an AMSI-sponsored event, the Head must request approval from AMSI (email Simi Henderson) prior to the event for use of the Department’s travel allowance to pay for the cost of travel and accommodation for the event.
   
   The email will contain the name of the persons, their status within the Department, the event to be attended and a break down of the costs requested. AMSI will review the annual allocation to the Department and consider the request giving preference to early career researchers and students. Expenditure may also be approved up to a nominated amount.

2. On return from the event, the sponsored person will submit tax invoices for the agreed items to the HoD for reimbursement.

3. For payment AMSI must receive an invoice for the agreed amount within 90 days of the date of the event, attaching copies of the tax invoices. Please invoice AMSI in batches where possible.

4. This travel allowance may be used for delegates attending AMSI events. These are workshops, meetings and seminars where AMSI is a significant sponsor or events organised directly by AMSI such as Industry Forums. The travel account usually can not be used for travel to annual conferences or events. Check the Events section of the AMSI website to ensure the event qualifies for the use of the AMSI Travel Allowance.

5. Note that flagship events, such as the annual Summer School, Graduate Theme Program and Vacation Scholarships, have their own travel subsidies that should be applied for in the stipulated manner by students and staff wishing to attend them.

6. AMSI expects that the travel allowance will be used for students and early career researchers who do not have access to their own research funds. Staff who do have such access are expected to use those funds. Heads should follow established principles of equity in allocating the allowance.

7. Travel allowance cannot be used for conference registration as this will be at cost or discounted for AMSI members.

Suggested wording to go on web sites of sponsored events

This event is sponsored by the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI). AMSI allocates a travel allowance annually to each of its member universities (for list of members, see www.amsi.org.au/membership.php). Students or early career researchers from AMSI member universities without access to a suitable research grant or other source of funding may apply to the Head of Mathematical Sciences for subsidy of travel and accommodation out of the departmental travel allowance.

(updated June 2010)