Library guides

This guide supports research into Indigenous Australian studies, connecting you with resources on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture, languages and rights. You will find links to specialised databases (like AIATSIS), government reports and community archives.

The guide emphasises the importance of cultural protocols and respectful research practices when engaging with Indigenous knowledge and communities. Whether you are studying health, law, education or history, these resources help you access Indigenous perspectives and scholarly work to deepen your understanding of Australia’s First Nations peoples and the contemporary issues affecting them.

Anthropology and Sociology involve the deep study of human societies, cultures and social structures. This guide highlights the primary databases for finding ethnographic research, sociological theory and cultural analysis. You will find resources covering diverse topics such as globalisation, inequality, family dynamics, religion and cultural identity.

The guide also helps you locate statistical data to support sociological analysis and connects you to key journals in the field. Whether you are writing a literature review or preparing for fieldwork, these resources provide the theoretical foundations and empirical studies necessary for success in the social sciences.

Applied Linguistics explores how language is used in real-world situations and its impact on society. This guide connects students with databases and journals relevant to second language acquisition, language teaching (TESOL), sociolinguistics and discourse analysis. You will find links to corpora (databases of real language use), testing materials and resources for researching language policy.

The guide helps you navigate the intersection of linguistics, education and psychology. Use these resources to support your research into how languages are learned, taught and used in various social contexts, and to understand the practical applications of linguistic theory.

This guide is the gateway to researching the human past through material remains. It connects archaeology students with databases covering classical, Near Eastern and Australian archaeology. You will find access to excavation reports, site maps and journals on archaeological method and theory.

The guide also lists resources for related fields like ancient history and heritage management, helping you contextualise your findings. Whether you are studying stone tools, ancient architecture or digital archaeology techniques, these resources provide the scholarly evidence and data needed to interpret the archaeological record and understand past civilisations.

This guide supports students in the molecular life sciences, providing a bridge to complex biological data. It highlights key databases for finding literature on biochemistry, genetics and genomics, such as PubMed and SciFinder. You will find links to essential bioinformatics tools, protein databases and genome browsers used by researchers worldwide.

The guide also covers protocols and methods journals essential for designing and conducting laboratory work. Whether you are researching metabolic pathways, gene expression or molecular disease mechanisms, these resources connect you with the high-impact scientific literature and data analysis tools required for modern biological research.

Business analysis requires access to up-to-date commercial data and market intelligence. This guide connects you with databases providing comprehensive company profiles, financial statements and SWOT analyses. You will find market research reports detailing industry trends, consumer behavior and competitive landscapes.

The guide also links to news sources and academic journals for management and economics to support theoretical understanding. Whether you are analysing a specific company’s performance, investigating a broader market sector or preparing a strategic plan, these resources provide the reliable business intelligence needed for case studies and assignments.

This guide serves the physical sciences, providing access to essential literature and data for Chemistry and Physics. It highlights databases like SciFinder and Reaxys for chemical structure and reaction searching, which are vital for synthetic chemistry. Physics students will find links to preprint servers like arXiv and major journals from the AIP and APS.

The guide also connects you to handbooks of physical data, safety information (SDS) and crystallography databases. Whether you are synthesising compounds or modeling physical phenomena, these resources help you find the experimental data and theoretical research needed for your work.

This guide supports study in Computer Science, Information Technology and Cybersecurity. It connects you with major digital libraries like IEEE Xplore and ACM Digital Library, which host the leading conferences and journals in the field. You will find resources on programming languages, algorithms, software engineering and network security.

The guide also links to technical standards and ebook collections for IT professionals. Whether you are researching artificial intelligence, developing software or studying data structures, these resources provide access to the latest technical innovations and peer-reviewed computer science literature to support your projects.

Criminology examines the causes, consequences and management of crime in society. This guide provides access to databases covering sociology, law and psychology relevant to criminal justice. You will find links to government crime statistics, police reports and corrections data to support empirical research.

The guide also helps you locate research on topics like youth justice, victimology, forensic psychology and crime prevention. By using these resources, you can access the data and theoretical literature needed to analyse crime trends, evaluate criminal justice policies and understand the complex social factors surrounding crime.

This guide supports pre-service teachers and education researchers in their academic and practical work. It connects you with databases like ERIC and A+ Education to find research on teaching strategies and learning theories. You will find links to curriculum documents (like the Victorian Curriculum), lesson planning resources and children's literature collections.

The guide also covers educational psychology, special education and educational leadership. Whether you are preparing for a placement, designing a unit of work or writing a research paper on pedagogy, these resources provide the practical tools and academic evidence needed for the education profession.

Engineering requires precision, innovation and adherence to strict standards. This guide connects students with databases for technical papers, such as IEEE Xplore and Compendex. Crucially, it provides access to Australian and international standards essential for safe design and compliance. You will find links to property data, patent databases and handbooks for civil, mechanical and electronic engineering.

Whether you are working on a capstone design project, calculating load-bearing capacities or researching materials science, these resources help you find the technical specifications and industry best practices required for successful engineering solutions.

This guide supports students in English, Theatre and the Creative Arts, acting as a portal to cultural and literary history. It highlights databases for finding literary criticism, book reviews and full-text plays and poetry. You will find resources on art history, performance theory and creative writing techniques.

The guide also helps you locate primary texts and historical context for literary works, enriching your analysis. Whether you are analysing a Shakespearean sonnet, researching contemporary art movements or looking for inspiration for your own creative practice, these resources connect you with the world of arts and letters.

Gender studies is an interdisciplinary field examining social structures, identity and power. This guide provides access to databases relevant to sociology, history, health and politics through a gender lens. You will find research on feminism, masculinity, queer theory and intersectionality.

The guide also links to archives and primary sources documenting the history of gender movements and social change. Use these resources to explore how gender influences society, culture and individual experience, and to find the theoretical frameworks necessary for critical analysis in this dynamic and evolving field.

History is built on the analysis of evidence from the past. This guide helps you navigate the vast array of historical resources available to researchers. It connects you with databases for finding secondary sources like peer-reviewed journal articles and books. Crucially, it guides you to primary sources, such as digitised newspaper archives, government documents, letters and personal diaries.

You will find specific sections for different regions and time periods. Whether you are studying ancient civilisations or modern political history, these resources provide the raw materials needed to construct and support your own historical arguments.

Journalism students need access to the news as well as research about the media industry. This guide connects you with databases of current and archived newspapers from around the world to track stories and styles. You will find resources on media law, ethics and investigative reporting techniques.

The guide also links to industry publications and organisations supporting journalists. Whether you are researching a story, analysing media bias, practicing interview techniques or studying the history of the press, these resources provide the tools and information necessary for the study and practice of journalism.

This guide covers the broad spectrum of life sciences, supporting students in biology, ecology and environmental management. It highlights key databases like BIOSIS and Zoological Record for finding biological literature. You will find resources on taxonomy, conservation and ecosystem management.

The guide also connects you with data repositories, field guides and resources for identifying flora and fauna. Whether you are studying plant physiology, animal behavior or environmental policy, these resources help you locate the scientific research and data needed to understand the natural world and address ecological challenges.

Urban planning involves understanding space, people and policy to create liveable environments. This guide connects you with resources for urban design, transport planning and community development. You will find links to planning legislation, government strategic plans and demographic statistics (such as ABS data).

The guide also highlights databases for mapping and geospatial data analysis. Whether you are analysing a local development proposal, researching sustainable cities or studying housing policy, these resources provide the regulatory, statistical and spatial information needed for urban and regional planning projects.

This guide supports artists and art historians in their research and creative practice. It provides access to image databases like ARTstor and journals covering art theory, history and criticism. You will find information on exhibition catalogues, artist profiles and museum collections from around the world.

The guide also covers technical resources for various art mediums and techniques. Whether you are writing an essay on a specific art movement, researching materials for your studio work or analysing visual culture, these resources connect you with the visual and textual materials of the art world.