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Defence



Starting point for Defence

Starting point contains definitions, facts, figures and overviews

Key online dictionaries, encyclopedias and handbooks

Publications, Reports and DocumentsAustralian Department of Defence
Australian Defence Simulation GlossaryAustralian Defence Simulation Office, Department of Defence, Canberra

Key print dictionaries, encyclopedias and handbooks

Use the catalogue to search for more dictionaries, encyclopedias and handbooks


Catalogue searching

You can search the Library Catalogue to find books, DVDs, journals and other materials

If you know the exact title in the New catalogue

If you are searching for a topic in the New catalogue

Truncation is generally not needed as entering any version of a word will retrieve many variations.

More information


Databases and journal articles for Defence

Use databases to search for journal articles, book chapters, conference papers or research reports

Key databases for Defence

Databases Notes Help
Academic search premierMultidisciplinary database that covers the social sciences, humanities, general science, multi-cultural studies and education with many articles in full textHelp and tips are available online from any search screen
APAFT (Australian public affairs full text)Provides indexing and selected full text access to Australian literature in business, health, social sciences and humanities.Help and tips are available online from the APAFT search screen
CompendexInternational bibliographic database that indexes engineering and applied science journals, conferences and technical reportsHelp and tips are available online from the Compendex search screen.
IEEEXploreProvides full text access to IEEE transactions, journals, magazines and conference proceedings, and all current IEEE standards.Help and tips are available online from each search screen
INSPECInternational bibliographic database for electrical engineering, electronics, physics, control engineering, information technology, communications, computers, computing, and manufacturing and production engineeringHelp and tips are available online from the INSPEC search screen
ScienceDirectInternational full text database for scientific research. Subject coverage includes the life, medical, technical, social and physical sciencesAn online video is available from the Library home page - Online Training. Help and tips are available online from the Science Direct search screen
ScopusMultidisciplinary scientific database with bibliographic records from journals, conference proceedings, book series, websites and patents.Help, including an interactive tutorial, available from every page
Web of ScienceBibliographic database that covers the sciences, social sciences and arts & humanities.Help and tips are available online from the Web of Science search screen.

Complete list of Engineering databases. Also check the multidisciplinary databases as they cover a wide range of academic topics. You can select other subjects from the database subject list


Full text not available?

When the full text is not available, search for the journal title in the Library catalogue to discover if print or online copies are available

Database search tips

For help with searching databases see Connecting and Combining Search Terms or Truncation/Wildcards/Phrase searching: Basic or Online training or Ask the Library


Key internet sites for Defence

It is important to critically evaluate all information you find particularly information found on the web.

This is a starting list of internet sites. You may want to do your own searches using search engines

Useful starters

Defence organisations and associations

  • Defence Intelligence Organisation An intelligence assessment agency that provides services and advice at the national level. Its mandate is to support Defence and Government decision-making and assist with the planning and conduct of Australian Defence Force operations.
  • Australia Defence Association An independent, non-partisan, community-based, public-interest organisation and ‘think-tank’ on defence and wider national security issues.
  • Australian Strategic Policy Institute An independent, non-partisan policy institute. Set up by the government to inform the public on strategic and defence issues and provide fresh ideas on Australia's defence and strategic policy choices.
  • Defense Information Systems Agency A combat support agency responsible for planning, engineering, acquiring, fielding, and supporting global net-centric solutions to serve the needs of the United States under all conditions of peace and war.
  • United States Department of Defense The federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to national security and the military.

Education and research organisations

  • Australian Defence College (ADC) Through its three primary institutions the ADC promotes learning and growth of leaders and managers who have professional interest in national and international defence and security issues
  • Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies (CDSS) Part of the ADC, the centre is responsible for providing Australian and overseas participants with the knowledge and skills required to operate at the strategic level in a complex and modern security environment.
  • Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) Part of the ADC, the academy is a partnership with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) that provides training and education for the future leaders of the Navy, Army and Air Force.
  • Strategic and Defence Studies Centre Part of the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies at the Australian National University. Aims to advance the study of strategic problems, especially those relating to the East Asia and Pacific regions.


For further information about any of these resources please contact the Ask the Library service or ask at the library desk

Coordinated by: ITEE Academic Library Services Team