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Human services



Starting point for Human services

Starting point contains definitions, facts, figures and overviews

Key online dictionaries, encyclopedias and handbooks

Encyclopedia of health and behaviourIncludes over 200 entries on topics covering all aspects of health and behaviour. In addition, the Encyclopedia of Health and Behaviour includes a comprehensive set of additional resources with both entries on selected organizations and an appendix.
Encyclopedia of sociologyThis classic reference has been updated to reflect many changes in society and in the field of sociology in recent years. Articles covering core issues such as race, poverty, violence, economics, pregnancy and abortion have been updated and expanded.
International encyclopedia of the social & behavioural sciencesThis Encyclopedia is the first attempt in a generation to map the social and behavioural sciences on a grand scale. Includes works on Community psychology and Community studies.

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 Human services

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

Key databases for Human services

Databases Notes Help
AGIS plus textBibliographic database from the Attorney-General's Information Service that indexes and abstracts articles from published material on all aspects of law. Source documents include over 120 Australian, New Zealand and Asia Pacific law journals and selected articles from major law journals from U.S., Canada and U.K. Subject coverage includes all aspects of law.Indexed help available from database home page and search screen.
APAFT -Australian public affairs full textHealth, current affairs, economics, humanities, law, politics and social sciences.Indexed help available from database home page and search screen.
MAIS multicultural Australia and immigration studiesBibliographic database that indexes and abstracts a wide range of media from published and unpublished material on Australian immigration and multicultural issues. Subject coverage includes immigration, emigration, multiculturalism, ethnicity, racism, migrant health, social access and equity, social services, refugees, population studies, and aboriginal studies.Indexed help available from database home page and search screen.
CSA Sociological abstractsCSA Sociological Abstracts and indexes the international literature in sociology and related disciplines in the social and behavioural sciences. User guide available from access screen. Training and support available from the database search page. Includes searchable index and online tutorials.
Social services abstractsCSA Social Services Abstracts provides bibliographic coverage of current research focused on social work, human services, and related areas, including social welfare, social policy, and community developmentTraining and support available from the database search page. Includes searchable index and online tutorials.

Complete list of Human services 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 Human services

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

Government information

  • Department of Human Services The Human Services Portfolio is about people and the services we may need at different stages of our lives. Together the Portfolio Department and the Portfolio agencies work to improve government social and health-related services to all Australians.
  • Department of Health and Ageing It contains essential health and ageing information. The website will be progressively expanded with information on the new government’s policies, programs and priorities for the health and ageing portfolio.


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

Coordinated by: EASS Academic Library Services Team