Social Work Library Guide
Sociology Source Ultimate (EBSCO)
Sociology Source Ultimate provides access to full-text sociology journals, including the highest number of peer-reviewed journals among all sociology research databases.
It is a comprehensive full-text database for allied health and nursing research. It offers full-text access to a substantial portion of the most frequently cited journals in the CINAHL index, surpassing other databases.
DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals)
DOAJ is an extensive index of diverse open access journals from around the world, driven by a growing community, and is committed to ensuring quality content is freely available online for everyone.
SAGE Open is an open access publication from Sage. It publishes peer-reviewed, original research and review articles in an open access format. Articles may span the full spectrum of the social and behavioural sciences and the humanities.
This database includes journal titles published by Sage and participating societies. Covering such subjects as public health, clinical medicine, nursing, psychology, biomedical sciences, social work, sociology, aging and gerontology.
Sage Research Methods is a comprehensive online resource for research methods, particularly within the social and behavioral sciences. It provides access to a vast collection of books, journal articles, and reference materials related to research methodologies, including both quantitative and qualitative approaches.
Informit – Australian Public Affairs Full Text (APAFT)
Explore diverse perspectives on Australia’s political, economic and social affairs with Informit’s Australian Public Affairs Full Text (APAFT) Collection.
Informit – Families & Society Collection
Families and Societies Collection contains evidence-based information and resources spanning child development, parenting and family dynamics.
Supporting the professional practice of evidence-based treatment, this collection features comprehensive coverage of key disciplines across all aspects relevant to nursing, general, specialist and allied health.
Informit – Humanities & Social Sciences Collection
Features unique and specialised content sourced from Australian and international publishers. Expand your knowledge as you access the latest academic, authoritative and most trustworthy information specific to your search.
Informit – Indigenous Collection
Offering broad scope for critical international engagement and debate surrounding Indigenous culture, health, human geography and other important aspects, this inter-disciplinary platform gives definitive voice to Indigenous communities in Australia, New Zealand and beyond.
An expansive educational video library that immerses users in the social sciences through real-world scenarios with top experts.
MEDLINE Ultimate is the largest full-text companion to the MEDLINE index, designed for medical professionals and researchers. However, it can provide social workers with access to high-quality research on mental health, public health, and social determinants of health, all central to social work practice.
PubMed can be helpful for health-related social work. PubMed covers a vast range of peer-reviewed journals in medicine, nursing, psychology, psychiatry, public health, and behavioural sciences. These areas strongly overlap with social work practice (e.g., mental health, substance use, family violence, disability, aged care, health policy). Many interventions in social work (motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, chronic illness management, child protection in health settings) are evaluated in health journals indexed in PubMed.
The JBI EBP Database is very useful for social work where practice intersects with health, wellbeing, and care, and it can valuable for systematic reviews, evidence synthesis, and practice guidelines. However, it should be supplemented by social science/social work–focused databases for areas outside health and care contexts.
Collection of Cochrane databases containing high-quality reviews of research into human health to help people make informed choices about health.
Google Scholar provides a simple way to broadly search for scholarly resources, including journal articles, conference papers, theses, books, preprints, abstracts, and technical reports. However, not all content is freely available in full text, as access often depends on subscriptions or institutional login.
Online academic journals provide social workers with extensive access to peer-reviewed research literature. They are a valuable tool for staying informed about new developments, best practices, and emerging issues in social work and allied fields.
- American Journal of Family Therapy
- American Journal of Sexuality Education
- Attachment & Human Development
- Child Abuse & Neglect
- Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal
- Child & Family Behavior Therapy
- Child and Youth Care Forum: Journal of Research and Practice in Children’s Services
- Child & Youth Services
- Child Maltreatment – Journal of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children
- Child Psychiatry and Human Development
- Child and Youth Services
- Child Welfare
- Contemporary Family Therapy
- Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services
- Family Process
- Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies
- Journal of Child and Adolescent Group Therapy
- Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse
- Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma
- Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
- Journal of Child Sexual Abuse
- Journal of Children and Poverty
- Journal of Divorce & Remarriage
- Journal of Family Issues
- Journal of Family Psychology
- Journal of Family Psychotherapy
- Journal of Family Social Work
- Journal of Family Violence
- Journal of Feminist Family Therapy
- Journal of Marriage & the Family
- Journal of Pediatric Psychology
- Journal of Public Child Welfare
- Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy
- Journal of Sexual Aggression
- Journal of Youth and Adolescence
- Journal of Youth Studies
- Marriage & Family Review
- Merrill-Palmer Quarterly: Journal of Developmental Psychology
- Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics
- Residential Treatment for Children and Youth
- Social Work Forum
- American Journal of Sexuality Education
- Arete
- British Journal of Social Work
- Children & Schools: A Journal of Social Work Practice
- Journal of Applied School Psychology
- Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work
- Journal of Lesbian Studies
- Journal of Teaching and Learning
- Journal of Social Work Education
- Journal of Teaching in Social Work
- The New Social Worker: The Magazine for Social Work Professional Development Students and Recent Graduates
- School Social Work Journal
- Social Work Education: The International Journal
- Activities, adaptation, & aging
- Aging and Mental Health
- American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias
- Clinical Gerontologist
- Dementia: International Journal of Social Research & Practice
- Gerontologist
- International Journal of Aging and Human Development
- Journal of Aging & Social Policy
- Journal of Aging Studies
- Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work
- Journal of Nutrition for the Elderly
- Journal of Women and Aging
- Omega: Journal of Death and Dying
- Physical & Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics
- Psychology and Aging
This list is provided for your reference. Not all journals are accessible through the IHM library, but it will give you an overview of the literature published in specific fields of social work.
APA Style and Grammar Guidelines
The style and grammar guidelines pages present information about APA Style as described in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
Excelsior OWL Citation Style Guides
The Excelsior OWL (“Online Writing Lab”) is a comprehensive online resource offering detailed guidance on academic writing formats and citation practices. It includes instructional videos, interactive checklists, and visual examples across major documentation styles such as APA, MLA, and Chicago, covering everything from in-text citations to final reference lists.
Studiosity is an ethically designed, AI‑enhanced study support platform that provides students, via their institution, with real-time, formative feedback on writing, assignments, and academic questions, backed by human oversight and academic integrity safeguards. It also offers peer mentoring, retention-focused analytics, and seamless integration with institutional support systems to enhance student success and engagement.
Disclaimer: available through IHM log in only
EndNote 2025 is the latest version of the EndNote reference management software, available to IHM students and staff. This advanced tool now features AI-powered capabilities, including AI Key Takeaways for generating concise research summaries and a Find a Journal tool that automatically recommends relevant journals for your academic work.
For assistance with EndNote installation, please Ask a librarian
Academic integrity means being honest and fair in your study. It’s doing your own work, giving credit when you use other people’s ideas, and following the rules for every task. In practice, it looks like writing in your own words, citing sources correctly (e.g., APA 7th), checking facts, and asking for help when you’re unsure.
Why it matters: it protects the value of your qualification, helps you actually learn the skills you need, and builds trust in you as a future professional.
Generative AI is now part of university life and professional practice, and the same academic integrity principles apply. When your unit permits it, you may use AI to spark ideas, plan your study, or clarify complex topics. You remain responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of everything you submit.
For further support, the resources below may be helpful.
IHM Academic Honesty and Integrity Policy and Procedure
The IHM Academic Honesty and Integrity Policy and the accompanying Procedure on the IHM Policies & Procedures webpage set expectations for students and staff, define misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, collusion), outline roles and reporting/investigation processes, and explain outcomes, appeals, and related policies.
IHM Academic Integrity Resources
IHM’s Academic Integrity library page explains what academic integrity means at IHM, why it matters, common breaches (e.g., plagiarism), and the tools and supports available, such as Turnitin and library guidance, to help students uphold honest, fair, and responsible scholarship.
TEQSA: Understanding academic integrity
TEQSA’s “Understanding academic integrity” explains what academic integrity is, the forms and risks of cheating, how to avoid and report illegal cheating services, and points students to practical resources and FAQs.
TEQSA: Artificial intelligence (advice for students)
This page informs students about generative AI (such as ChatGPT) and academic integrity standards.
Additional assistance can be obtained through the IHM Library or Student Support teams.
The IHM Library provides students and staff with access to books, eBooks, journals, eJournals, audio-visual materials, and other scholarly resources through its digital and print collections. It also offers support services, including referencing guidance, academic integrity policies, and tools such as EndNote and Grammarly to help users manage their research and writing.
Primo provides simple, one-stop searching for books and e-books, videos, articles, digital media, and more.
Students are welcome to borrow core textbooks for a period of up to 5 days. Please complete the form to submit your request for the titles you wish to borrow.
Our Librarian is available to provide personalised support sessions to help you make the most of the Library’s resources. You can book a session to learn how to search effectively in the Library catalogue and databases, receive guidance on installing and using EndNote for referencing, or get assistance with borrowing books and accessing other library services.
For an individual consultation, Ask a librarian