Weekly outline

  • General

    • Welcome

      • Welcome to Study and Research Support for Health & Community students. On this site you will find guides, tools and resources to build the skills and knowledge in library research needed to successfully complete assessment tasks at university. Many of these core skills will also serve you well throughout your career.

        Scroll down the page, or navigate to individual sections using the menu. If you have questions, or require further support, please contact us.

    • Acknowledgement of first peoples

      • USQ acknowledges the Giabal and Jarowair peoples of the Toowoomba area, the Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul peoples of Ipswich and Springfield, the Kambuwal peoples of Stanthorpe and the Gadigal peoples of the Eora nation, Sydney as the keepers of ancient knowledge where USQ campuses and hubs have been built and whose cultures and customs continue to nurture this land. USQ also pays respect to Elders – past, present and future (USQ, 2017).

    • Finding Information

      • Throughout your university study, and your professional career, you will need to find, assess, select, and use information. This section offers an introduction to effective ways to search, and offers advice on the best resources to use for your assignments. 

      • What is information literacy? Page

        Simply stated, information literacy is the act of finding, assessing, and using information strategically and critically.

      • Why is information quality important for health and allied health professionals? Page

        Health and allied health professionals make decisions that directly impact upon the health and wellbeing of others. In your profession you will need to ensure that your decisions are based on the best available evidence. 

      • What types of information should I use in my study? Page

        You will need to use a variety of information for your assignments throughout the course of your degree. Different types of evidence can be used to respond to different questions or problems. 

      • The internet and university study Page

        While much of the content on the internet is inappropriate to use in your scholarly and professional lives, there is specific information that you will need to source from the web.

      • Key databases for health and communities Page

        Databases are collections of resources grouped by information type or subject area. Here are a few key databases that may be useful to get started in your health and communities study and research.

      • Strategies for searching effectively Page

        Do you find yourself spending hours going through search results to find the actual information you are looking for? A search strategy targets your search so your results are more relevant, and less numerous.

      • REVIEW your research URL

        What is good information? This tutorial offers some guidance on how to evaluate the quality of the information you have found for your assignments.

      • Visit the USQ Library URL

        Start searching, or explore other support available through USQ Library.

      • Finding more help URL

        Need further help? Contact USQ Library in person or online. 

    • Assessment & Study Skills

      • Getting started with study Page

        We introduce some core study skills in this section, such as time management, and important contacts in other areas of the university. 

      • Group work Page

        Group work can be challenging in some situations, but there are ways to make sure it goes as smoothly as possible. 

      • Academic writing Page

        University is an excellent opportunity to develop the writing skills that will be essential to your future careers. 

      • Reading and Note-taking Page

        In your courses you will have to read unfamiliar and at times difficult text.



      • Exam preparation Page

        In this section we provide some tips and advice on revising and preparing for exams. 

    • Mathematics

    • Referencing

      • Referencing is giving credit where credit is due. When you reference, you acknowledge the work of others and their contribution to the development of your ideas.

        Referencing is required in all university study.

        Most health and communities courses require the APA referencing style. Check with your course examiner if you are unsure. 

        APA 7:  In-text citations

        APA 7: The reference list

      • USQ referencing guides URL

        Select from APA 6, APA 7, or Harvard AGPS styles. Please consult your StudyDesks, course materials, and course examiners for advice on which of the APA styles you are to use.

      • Courses on referencing can also be found on the Library Events Calendar

    • Specialist Resources

      • As a health or allied health professional, you will need to be able to find, access and use specialist resources. This section offers links and guides for finding these resources for your study. 

      • Medications Page

        Medications databases provide practical and current information on medications, including administration and dosage.

      • Statistics Page

        Correctly interpreted statistics provide context for your research.

      • Government Reports Page

        Government reports are published by government departments, institutes, and agencies. These reports provide information about the policies and activities of the reporting body.

      • News and Current Affairs Page

        Keeping up to date with news and current affairs in your field is important. You may also need to access news sources for research or assignments.

    • Postgraduate Support

      • Honours and higher degree research students require more advanced research skills to complete literature reviews and research projects. This section will take you through the research process and offer guides, tutorials and resources to help you conduct in depth research.  

      • HDR Library and Information Tutorial URL

        USQ Staff and Students only. Log-in required.

        This is designed to introduce you to the advanced learning, information retrieval, and management skills required to undertake a Higher Degree by Research. 

        This MUST be completed prior to Confirmation of Candidature.

      • Literature review Page

        A literature review is a comprehensive assessment and documentation of the literature related to your area of research or your problem.

      • Key databases for postgraduate research Page

        Here are a few key databases that may be useful to get started in your postgraduate research (USQ Log-in required). 

      • Finding the full text Page

        Can't find a complete copy of the article? Here are some tips for accessing the full text of books and articles. 

      • Reference or Citation Management software - EndNote URL

        Endnote is a bibliographic management software provided by the university. It allows you to create, search, sort and annotate a personal library of research. Using Endnote you can insert properly formatted citations directly into the text or reference list of your document in Word. 

      • Statistical Consulting Unit URL

        USQ's Statistical Consulting Unit (SCU) offers workshops and consultations on research design, data collection, analysis and interpretation. This service is available to postgraduate research students at USQ via self-enrolment.

      • Office of Research URL

        This is where you will find official forms and guides to completing your HDR program. It also produces ReDTrain, a series of initiatives and events to help you develop your skills and knowledge.

      • USQ Higher Degree By Research Student Zone (Log-in Required) URL

        This community offers a good space to connect with other USQ research students for advice and support. This is a closed facebook group for USQ research students. You will need to request access to join. 

    • Contact Us

      • Online Study Support Sessions

        Each week the Learning Advisor and Librarian provide a brief online lesson on a useful topic for study. There is time to discuss the topic and for you to ask any library or study-related questions.
        See the Library Events Calendar for details.

      • Appointments

        Book a video (Zoom), phone, or email appointment with a Learning Advisor, Maths Learning Advisor or Librarian.

      • Meet-Up

        Meet-up is a student peer support program where you can discuss your questions and concerns with other students. This may be available in your course, or join (USQ Login required) the online Meet-Up Student Community.