This course provides a comprehensive guide to peer reviewing search strategies, essential for improving the quality and accuracy of research findings across multiple disciplines. Participants will gain valuable skills in evaluating and optimizing search methodologies, contributing to more robust and credible research outcomes.
The course will cover key topics and learning objectives, which include:
Understanding the purpose of the peer review process.
Learning about peer review guidelines: the PRESS checklist.
Identifying common pitfalls and challenges in search strategy structure.
Learning how to check the search terms within search strategies.
Learning how to check the search syntax within search strategies.
Understanding the best use of limiting options within search strategies.
Critiquing the use of search filters within search strategies.
Learning how to check translations of search strategies (across databases and interfaces).
Learning about the practicalities of peer review: time taken, approach, writeup, keeping up to date.
An official Instats certificate of completion is provided at the conclusion of all seminars. For European students, our seminars offer ECTS Equivalent points, which is indicated on the certificate of completion that is provided at the conclusion of each seminar (see the Instats FAQ for details).
The fee for the course (over 2 half-days) is 351 AUD (i.e. 180 GBP, 208 EUR, 236 USD or 1,729 CNY).
There are reductions on the above prices for students and also for those who are based at partner institutions to Instats – see link above.
Course presenters:
Julie Glanville, Independent Consultant in Information Retrieval, Glanville.Info
Carol Lefebvre, Independent Information Consultant, Lefebvre Associates Ltd.
For further details, including the course descriptions, and to register, please see the link above.
Recordings and materials (including slides) will be available online, to those registered for the course, for 30 days after the course, in case you would prefer to attend asynchronously, or you would like to go back and revisit the course content after the course concludes. An online seminar chat forum will also be monitored by us for 30 days after the seminar concludes, so that you can ask questions related to seminar content outside of the live seminar sessions.
Please feel free to contact us for further details about this course, or to discuss tailor-made options for your workplace.
Innovation, Transition, & Growth: Thriving in a Shifting Health Ecosystem
Health libraries and librarians are continuously adapting to an evolving landscape of healthcare, technology, and information management. How can we embrace change, drive innovation and support our clients and our own wellbeing?
The Lakeside Hotel and conference centre is 10 minutes’ walk from Macquarie Centre. Sydney Olympic Park is a 20-minute drive, and Sydney International Airport is a 35-minute drive away. Free on-site parking, free Wi-Fi and restaurant.
Adjacent to Macquarie University Hospital and Macquarie University and Macquarie Shopping Centre with 120 spacious rooms with private kitchenette, free Wi-Fi and restaurant.
The modern air-conditioned suites boast a well-equipped kitchenette or kitchen where you can enjoy preparing a fresh home-cooked meal. Each suite has a spacious seating area with a flat-screen TV, internal laundry and free Wi-Fi.
Corner Epping Road and Herring Road, Marsfield, NSW
Nightcap at the Ranch Hotel offers 15 comfortable and affordable 3.5-star guest rooms with free Wi-Fi. Nightcap at the Ranch Hotel features a bistro and two bars.
The location of the hotel makes it ideal for servicing businesses and residents in North Ryde and Macquarie Park with 192 rooms. Free Wi-Fi, Free Express Start™ Breakfast or a Grab & Go option.
Sophie Scott OAM | Adjunct Professor The University of Sydney Sydney School of Public Health | Prevention Research Collaboration Faculty of Medicine and Health Keynote Speaker & Mental Wellbeing & Neuroscience Authority
SOPHIE SCOTT OAM is an international speaker, award-winning broadcast journalist, educator, Associate Professor Author, TedX speaker and was named a TopVoice on LinkedIn. Sophie understands public health and how to communicate it effectively. She has been a leading voice on Australian TV, radio and online in health and science for more than 2 decades. She’s won numerous awards for her ground-breaking health journalism and has a strong reputation for integrity and balance. She was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (an award instigated by Queen Elizabeth ll) for services to Australian broadcasting and community health. Her professional expertise is health journalism, patient safety investigations and advocacy for health prevention. She was awarded an Australian Museum Eureka Award for excellence in medical reporting in 2004. She is a skilful communicator, with a strong history as a keynote speaker at leading medical conferences, a TEDx speaker and now presentation coach for health and science experts. Sophie has degrees in history, a Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology and has written 3 science-based health books.
Dr. Susan McLaine | Creative Director of Bibliotherapy Australia
Dr. Susan McLaine is a leading advocate and practitioner of bibliotherapy, which uses literature and storytelling to promote wellbeing. For nearly 20 years, she has researched, delivered, written, and spoken about bibliotherapy both in Australia and internationally. Dr. McLaine has offered bibliotherapy in a facilitated, self-reflective format for both adults and children through programs at St Vincents Health Australia, the State Library Victoria, BUPA, and Vision Australia. Her innovative podcasts have been described by The Guardian as “the closest thing to a hug.” Additionally, she travels across the country and offers online training for professionals and non-professionals looking to enhance their wellbeing practices.
In response to student and staff needs, librarians at Federation University created an Open Education Resource to introduce a complex topic in an easy to understand, step by step way. This lunchtime session will describe the process of creating the resource from inception to publication, and demonstrate the content, features and interactive elements of the resource.
Presenters
Erin Roga
Karen Pruis
Erin Roga has a Masters of Information Management from the University of South Australia. Her minor thesis explored the impact of digital skills classes for first year nursing students. In 2022, she attended the Australian Evidence Based Practice Librarians’ Institute. Erin is a liaison librarian for the Institute of Health and Wellbeing at Federation University Australia, and supports students and academics in their teaching, learning and research, with a focus on training for conducting systematic and scoping reviews. She is interested in promoting the need for rigourous methodology and reporting of reviews. In her spare time, she loves to potter in her vegetable patch and hang out with her chicken friends, and is now learning to keep bees and cultivate mushrooms.
Dr. Karen Pruis obtained her PhD from Federation University Australia, and her qualitative thesis explored the lived experience of Chinese international students communicating in English while studying abroad. In 2023, she attended the Australian Evidence Based Practice Librarians’ Institute. Karen is a liaison librarian with the Institute of Health and Wellbeing at Federation University Australia with extensive experience in supporting students and researchers with evidenced-based literature searching. She loves to teach them how to construct a replicable search strategy for scoping and systematic reviews. Finally, Karen has two poodles named CoCo and Margaux who are her best friends and give her a lot of joy.
🕚 When
Tuesday, 27 May 2025
1.00pm – 2.00pm (Vic, NSW, Tas, ACT, QLD),
12:30pm – 1:30pm (SA, NT),
11am – 12:00pm (WA),
3pm – 4pm (NZ)
🌏 Where
Online webinar Zoom – a link will be sent the day prior.
💰 Cost
ALIA Members – FREE (One of 14 benefits of HLA ALIA membership) Non-Members – $22
Thanks to Mr Darcy (Stephenson) (Austin Monash Health Library) for compiling the list
If you find any useful courses / events that are not on the list, send Darcy an email
Somewhat similarly, if there is an professional development area that you think is a bit neglected, send an email to Angela Smith for consideration as an HLA event so we can all improve our skills
Brisbane: Monday June 16, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Bank, Brisbane Melbourne: Wednesday June 18, The Events Centre, Collins Square, Melbourne CBD Adelaide: Friday June 20, Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide CBD
The upcoming CAUL Exhibition Event, is an invaluable opportunity for library staff, particularly those with an interest in acquisitions, collections, and procurement.
Building on the success of previous years, this event offers a fantastic chance to connect with up to 35 key exhibitors, network with fellow library professionals, and stay updated on the latest trends and innovations in the library sector.
The event will be hosted in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Adelaide in June this year. Best of all, it’s completely free for library staff from all sectors, not just higher education. We would love to see library staff from public, school, TAFE, special, government, 👉 health, law, and corporate libraries.
I encourage you to register and join us for this exciting and informative event.
