(4 Mar 2026) Research integrity in Australia may be at risk, the Australian Research Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council have warned. The ARC and the NHMRC announced a joint national review of the research integrity system on 23 February, saying there is a “lack of consistent, sector-wide data on research integrity…
(Feb 2026) Join the National Library of Australia on the last Sunday of each month for a paw-sitive reading experience with the Story Dogs program. Trained volunteers and their accredited dogs create a nurturing environment where children can enjoy a range of stories in a relaxed environment. This unique program aims to make reading fun,…
(3 Feb 2026) The Australian Government has announced a new Open Science Policy designed to improve access to publicly funded health and medical research and strengthen collaboration across the research sector. The policy has been introduced by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and jointly developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and…
(27 Nov 2025) State Library of Victoria staff have accused management of undermining the 171-year-old institution’s core purposes in favour of flashy tourist-oriented “digital vanity projects” in a proposed restructure. Under the plan, 39 jobs would be lost and the public-facing workforce of reference librarians would be cut from 25 staff to 10, while many publicly accessible…
(20 Nov 2025) On October 17, 2025, COAR and Open Access Australasia co-hosted a meeting on shared repository infrastructure, moderated by Martin Borchert and Kathleen Shearer. The discussion focused on the evolving repository landscape in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand and the growing international movement toward shared platforms. As in many other countries, institutions in the region…
(1 Nov 2025) Charles Darwin University has designed an engaging OA card game called “Knowledge Keepers” to coincide with OA Week 2025. The game helps players navigate challenges around Open Access, teaching key concepts in a fun, interactive way while encouraging the sharing and protection of knowledge. It’s a great tool to raise awareness about…
(10 Sept 2025) A koala walks into a library. No, it’s not the beginning of a disappointing dad joke. Although our furry friend was probably livid that they’d turned all its beloved trees into books, it still decided to pay a visit. The special guest made its surprise appearance at the Campbelltown Public Library last…
(11 Aug 2025) In the presence of a tightly rolled, yellowed scroll in the State Library of Victoria, it is hard not to feel a bit awe-struck. Inside a glass cabinet in the centre of the library sits the oldest known mass-printed text in the world, the Hyakumantō Darani. The finger-length item is a…
(Jul 2025) The Australian Research Council (ARC) has announced important updates on its approach to research evaluation and the launch of its Persistent Identifier (PID) Action Plan. The ARC welcomes feedback from the research community and stakeholders to help shape and refine these important initiatives. Highlights include: The ARC’s Research Insights Capability will deepen…
(25 Jul 2025) Universities in Australia and New Zealand are uniting in a cross-sector initiative to negotiate open access publishing agreements with major academic publishers. Spearheaded by the Council of Australasian University Librarians (CAUL), Universities Australia, and Universities New Zealand – Te Pōkai Tara, the joint effort aims to secure more sustainable and transparent deals starting January…