Table of Contents
Vancouver is a numbered referencing style, predominantly used in medical fields. It is based on the AMA manual of Style, 11th edition.
This guide is primarily for students completing assignments at Curtin University. If you are publishing (e.g. journal article, PhD), please consult the above publication as the reference examples provided here may differ from the requirements outlined in the official style guide.
A printable Vancouver referencing guide is available on the UniSkills downloads page.
Note on assignment formatting
Please check your unit outline/Blackboard for assignment formatting requirements (such as fonts, headers, spacing, word counts etc.) and assignment cover sheets. PhD and Masters by research students should consult the relevant publication manual for formatting information.
In the Vancouver style, numbers are used to denote in-text citations in your research paper. Numbers are allocated consecutively to each reference as it is cited for the first time in the text of the assignment (i.e. the first citation that appears in-text is number one, the next unique citation that appears in-text is number 2 and so on). This number becomes the unique identifier of that source and if the source is cited again in-text, the same number is repeated. Vancouver uses superscript numbers in-text, e.g. 1-4,10,12
Include citations:
Multiple citations can be inserted at a single point in-text, separated by a comma with no spaces in between, e.g. This issue has been faced by many in the industry.1,2,4,7 When there are three or more consecutive citations, join the first and last in the series with a hyphen, e.g. The condition has been reported in a number of studies.4-7
If citing different pages from a single source at different places in the text, page numbers can be included in the citation and the source listed once in the reference list. Place the page number(s) in brackets directly following the numbered citation. Use p for a single page or pp for multiple pages, e.g. …pain response should be considered.8(p83),9,12(pp3,5)
Please check with your tutor if they require you to provide page numbers for direct quotes.
If mentioning authors in text, only surnames (family names) are used. For a reference with two authors include both surnames, e.g. Avery and Williams1 highlight the importance of this method. For references with three or more authors, list the first author then et al (meaning and others), e.g. Azar et al2 reported on this association.
In Australia falls are one of the main causes of injury-related hospitalisations, with the elderly representing the majority of cases.1 Accidental falls in older persons can have a detrimental effect on their mental wellbeing.2,3 “The psychological aspects, especially fear of falling, loss of confidence and increased anxiety, can be more disabling than the physical ones.”3(p18) It is therefore important that effective programs are implemented to reduce the incidence of falls.4-6
REFERENCES
See a sample journal article in the Vancouver referencing style:
Before using GenAI tools in your assessment, check the unit outline or assessment guidelines, or speak with your unit coordinator to confirm whether GenAI use is permitted.
If you use a GenAI tool, such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Copilot, when completing an assessment, it is recommended to declare your use. Additionally, if you have used GenAI to create content that you include in your work, you must reference this use as a source of information.
Referencing is a standardised way of acknowledging sources such as books, articles, and websites to show that your work is based on credible evidence. GenAI must be cited if used as an information source. This is required in the same way as any other information you include in your work that comes from an external source.
It is important to understand that AI-generated content is considered a non-recoverable source. This means that the content produced is usually not accessible to anyone other than the person who generated it. Unless the GenAI tool provides a shareable link to the chat, other people cannot be directed to the exact location where the content was created. This makes it difficult to verify claims in the same way as traditional sources.
GenAI tools are also not considered scholarly sources at this time. Their responses are created from large training datasets, and the original source of the information is often unknown. For this reason, GenAI outputs should be used with care in academic work.
If the GenAI text discusses theories or specific ideas, you should include additional sources to support them with scholarly research.
If you are allowed to use GenAI in your work, it is good practice to include:
You should follow your Unit Coordinator’s instructions or use the Library’s declaration template to clearly explain how GenAI supported your work. You may also wish to include the prompts you used as a list or by sharing a link to the chat.
This is required if the generated text has been quoted, paraphrased or summarised in your written work.
In-text citation
As there is no entry in the reference list, the details of the tool used should be provided in-text using the following format:
(Communicator, type of communication, Month Day, Year).
In-text example
Fall reduction strategies can only be successful if a multi-faceted approach is adopted, one which addresses both personal and environmental risk factors (ChatGPT, response to question from author, February 22, 2023).
Author variations apply to all reference types (books, journal articles, reports etc.). Author surnames (family names) are followed by their two-letter initials with no space or full stop between the initials, e.g. Smith JA. Commas are used to separate each author’s name, e.g. Khan FM, Gibbons JP.
Example
Joint replacements should not cost an arm and a leg. The Australian. September 22, 2016;Commentary:13.
Example
Laycock A, Bailie R, O’Donoghue L. Primary Health Care and Continuous Quality Improvement: an Evidence-Based Guide. Sydney University Press; 2025. Accessed July 6, 2026. http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/curtin/detail.action?docID=32154198
Example
Smith BM, Kirby M, Hoffman EA, et al. Association of dysanapsis with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among older adults. JAMA. 2020;323(22):2268-2280. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.6918
Example
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australian Bushfires 2019-2020: Exploring the Short-Term Health Impacts. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2020. PHE 276. Accessed November 26, 2020. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/environment-and-health/short-term-health-impacts-2019-20-bushfires/contents/summary
Titles should appear in lower case except for the first letter of the first word, abbreviations, proper names, and names of clinical trials or study groups.
Loganath K, Craig NJ, Everett RJ, et al. Early intervention in patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis and myocardial fibrosis: the EVOLVED randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2025;333(3):213-221. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.22730
Titles of whole works, such as journals and books, should appear in headline style capitalisation, where all significant words start with a capital letter.
Duckett S. The Australian Health Care System. 6th ed. Oxford University Press; 2022.
A Digital Object Identifier (DOI), is a string of numbers, letters and symbols that creates a permanent link to a journal article, book or other online document, e.g. 10.1108/HER-10-2015-0023. In the Vancouver style, DOIs are presented as metadata, not as hyperlinks, e.g. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.6353
Journal titles are abbreviated in the Vancouver style, e.g. New England Journal of Medicine appears as N Engl J Med in the reference list entry. A list of abbreviations is available through PubMed at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/. Click on Journals (under Explore) and enter the full journal title to view its abbreviation. Alternative sources of journal title abbreviations are listed in appendix B of Citing Medicine.
Reference components
Author Surname Author Initials. Title of article: subtitle. Abbreviated Journal Title in Italics. Year;Volume(Issue):Page range. doi:DOI or URL
Reference examples
Brook RD, Rajagopalan S. Improving global air-quality indices — the WHO’s new roadmap. N Engl J Med. 2026;394(24):2390–2392. doi:10.1056/NEJMp2601256
Steinmetz JD, Seeher KM, Schiess N, et al. Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet Neurol. 2024;23(4):344–381. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(24)00038-3
Wilkes B, Whop LJ, Thurber KA, Colonna E, Lovett R. Embedding cultural safety to combat racism against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: advice for healthcare settings. Aust J Gen Pract. 2026;55(3):91–96. https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/embedding-cultural-safety-combat-racism-against/docview/3331137167/se-2?accountid=10382
Tucker M-A, Meyer A, Bitonti M, Supple M, Cain B. Pharmacist optimization of lipid therapy in patients with peripheral vascular disease. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2024;81(suppl 4):S152-S159. doi:10.1093/ajhp/zxae097
Extra tips
Reference components
Author Surname Author Initials. Title of article: subtitle. Abbreviated Journal Title in Italics. Year;Volume(Issue):Article number. doi:DOI or URL
Reference examples
D’Aquino S, Kumar A, Riordan B, Callinan S. Long-term effects of alcohol consumption on anxiety in adults: a systematic review. Addict Behav. 2024;155:108047. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108047
Chomik R, Bates SM, Wright M. Two decades of primary care funding in Australia: a descriptive time-series and distributional analysis. Med J Aust. 2026;224(6):e70210. doi:10.5694/mja2.70210
Extra tip
Reference components
Author Surname Author Initials. Title of article: subtitle. Abbreviated Journal Title in Italics. Published online Month Day, Year. doi:DOI or URL
Reference examples
Li L, Kan F, Su X, Bao D. Association between red cell distribution width and all-cause mortality in patients with congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Acta Cardiol. Published online July 1, 2026. doi:10.1080/00015385.2026.2695318
De Sousa KC, Swanepoel DW. Hearing aids for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. JAMA. Published online May 27, 2026. doi:10.1001/jama.2026.4740
Extra tip
Reference components
Reporter Surname Reporter Initials. Title of article. Full Title of Newspaper in Italics. Month Day, Year of article;Section:page. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL
Reference examples
Titelius R. War not wasted on health. The West Australian. March 31, 2019;Confidential:33.
Careful, medicines can also be poisons. The Australian. August 25, 2020;Commentary:10. Accessed November 6, 2020. https://www-proquest-com/docview/2436658973?accountid=10382
Vaccine is ready to roll. Koori Mail. March 24, 2021:9. Accessed July 12, 2021. https://aiatsis.gov.au/collection/featured-collections/koori-mail
Extra tips
Reference components
Author Surname Author Initials. Title of Book in Italics. # ed. Publisher; Publication Year. Accessed Month Day, Year. doi:DOI or URL
Reference examples
Katsagoni CN, Kokkinos P, Sidossis LS. Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease: Physical Activity, Fitness and Healthy Aging. John Wiley & Sons; 2023. Accessed July 6, 2026. doi:10.1002/978111983347
Whitney E, Rolfes SR, Crowe T. Understanding Nutrition. 5th ed. Cengage Learning Australia; 2022. Accessed July 6, 2026. http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/curtin/detail.action?docID=7120461
Madison K, Horsfall J. Kimberley Bush Medicine: Medicinal Plants of the Kimberley Region of Western Australia. UWA Publishing; 2023.
Extra tips
Reference components
Chapter Author Surname Author Initials. Title of chapter. In: Editor Surname Editor Initials, ed. Title of Book in Italics. # ed. Publisher; Publication Year:Chapter page range. Accessed Month Day, Year. doi:DOI or URL
Reference examples
Riddle M, Taylor WD. Structural changes in the aging brain. In: Etkin A, Hantke N, O’Hara R, eds. Handbook of Mental Health and Aging. 3rd ed. Elsevier; 2020:59-70. Accessed November 6, 2020. http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/curtin/detail.action?docID=6183701
Caballero R, Delpón E, Tamargo J. Drug interactions of antiarrhythmic drugs. In: Martínez-Rubio A, Tamargo J, Dan G.-A, eds. Antiarrhythmic Drugs. 2nd ed. Springer; 2024:311-341. Accessed July 6, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-74046-6
Cain JJ, Clauson KA, Fox BI. Digital communication in healthcare. In: Beardsley R, Skrabal MZ, Kimberlin CL, eds. Communication Skills in Pharmacy Practice: A Practical Guide for Students and Practitioners. 7th ed. Wolters Kluwer; 2020:189-209.
Extra tips
Reference components
Author Surname Author Initials. Title of Thesis in Italics. Dissertation or Master’s thesis. University; Publication Year. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL
Reference examples
Czarniak P. Issues With the Use of Medicines in Paediatrics: Off-label and Unlicensed Use, and Formulation Uncertainty. Dissertation. Curtin University; 2014. Accessed December 6, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/554
Smith C. The Development and Validation of the Breast Lymphoedema Severity Symptom (BLYSS) Questionnaire. Master’s thesis. Curtin University; 2013. Accessed January 16, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/1022
Extra tips
Reference components
Author Surname Author Initials. Title of paper. Paper presented at: Name of Conference; Month Day(s), Year of conference; Place of conference. Accessed Month Day, Year. doi:DOI or URL
Reference example
Fredericks J, Lawrence C. #thisismymob: preserving and promoting Indigenous Australian cultural heritage. Paper presented at: MobileCH 2018; September 3, 2018; Barcelona, Spain. Accessed December 15, 2022. http://ceur-ws/Vol-2176/paper3.pdf
Extra tip
Reference components
Author Surname Author Initials. Title of review. Cochrane Database Syst Rev in Italics. Year;(Issue):Article No. doi:DOI
Reference example
Sanders SL, Agwan S, Hassan M, Bont LJ, Venekamp RP. Immunoglobulin treatment for hospitalised infants and young children with respiratory syncytial virus infection. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023;(10):CD009417. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009417.pub3
Reference components
Author Surname Author Initials or Organisation Name. Title of entry. Name of the Source. Month Day, Year published. Updated Month Day, Year. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL
Reference examples
Amoxicillin. Australian Medicines Handbook. Updated July, 2020. Accessed November 12, 2020. https://amhonline-amh-net-au.eu1.proxy.openathens.net/chapters/anti-infectives/antibacterials/penicillins/amoxicillin
Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Malaria (anitmalarials). Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference. Updated April 19, 2017. Accessed November 12, 2020. https://www.medicinescomplete.com/#/content/martindale/1370-a5-1-b?hspl=malaria
MIMS Australia. Alphamox. MIMS Online. Updated November, 2020. Accessed November 12, 2020. https://www-mimsonline-com-au.eu1.proxy.openathens.net/
Feldweg AM, Kelso JM, TePas E. Exercise-induced anaphylaxis: management and prognosis. UpToDate. Updated January 15, 2020. Accessed November 12, 2020. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/exercise-induced-anaphylaxis-management-and-prognosis
Reference components
Author Surname Author Initials or Organisation Name. Title of the webpage. Name of the website. Month Day, Year published. Updated Month Day, Year. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL
Reference examples
Australian IndigenousHealthInfoNET. Environmental health. Australian IndigenousHealthInfoNET. Accessed July 7, 2026. https://healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/learn/determinants-of-health/environmental-health/
Maddison M, Cassidy T. Type 1 diabetes causes widely misunderstood, sufferers say, with sugar shaming a ‘trigger.’ ABC News. July 17, 2020. Updated October 28, 2020. Accessed January 21, 2021. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-17/fighting-misconceptions-about-type-1-diabetes/12460244
Extra tips
Reference components
Author Surname Author Initials. Title of Video in Italics. Source. Month Day, Year published. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL
Reference examples
Raskopoulos J. Living with High Functioning Anxiety. TEDxSydney. June 16, 2017. Accessed July 12, 2021. https://tedxsydney.com/talk/living-with-high-functioning-anxiety-jordan-raskopoulos/
McCormack J. Viva La Evidence. YouTube. August 22, 2013. Accessed September 24, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUW0Q8tXVUc
Reference components
Author Surname Author Initials. Title of post. Name of Blog in Italics blog. Month Day, Year of post. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL
Reference example
Strakosch C. Regional connectivity: more than an affordable internet connection. Good Things Foundation Australia blog. February 25, 2020. Accessed September 24, 2020. https://www.goodthingsfoundation.org.au/news-and-blogs/blog/regional-connectivity-more-affordable-internet-connection
Reference components
Title of Facebook page. Text of the post. Month Day, Year of post. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL
Reference example
World Health Organization Facebook page. Today is World Alzheimer’s Day. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. There are nearly 10 million new cases of dementia every year - that’s one case every 3 seconds. September 20, 2020. Accessed September 24, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/WHO
Reference components
Twitter username. Text of the post. Month Day, Year of post. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL
Reference example
@WHO. #Rabies immunization should also be considered for children living in, or visiting, remote, high-risk areas. As they play with animals, they may receive more severe bites, or may not report bites. September 23, 2020. Accessed September 24, 2020. https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1308465339467005952
Reference components
Host. Name of Podcast in Italics. Title of episode. Month Day, Year of episode. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL
Reference example
Malcolm L. All in the Mind. Tripping for depression. September 16, 2018. Accessed November 11, 2020. http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/allinthemind/tripping-for-depression/10223006
Reference components
Author Surname Author Initials or Organisation Name. Title of Report in Italics. Publisher Name; Year. Report Number. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL
Reference examples
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Non-Medical Use of Pharmaceuticals: Trends, Harms and Treatment, 2006-07 to 2015-16. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2017. HSE 195. Accessed September 25, 2020. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/illicit-use-of-drugs/non-medical-use-pharmaceuticals/contents/table-of-contents
World Health Organization. The World Health Report 2013: Research for Universal Health Coverage. World Health Organization; 2013. Accessed September 25, 2020. https://www.who.int/whr/2013/report/en/
Australian Bureau of Statistics. Alcohol Consumption. Australian Bureau of Statistics; 2023. Accessed July 7, 2026. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/alcohol-consumption/2022
Extra tips
Reference components
Title of Act Year (Jurisdiction). Accessed Month Day, Year. URL
Reference example
Mental Health Act 2014 (WA). Accessed June 23, 2020. https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes
Reference components
Case Name (Year) volume number Law Report Series starting page.
Reference example
The State of New South Wales v. The Commonwealth (1915) 20 CLR 5.
These instructions for referencing tables and figures are primarily for students completing assignments at Curtin University. They are not intended for those who are publishing their work and making it publicly available (e.g. PhD thesis, journal article, blog, webpage, YouTube video etc.). When publishing and making your work publicly available, written permission to reproduce tables and figures must be obtained from the copyright holder. More information is available from Copyright at Curtin and the AMA manual of style.
See below for examples of tables and figures.
When you are adapting (altering from the original) or reproducing (directly copying) a table or figure from another source in your work.
Table 1. Food Tax and Subsidy Interventions
| Intervention | Tax or subsidy | Sources and assumptions |
|---|---|---|
| Saturated fat tax | $1.37/100 g of saturated fat | Tax on saturated fat content in foods with >2.3% saturated fat, excluding drinking milk |
| Excess salt tax | $0.30/1 g of sodium | Tax on sodium in excess of Australian maximum recommended levels, excluding fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products |
| Sugar-sweetened beverage tax | $0.47/l | Tax on sugar-sweetened soft drinks, energy drink, cordials, and fruit drinks |
| Fruit and vegetable subsidy | $0.14/100 g | Subsidy on all fresh and preserved fruits and vegetables |
| Sugar tax | $0.94/100 ml of ice cream; $0.85/100 g of sugar | Tax on ice cream containing >10 g of sugar per 100 g of ice cream; tax on sugar content in excess of 10 g per 100 g of all other products, excluding fresh fruits, vegetables, and unflavoured dairy products |
All currency amounts are shown in Australian dollars. Adapted under a CC BY 4.0 licence from Cobiac et al.1
Figure 1. Cultural Safety and Responsiveness Training for Staff

Proportion of Indigenous-specific primary health care organisations and maternal/child health services that had cultural orientation for non-Indigenous staff, by state and territory, 2017-18. Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare2 under a CC-BY 3.0 licence.
Note: Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is the acknowledgement required by the licence
Table 2. Australian Workforce Statistics by Health Profession
| Profession | 2013 | 2018 | % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied healtha | 108,680 | 133,388 | 22.7 |
| Dental practitionersb | 17,847 | 20,589 | 15.4 |
| Medical practitioners | 82,408 | 98,395 | 19.4 |
| Nurses and midwives | 295,060 | 333,970 | 13.2 |
Data based on Australian Institute of Health and Welfare3 material under a CC-BY 3.0 licence.
aAllied health professionals include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners, chiropractors, Chinese medicine practitioners, medical radiation practitioners, occupational therapists, optometrists, osteopaths, pharmacists, physiotherapists, podiatrists and psychologists.
bDental practitioners include oral health therapists, dental hygienists, dental therapists, dental prosthestists and dentists.
Note: To save space, tables with more than a few footnotes can also use two columns for the footnotes
Figure 2. Pocket Bottles Filled with Alcohol-Based Hand Rub for Hand Hygiene in ICUs

Reproduced from Shultz et al4 under a CC-BY 4.0 licence.
When creating your own tables and figures from published data (e.g. using data from a report, journal article, book, etc.), a citation and reference list entry is usually sufficient acknowledgement of the source. Depending on how the information is presented, the superscript citation(s) can be included as part of the table or figure, or appear below it. To avoid confusion, superscript citations should not be placed directly after a number in the table or figure, e.g. 216,170 people6 not 216,17066
Table 3. Indigenous Specific Primary Health Care (PHC) Organisations, by Selected States 2016
| State | No. of Indigenous specific organisations5 | Total Indigenous population |
|---|---|---|
| NSW / ACT | 43 (22% of PHC organisations) | 216,170 people6 |
| WA | 26 (13% of PHC organisations) | 75,976 people7 |
When you have created your own table or figure to present your own research or data.
Figure 3. Therapy Dogs Provide Support to Students

Include a reference list entry for each source.
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