Vancouver referencing

Author variations

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.

  • If there is no personal author, check to see if an organisation has acted as author. If not, omit the author from the reference and list the title of the item first

Example

Joint replacements should not cost an arm and a leg. The Australian. September 22, 2016;Commentary:13.

  • List all authors in the reference

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

  • List the first three authors in the reference followed by et al (meaning and others)

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

  • List the organisation name in full

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

Title capitalisation

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.

Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs)

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 and news articles

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

  • A DOI is preferable to a URL if one is available
  • For articles published in a supplement, include suppl and the supplement number or letter in brackets directly following the volume or issue and write the page numbers as they appear on the article, e.g. S152-S159

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

  • Some online-only journals use article numbers instead of a page range. Replace the page range with the article number in the reference.

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

  • Advance online publications are articles that have been accepted for publication and made available online, but haven’t yet been included in an issue of the journal (so do not have a volume, issue or page numbers)
  • Before submitting your work, check whether the article has been included in a journal issue and, if it has, update the reference details.

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

  • If referencing a print newspaper omit the Access date and URL
  • If there is no author, omit the author from the reference and list the title of the article first.

Books

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

  • A DOI is preferable to a URL if one is available
  • If referencing a print book, omit access date and URL/DOI
  • For editions other than the first, enter the edition after the title e.g. 8th ed.

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

  • A DOI is preferable to a URL if one is available
  • If referencing a print book, omit access date and URL/DOI
  • For editions other than the first, enter the edition after the title e.g. 8th ed.

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

  • If referencing a print thesis, omit the access date and URL/DOI

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

  • If citing a poster, substitute Poster presented at:

Health resources

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

Websites and social media

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

  • Omit author if not provided on the webpage
  • If there is no date of publication or last update/revision date, omit these from the reference
  • If referring to a book, journal article or report on a website, cite using these formats not as a web page

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

Reports and legislation

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

  • If there is no report number, omit this from the reference
  • If referencing a print report, omit the accessed date and the URL/DOI
  • If the publisher name includes the word Department abbreviate to Dept

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.