australian communitiy services infohub
T&Cs
The Australian Community Services InfoHub (InfoHub) is a private subscription service designed to support the professional information needs of the community services sector. With the dedicated sponsorship of Uniting NSW ACT in a social enterprise arrangement, and the professional skills of the founder Deb Fowler, a qualified information specialist and librarian, the service aims to be a one-stop shop for members to request:• Document delivery and lending services• Literature searches• Reference support using the services and collection online or on-site • Coaching individual or team members to research effectively using databases, Google Scholar, Google and Al research tools, and the Zotero Reference Manager for organising research material • Suites of journal subscriptions, topic alerts, journal table of contents, or professional memberships tailored to the member’s information needs
Who is it for?
Membership is open to individuals over the age of 18 who are working or studying in the community services sector including, but not limited to, sole practitioners and those in community organisations working in
o child, youth and family services o fostering and after care serviceso social welfare managemento couple and family counsellingo aged careo homelessness o disability services including mental health careo early learning and childcare serviceso services for carers
Members’ privileges include access to:
On-demand services via a pay-per-use model* including:o document delivery of physical materials and scanned materials from Uniting’s professional library collection, plus articles from other libraries or online (subject to availability and copyright compliance);o in-depth literature searches on requested topics or issues evaluating information and its sources critically in order to locate relevant material in the catalogue, externally in journal databases or onlineo reference assistance locating specific sources in the collection on a nominated topic – by appointment at the library premises; or virtually (via request form, phone, email, or video conference)o training to develop research skills using academic databases and AIo copyright guidanceo professional development support - setting up memberships to relevant organisations, subscriptions to journal or databases, journal table of contents alerts, news of professional learning events or useful websites, or topic search updates.
Once a request is made for a service or resource, the member may:o receive an invoice for a fixed price service/resourceo be sent a quote, to be accepted or rejectedo be contacted for further details before and an invoice is sent
The member may choose to accept the quote and/or pay the invoice, in order to receive the service or resource. Organisational members may be able to arrange more immediate delivery of services on the condition that the payment of invoice is made within 4 weeks. Members may be able to set up an ongoing Purchase order with the InfoHub. Please refer to:o Serviceso ACSInfoHub Services Rateso Borrowing
Our free services include:o the InfoHub Alert - a regular eNewsletter highlighting relevant news, resources, and events of interest from the community services sector, plus promoting the InfoHub services and resources to keep Members informed; You may unsubscribe at any time.o access to the InfoHub premises by appointment to view the resource collection; scan items of interest within the copyright research and study provisions (one article per journal; one chapter or 10% of a book) and return loans. Books may also be borrowed at a reduced rate.
On-demand services via a pay-per-use model* including:o document delivery of physical materials and scanned materials from Uniting’s professional library collection, plus articles from other libraries or online (subject to availability and copyright compliance);o in-depth literature searches on requested topics or issues evaluating information and its sources critically in order to locate relevant material in the catalogue, externally in journal databases or onlineo reference assistance locating specific sources in the collection on a nominated topic – by appointment at the library premises; or virtually (via request form, phone, email, or video conference)o training to develop research skills using academic databases and AIo copyright guidanceo professional development support - setting up memberships to relevant organisations, subscriptions to journal or databases, journal table of contents alerts, news of professional learning events or useful websites, or topic search updates.
Once a request is made for a service or resource, the member may:o receive an invoice for a fixed price service/resourceo be sent a quote, to be accepted or rejectedo be contacted for further details before and an invoice is sent
The member may choose to accept the quote and/or pay the invoice, in order to receive the service or resource. Organisational members may be able to arrange more immediate delivery of services on the condition that the payment of invoice is made within 4 weeks. Members may be able to set up an ongoing Purchase order with the InfoHub. Please refer to:o Serviceso ACSInfoHub Services Rateso Borrowing
Our free services include:o the InfoHub Alert - a regular eNewsletter highlighting relevant news, resources, and events of interest from the community services sector, plus promoting the InfoHub services and resources to keep Members informed; You may unsubscribe at any time.o access to the InfoHub premises by appointment to view the resource collection; scan items of interest within the copyright research and study provisions (one article per journal; one chapter or 10% of a book) and return loans. Books may also be borrowed at a reduced rate.
organisational membership
If you work in an organisation with over 4 staff who have joined, or wish to join, you may set up an Organisational membership for a admin fee of 50.00 per year. Requests for resources or services can be invoiced monthly (rather than paid by credit card). The process is as follows:An organisational representative will contact the Infohub to arrange membership for staff and to liaise on behalf of them and the organisation
Staff will be registered individually in order to receive services and resources directly
Usage reporting and analytics are available @$25 per report
Membership and services/resources may be paid via credit card, or invoiced monthly v1a a Purchase Order to be arranged w1th ther fnance department
A subscriber agreement may need to be completed
A corporate licence may be arranged via the InfoHub and Copyr1ght Agency if staff w1sh to share articles with their colleagues or clients. For sharng mult1ple cop1es of artcles an educatonal l1cence may be requ1red
Staff may not transfer loans of InfoHub books within their organisation without prior knowledge of the InfoHub
The InfoHub must be informed when staff leave the organisation includng the representative staff liasing wth the InfoHub
If an organisational representative has been set up with InfoHub please complete your details below and the InfoHub will be in touch. If unsure please check the Unsure box above and complete your details below and we will follow up.I’m a paragraph. Drag me to add paragraph to your block, write your own text and edit me.
Staff will be registered individually in order to receive services and resources directly
Usage reporting and analytics are available @$25 per report
Membership and services/resources may be paid via credit card, or invoiced monthly v1a a Purchase Order to be arranged w1th ther fnance department
A subscriber agreement may need to be completed
A corporate licence may be arranged via the InfoHub and Copyr1ght Agency if staff w1sh to share articles with their colleagues or clients. For sharng mult1ple cop1es of artcles an educatonal l1cence may be requ1red
Staff may not transfer loans of InfoHub books within their organisation without prior knowledge of the InfoHub
The InfoHub must be informed when staff leave the organisation includng the representative staff liasing wth the InfoHub
If an organisational representative has been set up with InfoHub please complete your details below and the InfoHub will be in touch. If unsure please check the Unsure box above and complete your details below and we will follow up.I’m a paragraph. Drag me to add paragraph to your block, write your own text and edit me.
The InfoHub provides copyrighted material to members as permitted by the Copyright Act 1968 fair dealing provisions which:
…allows people to use copyrighted material without permission in specific circumstances, provided the use meets certain criteria as follows:1. Research or StudyYou can use copyrighted works for the purpose of research or study. However, this use must be reasonable, and the amount of the work used should not be excessive. For example, quoting a passage from a book in a research paper is usually acceptable, but using entire chapters or large portions of a work without adding original analysis could be seen as an infringement.
2. Criticism or Review
Fair dealing also allows the use of copyrighted material for the purpose of criticism or review. This includes situations where copyrighted works are used to comment upon, analyse, or critique a work. For instance, quoting lyrics from a song in a music review or showing clips from a movie in a film critique would generally fall under fair dealing, provided it meets the requirements of being for criticism or review and not for commercial gain…
What Fair Dealing Is NotWhile fair dealing provides certain exceptions to copyright protection, it is not an unlimited right. Some common scenarios where fair dealing does not apply include:• Using an Entire Work: Reproducing an entire copyrighted book, song, or movie is unlikely to qualify as fair dealing unless the work is used for the specific purpose of criticism, review, or parody.• Commercial Use: If the purpose of the use is to directly benefit financially (e.g., using a copyrighted song in an advertisement), it is less likely to be considered fair dealing.• Unreasonable Use: Even if the use is for one of the acceptable purposes, it may not qualify as fair if the amount used is excessive or the impact on the market is significant."
(Litton Legal, 2026)
Services and resources are provided directly to registered members, on the understanding that they will abide by copyright law and will not share or duplicate resources without express permission from either the author/publisher, or as permitted by a corporate copyright licence* (see under Special Projects). The InfoHub can investigate and arrange copyright permission OR a corporate copyright licence on behalf of the organisational member. See Rates.
For further information relating to fair dealing and Australian copyright law please see Australian Copyright Council’s Fair Dealing: What Can I Use? which…outlines the fair dealing exceptions in the Copyright Act [1968 (Cth)] and how they apply. (Australian Copyright Council, https://www.copyright.org.au/browse/book/ACC-Fair-Dealing:-What-Can-I-Use-Without-Permission-INFO079 Accessed 20/04/2026)
The InfoHub provides content and material in response to members’ requests, in the InfoHub Alert, and on its website, for information purposes only. We make every effort to ensure the content is accurate and up to date, but make no claim as to its accuracy, currency or reliability.
Content and material provided may include the opinions and recommendations of third parties. Such material does not necessarily reflect the views of the InfoHub or indicate a commitment by it to a particular course of action.
Except to the extent required by law, we are not responsible or liable to any person for:o the information or advice which is provided in response to a member’s request; in the InfoHub Alert; or on this website; or incorporated into them by referenceo any loss or damage you incur as a result of using information provided by the infoHub, or as a result of using any information and material contained on this websiteo any material or contributions made to this website, in the InfoHub Alert, or in response to members’ requests for information, by third parties Your responsibilities and riskWe provide information (on this website, in response to members’ requests, or in the InfoHub Alert) on the basis that you are responsible for assessing the relevance and accuracy of its content. By accessing this information, you assume all risks associated with the use it.
Our links to external websites Any links to third party sites listed on InfoHub material (the website, InfoHub Alert or in research results), including those operated by other government bodies, non-government organisations and individuals, are not under our control.Each link is provided for your information only. We are not:o endorsing the products, services or information available via any linked siteo making any representation or warranty about the products, services or information available via any linked siteo endorsing or making any representation or warranty about the owner or operator of any linked site
Content and material provided may include the opinions and recommendations of third parties. Such material does not necessarily reflect the views of the InfoHub or indicate a commitment by it to a particular course of action.
Except to the extent required by law, we are not responsible or liable to any person for:o the information or advice which is provided in response to a member’s request; in the InfoHub Alert; or on this website; or incorporated into them by referenceo any loss or damage you incur as a result of using information provided by the infoHub, or as a result of using any information and material contained on this websiteo any material or contributions made to this website, in the InfoHub Alert, or in response to members’ requests for information, by third parties Your responsibilities and riskWe provide information (on this website, in response to members’ requests, or in the InfoHub Alert) on the basis that you are responsible for assessing the relevance and accuracy of its content. By accessing this information, you assume all risks associated with the use it.
Our links to external websites Any links to third party sites listed on InfoHub material (the website, InfoHub Alert or in research results), including those operated by other government bodies, non-government organisations and individuals, are not under our control.Each link is provided for your information only. We are not:o endorsing the products, services or information available via any linked siteo making any representation or warranty about the products, services or information available via any linked siteo endorsing or making any representation or warranty about the owner or operator of any linked site
Members must adhere to the InfoHub’s code of conduct and the InfoHub’s Terms and Conditions, which includes respectful behaviour towards staff and other patrons, and the proper use of library resources and services.
• Members are responsible for the care of borrowed items or those used on the InfoHub’s site. • Fees for damaged or lost items are based on the replacement cost of the item + admin fee ($25).• Items are deemed LOST once they are overdue by 2 weeks and the member will be invoiced for the cost + admin fee to replace the item. • Membership is blocked until the matter is resolved.
Members’ information will be kept secure and confidential and will not be shared with third parties, except as required by law or for postal purposes.• The platform used for marketing uses encrypted storage, restricted internal access, regular backups, and continuous monitoring of systems [Systeme.io]• Members’ financial transactions, contact details and requests for information or services are kept secure via our financial software [Zoho.com]
The library reserves the right to terminate membership for violations of the terms and conditions. No refund will be provided for terminated memberships. Members are able to terminate their membership, but without a refund unless as agreed by the InfoHub.
The InfoHub reserves the right to change these terms and conditions at any time. Members will be notified of any changes.
It is deemed that, once the membership form has been completed and membership fees have been paid, the member has accepted and will abide by the above terms and conditions.