Skip to Main Content

Education: Referencing in APA 7th Style

Referencing at ECU

Referencing is important in academia. It helps you -

  • Acknowledge your sources and avoid plagiarism 
  • Advance research scholarship
  • Write with credibility
  • Demonstrate depth of research 

When developing references always cross-check it in the Referencing Library Guide before you submit the assignment. This guide provides APA 7th styled examples and general formatting advice. Citation generators and reference management tools can produce errors, so it is essential to have an understanding of referencing rules. You may need to correct missing information (such as DOIs), italicise titles or, ensure correct capitalisation.

Where can I go for more help?

The library runs APA 7th Referencing workshops throughout semester. Visit Library Essentials: Library Workshops & Events to find out more. You can also email library@ecu.edu.au with your query or book an appointment with a Librarian. 

Reference Tools

Reference management systems and generators are tools designed to support your research by storing and managing resources and their citations. They can help you: 

  • Centralise relevant resources to a 'library'
  • Import bibliographic references from databases and journals
  • Assist with citation generation*

*Reference management tools and generators can be very helpful in saving time, but they aren't perfect. They can still make mistakes, so it is crucial to know your referencing style well and manually verify any generated references. 

Do not use generative AI for finding or creating references, as it can produce inaccurate or fabricated references. Doing so may breach academic integrity. For more information read Matthew Hillier's article on TECHE blog; Why does ChatGPT generate fake references? 

Education Reference Examples

This guide includes examples of citations that are specific to Education. However, it is important to note that you will still need to use the Referencing Guide to help you cite books, journal articles, webpages, and other sources.

For referencing variations in your classes, please contact your lecturer. Please note, this is particularly important in the Early Childhood stream.

In Early Childhood there is no need for students to reference every content descriptor in text and end text as this creates an excessive amount of referencing in the assignment. Students just need to provide a reference to the SCSA curriculum learning area in their end text list.

If you are referencing the aims or rationale of a curriculum area as part of an assignment such as a justification/rationale, then the curriculum area needs to be in text referenced and end text referenced.

Website: http://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/

 

School Curriculum and Assessment Authority from SCSA
In-text citation End-text reference

First time cited:

(Corporate author, Year)

(School Curriculum and Standards Authority [SCSA], 2017)

(School Curriculum and Standards Authority [SCSA], 2023)

 

Corporate author. (Year). Title. URL

School Curriculum and Standards Authority. (2017). Curriculum and assessment outline. Humanities and social science. http://k10outline.scsa.wa.edu.au/home/p-10-curriculum/curriculum-browser/humanities-and-social-sciences

School Curriculum and Standards Authority. (2023). Kindergarten curriculum guidelines. https://k10outline.scsa.wa.edu.au/home/teaching/kindergarten-curriculum-guidelines

Subsequent citation:

(SCSA, 2017)

(SCSA, 2023)
Standards for Teachers
In-text citation End-text reference

First time cited:                                (Corporate author, Year, Standard Number)

(Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership [AITSL], n.d., Standard 4.3)

(Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority [ACECQA], 2018)


Corporate author. (Year). Title. (Standard Number). URL

Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. (2014). Australian professional standards for teachers. (Standard 4.3). https://www.aitsl.edu.au/teach/standards

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority. (2018). National quality standard: Quality area 5 - Relationships with children. https://www.acecqa.gov.au/nqf/national-quality-standard/quality-area-5-relationships-with-children

Subsequent citation:

(AITSL, n.d., Standard 4.3)

(ACECQA], 2018)
Learning Frameworks
Note: There are two national approved learning frameworks in operation under the National Quality Frameworks. Both learning frameworks provide guidance for educators in early childhood and school age settings to plan, deliver, and evaluate quality programs, outlining principles, practices, and learning outcomes to guide curriculum decision-making.

In-text citation

 End-text reference

First time cited: 
(Corporate author, Year)      

(Australian Government Department of Education, [AGDE], 2022)

(Community Child Care Co-operative
(NSW), [CCCC], n.d.)


Corporate author. (Year). Title. (Version). URL

Australian Government Department of Education. (2022a). Belonging, being and becoming: The early years learning framework for Australia (Version 2.0). https://www.acecqa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-01/EYLF-2022-V2.0.pdf

Australian Government Department of Education. (2022b). My time, our place: Framework for school age care in Australia (Version 2.0). https://www.acecqa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-02/MTOP-2022-V2.0.pdf

Community Child Care Co-operative (NSW). (n.d.). Early years learning framework practice based resources: Developmental milestones. https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/05_2015/developmental-milestones.pdf

What if works have the same author and the same publication year?

Note: To make sure each work has its own in-text citation, add a lower-case letter to the year in your reference list. The same letter will be added to the year in your in-text citation each time you want to cite that source. 

Subsequent citation:

(AGDE, 2022)

(CCCC, n.d.)
Mparntwe Education Declaration
In-text citation End-text reference

First time cited: 
(Corporate author, Year) 

(Council of Australian Governments, [COAG], 2019)                                                 


Corporate author. (Year). Title. Publisher. URL

Council of Australian Governments. (2019). Alice Springs (Mparntwe) educational declaration. Education Council. https://www.education.gov.au/alice-springs-mparntwe-education-declaration/resources/alice-springs-mparntwe-education-declaration

Subsequent citation:

(COAG, 2019)   

 

Note: The Copyright belongs to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Agency, which is why this corporation is listed as the author.

In-text citation End-text reference

First in-text citation:                                      (Corporate author, Year)

(Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Agency [ACARA], n.d.)

(Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Agency [ACARA], 2022

Corporate author. (Year). Title. Publisher. URL

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Agency. (n.d.). National assessment program sample test. National Assessment Program. https://demo.assessform.edu.au/testattempt/sample/x00135461

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Agency. (2022). National assessment program literacy and numeracy: Achievement in reading, writing and numeracy (National report for 2022). National Assessment Program. https://www.nap.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/2022-naplan-national-report.pdf

 

Subsequent in-text citation:

(ACARA, n.d.)

(ACARA, 2022)

 

You can use hybrid referencing of APA Style and AGLC legal citation format to reference legislation.
For more detailed guidance, refer to the Library Referencing Guide, specifically the section on Australian Legal Materials.

In-text citation End-text reference

(Title of Act Year (Jurisdiction abbreviation)                   

(School Education Act 1999 (WA), s. 83(2)(b))

Title of Act Year (Jurisdiction abbreviation). URL

 

School Education Act 1999 (WA). https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/main_mrtitle_878_homepage.html

 

Both the author and the illustrator are crucial in the creation of the children's book or any illustrated book.

The illustrator not only brings the story to the life through art but also plays an essential role in creating the entire work. While other types of books may have illustrations, they usually serve a different purpose. In children's books, however, the illustrations are an integral part of the storytelling process.

In-text citation End-text reference
Illustrator different than author
Note: When the illustrator is evidently credited (i.e., on the cover), use "Illus." in parentheses to abbreviate illustrator.

(Author's surname, Year)

(French, 2018)

(Davies, 2017)

Author. (Year). Title of the book (Illustrator's name, Illus.). Publisher.

French, J. (2018). Cyclone (B. Whatley, Illus.). Scholastic Australia.

Davies, N. (2014). Tiny the invisible world of microbes (E.Sutton, Illus.). Walker Books.
Illustrator same as author

Note: As per the guidelines of APA 7th Style, there may be situations where you need to use your own judgment as the purpose and significance of illustrations can vary. When an author is also the illustrator and the illustrations are essential, credit them twice: once as the author and again as the illustrator. 

It is important to follow the provided examples but use discretion on the significance of the illustrations.

Example 1: The Wimpy Kid book series illustrations some people may consider to be an essential part of the book, while others view them as an addition.

Example 2: It may be important to acknowledge the significance of illustrations of Stewart when teaching about the natural world or emotions, as they are an integral part of the story.

Author: Standard APA 7th format: Surname, initial/s. 

Illustrator: Write the illustrator's initials followed by a full stop and the illustrator's surname followed by a comma. Then, write the abbreviation "Illus." after the illustrator's name.

(Author's surname, Year)

E1: (Kinney, 2007)

E2: (Stewart, 2014)

Author. (Year). Title of the book (Illustrator's name, Illus.). Publisher.

Kinney, J. (2007). Diary of a wimpy kid: Greg Heffley's journal. Amulet Books.

Stewart, B. (2014). Here in the garden (B.Stewart, Illus.). University of Queensland Press.
Children's book, part of series

Note: The series number should only be included if it is a part of the book title. Do not include the series titles.

Example: The book is part of the Fancy Nancy series.

(Athor's surname, Year)

(O’Connor, 2017)

Author. (Year). Title of the book (Illustrator's name, Illus.). Publisher.

O’Connor, J. (2017). Nancy Clancy, late-breaking news! (R. Preiss Glasser, Illus.).          HarperCollins Publishers.
Illustrator and translator

Note: It can be challenging to identify who the author, illustrator, or translator is, which may cause some confusion. Please refer to the copyright page for clarification, or the books database details. 

Credit translators by adding Trans. after the name. Use semicolon between the illustrator and translator.

(Author's surname, Year)

(Jenkins, 2021)

Author. (Year). Title of the book (Illustrator's name, Illus.;Translator's name, Trans.). Publisher.

Jenkins, S. (2021). Iceberg (J. Di Mase, Illus.; A. Florescu-Mitchell, Trans.). A&U Children's.

Library Contact

Library Links

Quick Links

More about ECU

  • Last Updated: Mar 12, 2025 11:16 AM
  • URL: https://ecu.au.libguides.com/education
  • Print Page
Subjects: Education

Edith Cowan University acknowledges and respects the Noongar people, who are the traditional custodians of the land upon which its campuses stand and its programs operate.
In particular ECU pays its respects to the Elders, past and present, of the Noongar people, and embrace their culture, wisdom and knowledge.