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AustLit
Search AustLit for biographical, bibliographical, and critical information about Australian writers and their works.
About AustLit
AustLit is a web database of biographical, bibliographical, and critical information about Australian writers, their works, and the publishing that supports them. Its homepage organises content into five areas: Creative Writing, Criticism, BlackWords, Stage and Screen, and Children's and YA. The homepage reports 1,074,424 works, 210,358 creators, and 30,441 subjects in the database. The site also includes an Advanced Search option and a member login that uses a library card. Member menus show options for adding and editing records, which suggests some functions are limited to logged-in users.
According to the homepage, the database went online in September 2001 and hosts multiple research projects and curated datasets. Its 25th anniversary is being marked with digital outcomes during 2026. The homepage does not state pricing or geographic eligibility for access.
Key features
- Search biographical and bibliographical records of Australian writers and their works
- Advanced Search option for more specific queries across the database
- BlackWords section on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers and storytellers
- Records of Australian theatre, film, television, and radio performance works
- Children's and young adult writing section with a collection of teaching resources
- Criticism section covering research on Australian literary, print, and narrative cultures
Best for: Researchers, students, and teachers of Australian literature, publishing, performance, and children's and young adult writing.
Good for
- Brings creative writing, criticism, Indigenous writing, performance, and children's literature into one database.
- The homepage reports a large catalogue, with over one million works and more than 200,000 creators.
AustLit at a glance
- Website
- austlit.edu.au
- Type
- Website
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Web
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
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AustLit FAQ
How do I log in to AustLit?
The homepage has a login option labelled 'Log in with your library card'.
Does AustLit cover Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers?
Yes. The BlackWords section is described on the homepage as covering the lives and works of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers and storytellers.
Does AustLit include resources for teaching?
The Children's and YA section is described as including a collection of teaching resources alongside writing for younger readers.
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