Yes, you must cite everything you use in your assignments that you did not create yourself.
Public domain images do not legally require attribution, and labels like “no attribution required” mean they can be used freely without credit in blogs, websites, or publications etc.
However, academic assignments have different requirements. You must cite all sources you did not create yourself, including images, to demonstrate academic integrity and show what is your own work versus others’.
At JCU, you submit work under a declaration that it is your own unless otherwise cited, which is why public domain images still need referencing.
In some presentations, purely decorative images may not need citation if approved by your lecturer. Even so, providing attribution remains good scholarly practice.
We acknowledge the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and acknowledge Traditional Owners of the lands where our staff and students, live, learn and work.
