Australia is a unique country and the Australian culture has grown from its isolation, a convict past, the

original Aboriginal inhabitants, the Anzac legend and a large immigration program after world war 2,
which has made it one of the greatest multicultural nations in the world.

They are essentially a Western culture with a democratic system of government mainly based on the
British Westminster system.

English is the main language and Christianity is the dominant religion. That is not surprising when you
consider that the British colonised Australia in 1788 when the first wave of convicts arrived.

To some nations that may be a somewhat shameful beginning but it probably encapsulates the
Australian spirit, our nation was born to house the scoundrels, larrikins and 'ne'er do wells' from the
other side of the world and we're bloody proud of it mate!

Our first national hero was Ned Kelly, an Irish immigrant turned bushranger who was victimised by the
law and stood up to fight for what was rightfully his. They hanged him in the end but to this day he is
idolised as a symbol of the little bloke taking on the establishment, a 'little Aussie battler' up against the
bureaucracy.

The Aboriginal culture and people had been in Australia for 50,000 years prior to the arrival of the first
convict ships. It is one thing we're not too proud of, the way successive generations have treated the
original inhabitants of this country. Even today our indigenous population is still way behind when it
comes to medical care, education and career opportunities.

Australian Flag

After starting out as a group of individual convict colonies, each with their elected parliaments (except
for South Australia which started out, and remained, a free colony), Australia declared Federation in
1901, became a nation and began to develop a growing sense of national identity.

Our father Maurice Bell (on right) and his brother Colin Bell in their Australian Army WW2 uniform

Strangely, one of the greatest influences on Australian culture has been war. It's strange because as a
nation, except for a number of bombing raids on Darwin by the Japanese in World War 2, we have never
been invaded or fought a war on our own shores.

Yet the incredible bravery and valour shown by Australian soldiers on the various battlefields of the
world has created a legend of immense courage under fire, dependable, honest and a soldier willing to
die for King or Queen and Country.

There are many who believe that Australia Day should be celebrated on Anzac Day (April 25th) when we
commemorate the landing of the first Australian soldiers at Gallipoli in 1915 in World War 1.

They believe it draws the line of when Australia became a real nation and changed forever its sense of
individuality.
Australian culture was influenced greatly after the second war when Australia opened the doors and
embarked on a massive immigration program; 6.5 million Migrants from 200 nations flowed into our
country and brought immense new diversity, and at the same time we became increasingly aware of our
proximity to Asia.

Immigrants coming into Australia after WW2

Since Federation we had maintained a 'White Australia' policy, preferring to accept migrants from
European and Western nations but beginning in 1949 these policies were progressively dismantled and
today we have become one of the most multicultural nations on Earth.

Egalitarianism, informality and an irreverent sense of humour characterize Australian culture. Well,
that's how we like to see ourselves!

Most people today are aware of Crocodile Dundee; a movie character that we like to think embodies the
real Aussie. Played by actor Paul Hogan, who himself embodies the real Aussie; he follows in the
tradition of Bazza McKenzie, Dame Edna Everage and right back through time probably to the Jolly
Swagman of Waltzing Matilda fame and some of the heroes and characters of C J Dennis.

Australian Sports Balls - cricket ball, rugby football, Aussie rules football & soccer ball

We're mad about sport, and it forms a major part of Australian culture, particularly when it comes to
spectating, but also in participation.

Cricket is the major sport in summer and Australian rules football in winter. In some states (New South
Wales and Queensland), rugby league is the predominant footy code and soccer is gaining popularity all
the time. Rugby union also has a strong following.

Illustration of an Australian waving a flag with the a background of the Australian National Colours of
Green & Gold

Hell, let's be honest here, if it's sport, we love it!

Our sporting successes at elite levels in events such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games,
World Cup competitions in cricket, rugby union, rugby league, hockey, netball, and major tournaments
in tennis, golf, surfing, and other sports are a source of great pride in Australia.

Leading sportspeople such as cricket's Don Bradman, swimming stars Dawn Fraser and Ian Thorpe,
athletes like Cathy Freeman, tennis legends such as Rod Laver, all world champions, last in the cultural
memory of Australia for decades and are heroes, given high civilian honours and held in great esteem by
the general public.

In the arts, Australians have made it on the world stage also in many areas such as opera with Dame
Joan Sutherland, literature with Patrick White, visual arts, cinema and music and more.
Australian culture includes our food culture which has changed over time with the large influx of
migrants after WW2. Until then our cuisine was mainly influenced by our convict past and was mainly
British but with the influx of Europeans and Asians we have now embraced a wide range of cuisines with
Mediterranean and Asian influences.

Australian Food in front of the Australian Flag

Australia's abundant natural resources mean we have a large variety of quality foods from which to
choose including high grade quality meat like chicken, beef, lamb and pork.

The Australian barby or barbecue is considered a national tradition (not necessarily with a shrimp
though). The great majority of Australians live close to the sea and Australian seafood restaurants have
been listed among the world's best.

Australian Meat Pie with Tomato Sauce

We don't really have a national dish, although some people would argue for the meat pie and tomato
sauce, others would say the Pavlova, while still others would nominate Vegemite, a well-known spread
that only an Aussie will eat and enjoy.

Australian Stubby Holder with a Beer in it

Beer would still be our most popular alcoholic beverage with wine coming a close second.

The Barossa Valley in South Australia produces Penfold's Grange which has been recognised as one of
the greatest red wines ever produced, but we also make a great range of whites and reds which are
becoming increasingly popular.

The culture of Australia is primarily a Western culture, to some extent derived from Britain but also
influenced by the unique geography of Australia, the cultural input of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander
and other Australian people. The British colonization of Australia began in 1788, and waves of multi-
ethnic migration followed. Evidence of a significant Anglo-Celtic heritage includes the predominance of
the English language, the existence of a democratic system of government drawing upon the British
traditions of Westminster Government, Parliamentarianism and constitutional monarchy, American
constitutionalist and federalist traditions, Christianity as the dominant religion, and the popularity of
sports originating in (or influenced by) the British Isles.

The culture of Australia is a Western culture derived primarily from Britain but also influenced by the
unique geography of the Australian continent, the diverse input of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and
other Oceanian people. pic 4 kangarooThe oldest surviving cultural traditions in Australia (which are
actually some of the oldest surviving traditions on earth) – are those of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people. Their ancestors inhabited Australia for between 40,000 and 60,000 years and they
lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. The boomerang and didgeridoo, which were invented by Aborigines,
are to this day iconic symbols of the country.

Australians are generally laid back, open and direct. They say what they mean and are generally more
individual and outgoing than other cultures. More than three quarters of Australians live in cities and
urban centres, mainly along the coast.

Social Stratification

Classes and Castes. The three main social classes are the working class, the middle class, and the upper
class, but the boundaries between these groups are a matter of debate. The wealthiest 5 to 10 percent
are usually regarded as upper class, with their wealth derived from ownership and control of property
and capital. The growing middle class is defined as individuals with nonmanual occupations.

Nonmanual workers typically earn more than manual workers, although upper-level manual workers
such as tradespeople earn more than those in sales and personal service positions. The professions,
which include such occupations as accountants, computing specialists, engineers, and medical doctors,
have been one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy. Since the 1980s the number of manual
workers has been in decline.

Manual workers form the nucleus of the working class; 20 to 40 percent self-identify with this category.
Class consciousness includes the acknowledgment of class divisions, but there is also a broad
commitment to an ethic of egalitarianism. Australians commonly believe that socioeconomic mobility is
possible and exhibit a basic tolerance and acceptance of inequality associated with social class.

Symbols of Social Stratification. The upper-class can be signified by expensive clothes, motor vehicles,
and homes. In particular, the economic value of housing and other real estate properties varies greatly
across different suburbs in all cities.

However, class is not always evident from clothes, cars, and living circumstances. Middle-class people
from economically wealthy backgrounds

An Australian aborigine wears traditional face and body paints and plays a didgeridoo for tourists and
commuters at Circular Quay.
An Australian aborigine wears traditional face and body paints and plays a didgeridoo for tourists and
commuters at Circular Quay.

may mask their prosperity according to fashion, choice, or participation in particular subcultures. Young
people such as students may dress to mimic imagined styles valued for their symbolic rejection of
wealth, and some working-class families go into debt to purchase expensive cars and other
commodities.

Patterns of speech, consumption patterns associated with entertainment and the arts, and participation
in certain sports may be useful indicators of class.

Political Life

Government. Australia is a parliamentary democracy based on the British system of government.

Federal, state, and territorial elections are held every three or four years. Voting is compulsory at the
federal and state levels but not at the local government level. There are two houses of the federal and
state parliaments except in Queensland, the Northern Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory.

Core features of the political party system derive from early twentieth-century arrangements that
followed the federation of the states into a commonwealth. There are two major political parties: the
Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the Liberal Party. The National Party (formerly the Country Party) allies
itself with the conservative Liberal Party. The other large political parties are the Australian Democrats
and the Green Party.

Since federation, the constitution has been changed only reluctantly through referenda. In 1999 there
was a vote rejecting the proposition that Australia become a republic, ceasing to have an office of
governor-general as a representative of the British monarch and thus as the titular head of state. Some
argue that the society is already a de facto republic since the constitution has entrenched the primacy of
popular sovereignty. The British Union Jack on the flag is for some people an acknowledgment of
historical ties with Britain, while for others it is a reason to change the constitution to emphasize the
independence of the nation.

Leadership and Political Officials. There are three levels of government leadership: the prime minister in
the federal government, the state premiers, and the mayors in local government. All officials are elected
democratically. At the federal level the governor-general is appointed by the government, as are
governors at the state level. Federal and state/territorial governments operate through departments
that are organized bureaucratically and hierarchically. High-ranking officials are important in the
administration of policies and laws.

Etiquette

A predominant image among Australians is that they are very casual, easygoing, and familiar. First
names are used commonly as terms of address. An ideology of egalitarianism pervades, with men,
women, and children treated similarly. Attempts at appearing superior to others in terms of dress,
manners, knowledge, and the work ethic are discouraged. A handshake is the most common way to
greet a new acquaintance, and a hug, a kiss on the cheek, or a verbal greeting the most common way to
greet a friend. The colloquialism, "g'day" (good day), is considered the quintessential greeting.

There is an easy friendliness in public places. Personal privacy is respected and staring is discouraged,
although eye contact is not avoided. Eye contact during conversation is considered polite among the
general population; averting the eyes during conversation is considered a sign of respect among
Aboriginal people. When a line is forming, new arrivals must go to the end. In museums and exhibitions
voices are hushed. In performance contexts the audience is expected to be silent and attentive. Service
attendants consider themselves equal to their guests, and usually are not subservient. Australians also
resist being "served." Food may be eaten in the street, but meals usually are eaten at a table, with each
person having his or her own plate and eating utensils. Bodily functions are considered inevitable but
are not discussed or performed in public.

Religion

Religious Beliefs. The constitution guarantees religious freedom, and while there is no official national
religion, Australia generally is described as a Christian country. British colonists brought the Anglican
belief system in 1788, and three-quarters of the population continues to identify with some form of
Christianity, predominantly the Catholic and Anglican faiths. Until recently almost all businesses closed
for Christian religious holidays.

Extensive immigration has made Australia one of the most religiously diverse societies in the world.
Almost all faiths are represented, with significant numbers of Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, and Hindus.
Many indigenous Australians have embraced Christianity, often as a result of their contact with
missionaries and missions.

Religious alternatives such as spiritualism and Theosophy have had a small but steady presence since
the 1850s. A growing set of beliefs is represented by the so-called New Age movement, which arrived in
the 1960s and evolved into the widespread alternative health and spirituality movement of the 1990s.
This has opened the way for an interest in paganism and other aspects of the occult among a minority of
citizens.

Religious Practitioners. There has been an increase in lay religious practitioners in the Christian
churches in recent times as a result of decrease in the number of people entering the clergy. Most
religious institutions are hierarchical in structure. Religious specialists participate in pastoral care, parish
administration, and fund-raising for missions. Many also maintain a host of institutions that deal with
education, aged care, family services, immigration, health, youth, and prisoner rehabilitation.

Rituals and Holy Places. Every religious denomination has its own places of worship, and most expect
their followers to attend religious services regularly. There has been a decline in regular church
attendance among the younger generation of Christians, who tend to be critical of church policy and
practice. Places of worship are considered sacred and include locations that hold spiritual significance
for believers. Among certain ethnic groups shrines are established in places where saints are said to
have appeared. There are many Aboriginal sacred sites, which are generally places in the landscape.

Death and the Afterlife. The law requires that deceased people be dealt with according to health
regulations. A vigil over the body in the family home is practiced in some religious and cultural
traditions. Funeral parlors prepare the body of the deceased for cremation or burial in a cemetery.
Funerals are attended by family members and friends and often include a religious ceremony.

Medicine and Health Care

Most medical health care is subsidized or paid for by the government, for which a small levy is paid by all
citizens. Public hospitals often provide free services. People can select a private general practitioner,
usually in their neighborhood. The general practitioner provides referrals to specialist doctors where
necessary, and payment is usually on a feefor-service basis. Health professionals may work privately or
in a hospital setting. In recent years there has been an attempt to increase the level of private health
insurance coverage among citizens.

Prevention of illness is a high priority of the government, with several programs such as vaccination,
public health warnings about smoking and AIDS, public education campaigns on nutrition and exercise,
and public awareness campaigns regarding heavy drinking and illicit drugs. Individuals are held to be
responsible for their own health problems, and most investment goes to individually oriented, high-
technology curative medicine. In the 1970s community health centers were established to focus on
groups with special needs, such as women, migrants, and Aboriginal people. These centers provide more
holistic care by addressing personal and social problems as well as health conditions.

Increasing numbers of people combine Western medicine with traditional and New Age practices. This
may include Chinese herbalists, iridology, and homeopathic medicine. These alternative forms of
medical treatment generally are not subsidized by the government.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service provides emergency medical assistance to those in remote areas. It was
founded in 1928 and is funded by government and public donations. The service also provides
emergency assistance during floods and fires.

Essentially, culture refers to a people’s way of life - their ideas, values, customs and social behaviour.
Culture includes things like the way we celebrate weddings and conduct funerals, the food we like to
eat, the way we dress and the music we like. Culture is passed down from generation to generation, and
while cultural practices and beliefs change and evolve, many of the basic aspects remain the same. Even
though we may dress differently from our grandparents and hold different religious or political beliefs,
it’s likely there are elements of the way you live that can be traced back to them. These cultural
elements have a strong influence on who we are, how we think about the world and how we operate in
society.

Many Indigenous people in Australia have a unique view of the world that’s distinct from the
mainstream. Land, family, law, ceremony and language are five key interconnected elements of
Indigenous culture. For example, families are connected to the land through the kinship system, and this
connection to land comes with specific roles and responsibilities which are enshrined in the law and
observed through ceremony. In this way, the five elements combine to create a way of seeing and being
in the world that’s distinctly Indigenous. Understanding how intricately interconnected these elements
are, helps us understand the damage done when colonisation occurred. Being disconnected from
culture can have a profound impact on a person‘s sense of identity and belonging. Identity and
belonging gives meaning and purpose to people’s lives. Understanding this will help us find appropriate
ways to respond to the pain caused by colonisation.