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Life in Australia book

This book provides information about Australian history, culture, society and the values it shares to help you understand the values statement before you sign.

If you are applying planning to move to Australia, you need to read, or have had explained to you, the Life in Australia book.

If you have difficulty, or are unable to read the book, ask a friend or family member to explain the contents to you. Alternatively, you may have the content of the book explained to you by your sponsor or your agent if you have one, or by a departmental officer.

Other residents of Australia may also find the book useful, particularly those who work with migrants or who have relatives or friends who have recently arrived in Australia.

Click here to download:

Life in Australia book

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About Australia

The Country

Australia is a natural wonderland of beautiful beaches, crystal blue waters, amazing ancient rock formations and pristine rainforests.

Australia is the sixth largest country in the world and has the lowest population density per square kilometer.

Australia has 16 world heritage listed properties with its historic townships, bustling cities, vivid landscapes and exotic flora and fauna all adding to its unique appeal.

Much of Australia’s exotic flora and fauna cannot be found anywhere else in the world and the lifestyle is one second to none.

Religion

Australia has no state religion. In the 2006 census, 64% of Australians listed themselves as Christian, The largest non-Christian religion in Australia is Buddhism (2.1%), followed by Islam (1.7%), Hinduism (0.8%), and Judaism (0.5%).

Religions in Australia

Religion does not play a central role in the lives of much of the population.

Language

In Australia over 200 different languages and dialects are spoken, including 45 indigenous languages. The most commonly spoken languages (other than English) are Italian, Greek, Cantonese, Arabic, Vietnamese and Mandarin.

States and Territories

Map of Australia

Australia is made up of six states and two territories .

The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a claim to a territory in Antarctica. All states and three territories have their own parliaments and administer themselves; the remaining territories are administered by the Federal Government.

Australia’s History

Australian History

Aboriginal people dream on a timeless continent
Australia’s Aboriginal people were thought to have arrived here by boat from South East Asia during the last Ice Age, at least 50,000 years ago. At the time of European discovery and settlement, up to one million Aboriginal people lived across the continent as hunters and gatherers. They were scattered in 300 clans and spoke 250 languages and 700 dialects. Each clan had a spiritual connection with a specific piece of land. However, they also travelled widely to trade, find water and seasonal produce and for ritual and totemic gatherings.

Australia’s Culture

Australian Culture

The culture and customs consists of a rich tapestry of nationalities including traditions, legends, myths and folklore. The indigenous ‘Dream time’ forms the base of tens of thousands of years of spiritual aboriginal art and culture.

Australian culture is founded on stories of battlers, bushrangers and brave soldiers.

Of sporting heroes, working heroes and plucky migrants. It’s all about a fair go, the great outdoors and a healthy helping of irony. Today Australia also defines itself by its Aboriginal heritage, vibrant mix of cultures, innovative ideas and a thriving arts scene.

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Australia

Landscape

A wide, brown land:
Australia is the sixth largest country in the world. It’s about the same size as the 48 mainland states of the USA and 50 per cent larger than Europe, but has the lowest population density in the world – only two people per square kilometre.

Beach paradise:
Australia’s coastline stretches almost 50,000 kilometres and is linked by over 10,000 beaches, more than any other country in the world. More than 85 per cent of Australians live within 50 kilometres of the coast, making it an integral part of our laid-back lifestyle.

Our island home:
Australia is the only nation to govern an entire continent and its outlying islands. The mainland is the largest island and the world’s smallest, flattest continent.

Our People and Culture

An ethnic melting pot:
Since 1945 more than six million people from across the world have come to Australia to live. Today, more than 20 per cent of Australians are foreign born and more than 40 per cent are of mixed cultural origin. In our homes we speak 226 languages – after English, the most popular are Italian, Greek, Cantonese and Arabic.

Aboriginal advances:
Believed to be the world’s oldest civilization, Aboriginal people have lived and thrived on this continent for more than 50,000 years.  Aboriginal societies made many unique advances long before the Europeans arrived. They invented the aerodynamic boomerang and a type of spear thrower called the woomera. They were also the first society to ground edges on stone cutting tools and the first to use stone tools to grind seeds, everyday tools developed only much later by other societies.

Our Flora and Fauna

Unique wildlife:
The iconic kangaroo is unique to Australia and one of our most easily recognised mammals. There are an estimated 40 million kangaroos in Australia, more than when Australia was first settled. Today Australia is home to a wealth of wildlife not found anywhere else in the world. We have around 800 species of birds, half of which are unique to this country. Our marine environments contain more than 4,000 fish varieties and tens of thousands of species of invertebrates, plants and micro-organisms. About 80 per cent of Australia’s southern marine species are found nowhere else in the world.

Flourishing flora:
Australia also supports at least 25,000 species of plants, compared to 17,500 in Europe. That includes living fossils like the Wollemi pine and the grass tree, and brilliant wildflowers. There are over 12,000 species in Western Australia alone!

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