A Guide to Australia
Australia boasts an enviable culture. As an egalitarian society, women play equal roles within their home.
Australians are world-famous for their love of cricket, rugby and Australian rules football – as well as great pop artists such as Kylie Minogue, Silverchair and INXS who have become international icons.
Table of Contents
Location
Australia (officially the Commonwealth of Australia) is a large continent-sized nation situated south of Asia and east of Africa, famed for its wide open spaces and unique wildlife such as kangaroos and koalas.
Most residents live along the coasts and in the central and eastern states; interior areas feature vast desert regions that remain sparsely populated. Queensland boasts the iconic Great Barrier Reef off its northeast coast.
Australia contains numerous islands, such as Tasmania and those off of Western Australia’s coastline, that provide ideal living environments. Australia belongs to Gondwana tectonic plate and its land mass is divided among six states and two territories.
Population
Australia boasts an ethnically diverse population from around the globe, living primarily in large cities which are experiencing rapid urban development – placing strain on Australia’s infrastructure and housing needs.
There is also a high concentration of people living inland because it is easier for them to gain employment and services, while cities provide better weather and additional conveniences.
This chart illustrates how Australia’s population is evolving over time. Some age groups, such as 50-80 year olds, are growing quickly while 0-10 year olds have seen gradual decreases. A balanced population is key for any nation; dependency ratio measures the proportion of dependents (children and elderly) relative to productive population – Australia currently boasts 47.7 % in its dependency ratio.
Languages
Australia is home to many languages and its history of immigration has made it a multicultural nation. While English remains the primary language spoken among its population, a significant portion speaks other tongues as well. According to the 2021 census results, 3,676,159 Australians reported speaking another language at home.
Arabic is spoken widely amongst Australia’s Middle Eastern diaspora and plays an essential role in community media and business, while Vietnamese is spoken widely within an expanding Vietnamese community in Australia and is becoming a key component of local economies.
Indigenous Australian languages have long been part of Australia’s rich cultural legacy, and communities and linguists strive to preserve them. Examples include Pitjantjatjara – spoken on Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands – Kalaw Lagaw Ya and Meriam Mir (spoken on Torres Strait islands).
Religions
Australia boasts a diverse religious and spiritual landscape. While more people are selecting “no religion” on census forms, Christian denominations continue to attract significant adherents while numerous national and ethnic churches provide services for cultural communities.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander beliefs are complex, including an intricate concept known as The Dreaming that suggests spirits play an influential role in shaping our world, with past, present, and future events all connected in some way. Nearly one quarter of Australians have had some sort of supernatural or mystical experience while most hold some belief in some form of spirit, god or life force. Broad Group 95 in our classification system does not meet criteria for Narrow or Religious groups but still serves statistical reporting needs.
Holidays
Australia observes both national and regional holidays. Federal law sets aside certain days as national public holidays; state/territorial public holidays are determined based on jurisdictional considerations.
Australian cities host an abundance of local events and festivals throughout the year, such as Sydney’s iconic New Year’s Eve fireworks display that attracts people from across the globe.
Other popular commemorations include ANZAC Day, which pays homage to Australian and New Zealand soldiers who served during wars. It marks the anniversary of Gallipoli landings.
Reconciliation Day, held annually in early July, provides an opportunity to learn about Australia’s Indigenous history and culture while also encouraging reconciliation among both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
