Australias Culture

Australian culture is founded on stories of battlers, bushrangers and brave soldiers. Of sporting
heroes, working heroes and plucky migrants. Its 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.
Aboriginal culture: a and timeless tradition
The Dreamtime is the sacred time before time of the worlds creation. According to Aboriginal
belief, totemic spirit ancestors emerged from the earth and descended from the sky to awaken a
dark and silent world. They created the sun, moon and stars, forged mountains, rivers, trees and
waterholes and changed into human and animal forms. Spirit ancestors connect this ancient past
with the present and future through every aspect of Aboriginal culture. Rock art, craft and bark
painting reveal Dreamtime stories, mark territory and record history, while songs tell of
Dreamtime journeys, verbally mapping water sources and other essential landmarks. Their
special lyrics have been passed down virtually unchanged for at least 50,000 years, and are often
accompanied by clapsticks or the deep throb of the didgeridoo. Similarly, traditional dances
reveal creation myths, enact the deeds of Dreamtime heroes and even recent historical events.

Colonial myths: battlers, bushrangers and brave soldiers

Australians believe in mateship and a fair go and have a strong affection for the underdog or
battler. These values stem from convicts and early colonialists who struggled against a harsh
and unfamiliar land and often unjust authority. Australias most famous bushranger Ned Kelly
protested against the poverty and injustice of a British class system shipped here along with the
convicts. This flawed heros fight for 'justice and liberty' and 'innocent people' has been
embraced as part of the national culture and inspired countless books and movies. On the
goldfields of the mid-1850s, diggers were portrayed in stories and songs as romantic heroes,
larrikins and villains who embraced democracy. The bloody 1854 Eureka Stockade, where
Victorian miners rose up against an authoritarian licensing system, came to symbolise a triumph
of social equality. Later, during World War I, the courageous ANZAC soldiers who served in
Gallipoli gave new meaning to the term tough Aussie.

Australian English: speaking Strine

Australians have a unique colloquial language, coined strine by linguist Alastair Morrison
(imagine saying Australian with your teeth gritted to keep out the flies) in 1966. This combines
many long lost cockney and Irish sayings of the early convicts with words from Aboriginal
languages. We often abbreviate words and then add an o or ie on the end as in bring your
cossie to the barbie this arvo. We also like reverse nicknames, calling people with red hair
bluey, saying snowy to someone with dark hair, and tagging lofty to someone who is small
in stature. We tend to flatten our vowels and end sentences with a slightly upward inflection.

Sporting heroes: the glory of green and gold

It's no secret that Australians are sports mad. With more than 120 national and thousands of local,
regional and state sporting organisations, it's estimated that six-and-a-half million people in
Australia are registered sport participants. Not bad from a population of just over 21 million! The
number one watched sport in Australia is Australian Rules Football (AFL) with its high kicks
and balletic leaps, while the brute force and tackling tactics of National Rugby League (NRL)
reign supreme in New South Wales and Queensland. Australias national Rugby Union team, the
Wallabies play on the international circuit and in the Bledisloe Cup, part of a Tri Nations
tournament with South Africa. Australia is a nation of swimmers and Olympic medals attest to
our performance in the pool. All summer we watch the Australian cricket team in their whites
and in January, we flick channels to see the tennis Australian Open. Held in Melbourne, this
attracts more people to Australia than any other sporting event. Football is a growth sport, we
draw world-class surfers for the Bells Beach Surf Classic and on Boxing Day crowds gather to
watch the boats sail out of Sydney Harbour for the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. On the first
Tuesday in November, the nation stops for the famous horse race, the Melbourne Cup while and
in March rev heads converge in Melbourne for the Formula One Grand Prix. The list of sports
we love goes on, and if in doubt about the rules just ask a passionate punter.
An outdoor lifestyle: beach and barbeques
With more than 80 per cent of Australians living within 50 kilometres of the coast, the beach has
become an integral part of our famous laid-back lifestyle. From Saturday morning surf-club
training for young nippers to a game of beach cricket after a barbeque, we love life on our
sandy shores. We jostle for a spot on packed city beaches, relax at popular holiday spots and
drive to secret, secluded beaches in coastal national parks. We go to the beach to enjoy the sun
and surf or to sail, parasail, fish, snorkel, scuba dive and beach comb. Its where we socialise and
play sport, relax and enjoy romance. Its also the site for celebration. On New Years Eve,
revellers dance in the sand and watch fireworks at Manly and Bondi beaches in Sydney and
Glenelg in Adelaide. Many beaches host citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day and on
Christmas Day up to 40,000 international visitors converge on Bondi Beach wearing Santa hats

and swimming costumes. Australias most famous beaches - Bondi and Manly in Sydney, St
Kilda in Melbourne, Surfers Paradise on the Queensland Gold Coast, Cottesloe in Perth and
Glenelg in Adelaide attract locals as well as international tourists.
Multiculturalism: diverse food, festivals and faith
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. Our rich cultural diversity is reflected in our food, which
embraces most of the worlds cuisines and artfully fuses quite a few of them. Youll find
European flavours, the tantalising spices of Asia, Africa and the Middle East and bush tucker
from our backyard on offer everywhere from street stalls to five star restaurants. Tuck into Thai
takeaway, dine out on perfect Italian pasta, do tapas in our citys Spanish strips and feast on
dumplings in Chinatown. You can also embrace our melting pot of cultures in the many colourful
festivals. See samba and capoeira at Bondis Brazilian South American festival, dance behind the
dragon parade during Chinese New Year or stroll through streets transformed into a lively piazza
during the annual Italian celebrations. As a nation, we embrace a rainbow of religious belief and
youll find Catholic and Anglican churches, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist temples, mosques and
synagogues lining our streets.

Australian innovations: from the Hills Hoist to Penicillin

Australias unique geography and relative isolation has made it a fertile ground for new ideas. In
1879, Australians developed a way for ice to be manufactured artificially, allowing us to export
meat to Great Britain on refrigerated ships. In 1906, the surf lifesaving reel was designed so
lifesavers could reach distressed swimmers with a rope attached to their vests. In 1929, Alfred
Traeger built a pedal-powered radio as the communications for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Australians were also responsible for more everyday inventions such as notepads (1902), aspirin
(1915), the pacemaker (1926), penicillin (1940) the Hills Hoist clothesline (1946), the plastic
disposable syringe (1949), the wine cask (1965), the bionic ear (1978), dual-flush toilet flush
(1980), anti-counterfeiting technology for banknotes (1992) and long-wearing contact lenses
(1999).
Long before European colonisation, the Aboriginal people were already leading the world. They
invented the aerodynamic boomerang and a type of spear thrower called the woomera. They
were also the first society to use ground edges on stone cutting tools and the first to use stone
tools to grind seeds, everyday tools which were developed only much later by other societies.

Culture cravings: theatre, film, books and visual art

From theatre to literature, Australians have a quiet love affair with the arts. We flock to the
movies and our attendance at galleries and performing arts is almost double that for all football
codes. Our cities play host to a huge array of cutting-edge cultural festivals, and offer music,
theatre and dance performances and art exhibitions every day of the week. See traditional
Aboriginal dance performance by the Bangarra Dance Theatre, throw yourself into the
WOMADelaide international music festival in Adelaide and soak up theatre, ballet, opera and
painting in Brisbanes huge cultural centre on South Bank. In smaller towns you can catch
performances by local musicians and see hand-made art and craft.

What is Culture Shock, and What Can I do

to Avoid it?
Culture shock can be described as the feelings one experiences after leaving their familiar, home
culture to live in another cultural or social environment. Many people associate culture shock
only with extreme changes of going from one country to another, but it can also be experienced
closer to home, such as when traveling from one city to another within your own country. Even
the most open-minded and culturally sensitive among us are not immune to culture shock.

Phases
Culture shock has three to five phases, depending on which source you read. Also, depending on
factors such as how big the cultural difference is between your home and your new location, and
how long one is away from home, a person may or may not experience all the phases.
The Honeymoon Phase: This is a fun time. Everything is great, exciting, and new. You love the
differences, meeting new people, tasting new foods, seeing different architecture, doing new
things, working in your new job. This phase can last days, weeks, or months.
The Honeymoon is Over Phase: During this phase, you're noticing differences, even slight
differences, and typically not in a good way. You don't like people's attitudes, you have had
enough of the food and just want mom's cooking, you miss your TV program at such-and-such a
time, you don't like the water, it's too hot/cold, life is too fast/slow, things are so much "better" at
home, they celebrate the wrong holidays, and so forth. There's no set time when this begins
with some people, it can be within days, with others, months. During this phase, a person often
feels anxious, angry, frustrated, sad, and/or irritable. A person may withdraw and have difficulty
concentrating at their new job.
The Negotiation Phase: As above, there is no set time in which this begins. Essentially, during
this phase you decide whether you will succumb to negativity or negotiate past it to make the
most of your experience. If you're successful, you regain your sense of perspective, balance, and
humour, and move on to the next phase.
The All's Well, or Everything is OK Phase: Those who arrive at this phase feel more at home
with the differences in the new culture. Depending on how big a change a person has
experienced, the person may feel as if the culture isn't in fact new, but that they belong, or the
person may not exactly feel part of the culture, but they're comfortable enough with it to enjoy
the differences and challenges. Negative feelings are minimized. The person doesn't have to be
in love with the new country (as in the honeymoon phase), but they can navigate it without
unwarranted anxiety, negativity, and criticism.

The Reverse Culture Shock Phase: Sure enough, this can happen! Once a person has become
accustomed to the way things are done in a different country, that person can go through the
same series of culture shock phases when they return home.

Dealing with Culture Shock

Learn as much as you can about the new location before you go. This means the good,
the bad, and the simply different from time zones, to what side of the street people
drive on, to climate/temperature, to foods, political system, culture, customs and
religion(s), to "Can you drink the water?" and "What type of electrical outlets do they
have?", and more. If there's a language difference, try to pick up a few simple phrases,
e.g., hello, thanks, etc.

Remember there will be people who fit the image you create of the typical "Person from
Country X" and those who do not. Clinging to stereotypes won't help you to learn more
about a new country and its people.

Be open-minded and willing to learning. Ask questions. If you are going to a place where
people speak a different language, consider taking a few courses in that language.

Maintain a sense of humor. (Perhaps the most important!)

Knowing that the move will be a challenge, give yourself time. Don't be hard on
yourself.

Don't withdraw! Continue to experience the new culture. Travel within the country, and
visit cultural events and locations, such as museums or historic sites.

Build new friendships.

Associate with positive people.

Stay active, eat well, and get enough sleep.

Bring a few touches of home with you, such as photos of favorite locations and family
members, your favorite music, or favored knickknacks.

Keep in touch with people at home by Skype, email, phone, postcards whatever. This
can give you some comfort while away, and it will help you to minimize reverse culture
shock when you get back home.

Life Style In Australia

Life Style in Australia: Australians are very friendly and helpful people, with a great sense of humor
and a natural ability to tell jokes and play with words. Some times we may appear cold because of our
"private nature" which has been imported over the past 2 decades, but it is just takes time to "break the
ice", and everything goes well. It means you can talk about any subject, but for more personal matters,
things will take a little bit longer to come out in the open.
The majority of Australians live in coastal areas because the interior of the country called
"the Outback", can be a very arid area with many deserts and lack of water. Australians tend to follow
each other a bit, like sheep on a hill. This happens because of the stability of Australian Institutions and
the strong economy. For example, since the beginning of 2003 there has been a boom in the housing
market, which has made thousands of Australians buy and sell homes for investment. The result has
been that so many people did it created a steep rise in house prices. For a couple of months every single
place I went, the talk was about houses. Because of this stability, Australians tend to plan for the long
term, which can make life a little bit boring sometimes.
Australians were born to compete! In reality, Australia is considered one of the most
competitive nations on Earth. This covers all areas of life including the work place. For example,
Australians surfers broke a long-term hold on the Surf Scene by the Americans and Hawaiians, and today
there is not a single international contest without at least many Aussies running in top position.
Companies that sponsor sports events such as Billabong, Rip Curl and many others broke the Australian
borders to become a symbol of Aussie culture all over the globe, displacing many bigger foreign
companies on the market. These great Australians Companies, today almost dictate what young people
and teenagers are wearing worldwide.
Fishing in Australia: Well, well, well, this is a big thing in Australia, and it is amazing how
passionately Australians feel about fishing. It is difficult to resist fishing, because of the number of
fantastic places to fish, and the number and variety of species available, combined with a very good
climate, sunshine almost all year long, and idyllic locations. Anyway there are 3 important things to know.
The first is that in all States except Queensland, a fishing License is required and can be easily obtained
in tackle shops or convenience shops in small towns. The license is cheap and lasts for different amounts
of time. The second important thing to remember is that not all fish can be captured. In every state there
are rules about size and quantity (called Bag limit). These rules are explained in a booklet given for free in
tackle shops and government institutions. It means that if you catch a fish that doesn't comply with the
rules, you must return it immediately. Also, there are rules for quantity and size of oysters, mussels and
other shellfish. Crustaceans such as crabs, lobsters, prawns and yabbies have an extra rule that states
that no females can be taken. No worries, because everything is explained in the booklet, and if in doubt,
put them back to the water. The only important thing you have to take with you when going fishing
besides the gear and the bait is a ruler to measure your catch. To drive a boat you also need a license,
except if the motor is less than 6 horsepower.
Cinemas in Australia are disappearing from the streets and are moving to inside Shopping
Centers. Most are now divided in many smaller theatres, showing 3 or 4 different movies at the same

time. Prices for Adults are about AU$ 13,00 and Children and students with ID pay around AU$ 10,00. On
Thursdays there are specials with the entry costing AU$ 8.70. Thursdays have become a big day out in
Australia, cause the Shopping Centers are open for extended hours; 9 pm instead of the regular 5pm.
Young people use this time to catch up on the gossip!
Australians are compulsive buyers having some of the biggest credit card debts in the
world. On rainy days (no beach to go) it is very hard to get a parking place in a Shopping Center, and over
the Christmas period and Boxing day (the day after Christmas) it is almost impossible, with lines of car
parking on the streets outside the shopping area. Shopping is very good here with lots of variety and good
offers. In all Australian Shopping Centers smoking is prohibited. There are also suburban small shopping
centers to look after the locals. They are pretty close together and almost always have a bakery, a
Pharmacy, Medical center, a small supermarket, dentist, Fish and Chips shop, Pizza Shop and small
eatery. It is difficult to see something unusual or unique in these shops.
Nothing demands as much attention from Australians as a House. It is as a national
symbol of security. Firstly, it is relatively easy to buy a house in Australia, as soon as you have a job for
more than 6 months. The banks finance them for up to 30 years, and the government is giving an
incentive for first homebuyers. Secondly, it is considered the best long-term investment due to the market
increase that grows over the years without risks. That is why it is easy to find places to rent in Australia.
There are lot of people who buy 2 or 3 houses to rent out and let the rent pay the bloody Mortgage.
Another interesting detail is that many Australians don't grow roots in the place they were born, especially
younger people starting careers. They sell the place and buy another one wherever the job is. As an
example: None of my neighbors are the same, as when I moved into my place 4 years ago. Everybody
has gone to another city or another house. It is kind of like changing clothes. Very easy to do! Older
people also don't stay long, because as soon as they have the Mortgage paid off, they sell the place; buy
a smaller one, put some cash aside for retirement and travel. Many retirees sell the home to buy a
campervan or motor home and hit the road in style. The price of the rent regulates the price of the
mortgage; meaning that if you have one house paid off, you give that one as a guarantee for a second
one, and rent it out to let the second house pay it off. Do you get it? That is why houses are a very big
deal for Australians.
Going to the beach on weekends in Australia is a very popular exercise, just as much as
going to the Shopping Center or doing any sport. The so called Australian Beach Culture, is similar to
California, Rio de Janeiro, and the Mediterranean. Australians live by the sea, and the beach
complements the house creating an extended backyard in which to play. With the exception of some
places that can get some winter weather, most of Australia is sunny throughout the year. This provides an
excellent alternative of relaxation all year round, but you also must know that because of the thinning of
the Ozone layer above some areas, there is a greater danger of harmful rays from the sun. The sun here
is very strong and burns the skin really fast. Australia is has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the
world; so if you go to the beach, take hats and sun block. DON'T EXPOSURE YOURSELF FOR TOO
LONG UNDER THE SUN. Other important matters concern the rips and currents most Australian
beaches have. Sometimes the sea can present itself as calm as you like, but rips underneath can be
strong and unexpected. So, if you are not very knowledgeable about the sea, you'd better swim only in
patrolled waters between the flags placed by lifesavers on the sand. By the way, it is prohibited to sell
anything on the beach without a council permit, and wherever dogs are allowed, they must be on a leash.

If you are not going to a special event, the fashion in Australia is pretty casual and
laidback. Australians are very informal when it comes to clothes, despite the fact that some work places
require a good standard of dressing. "Casual Smart" is required for companies where presentation and
image are important. It consists of a long sleeve one-color shirt, with sleeves folded to just below the
elbow, long pants of a good fabric, and leather shoes. No tie is necessary. Jacket and tie are usually only
worn during business meetings, by businessmen or Real Estate Agents. Australians vary in their style of
clothing, some loving colorful clothes and stamps, some hating it. At the beach it is more common to
wear shorts than Speedos or bikinis, for both, males and females. Australians don't like to show off their
bodies pretty much, still a consequence from the 1900's, when it was prohibited to have a swim in the
ocean, and wear nothing that could permit a tan on your skin. Melbourne is the top fashion place in
Australia.
Australian Television: The salvation is the SBS channel, with lots of good programs and
documentaries. It is also the only channel that reports about every continent on the Globe and shows
Soccer games from all over the world every Saturday. Other channels show boring programs such as;
reality TV, American sitcoms and tourist programs that make you feel like the poorest person on Earth
etc... Sometimes I think that television in Australia is made to be boring so that it encourages you to get
out and do something or work for longer shifts. That's right, if I have to choose between watching TV until
10 o'clock or working until 10 o'clock, I will take the second. Australian Radios are another difficult thing
to get along with. The repetition of songs day after day is a pain in the ass and none of the radio stations
seem to have any individuality.
Preservation of the environment is ten out of ten for Australia. It is amazing; how much
care conscientious Australians dedicate to preserving the environment. It doesn't only cover nature
conservation such as mountains, rivers, forests and oceans, it spans into the cities as well. Australians
love Australia and are very proud of having a clean and beautiful land. The majority of the population are
very concerned about ecological and preservation matters, involving themselves as much as possible to
keep it that way. Not only will normal people report damage to the environment, but the authorities will
also give you heavy fines for dumping anything you are not allowed to. Streets and locations are very
clean. I have been to beaches where you have to walk on a wooden path so as not to disturb the sand
and native grass that is underneath. There are selective rubbish collections for most homes with recycling
bins separated from bins containing other materials. Also, Councils from all over Australia, do an
Environment impact study before authorizing any new construction and development. As I said before, it
is 10 out of 10.
Read about facts and Australian Life Style such as Australian Culture, Cost of Life in
Australia, Food in Australia, Surf in Australia, Laws & Rules of Australia, Personal security in Australia,
Transports in Australia, Courses in Australia by checking other topics on this page.