Australia Day
On Australia Day we come together as a nation to celebrate what's great about Australia and being Australian. It's the day to reflect on what we have achieved and what we can be proud of in our great nation. It's the day for us to re-commit to making Australia an even better place for the future.
Australia Day is much more than barbeques and fireworks. It is more than another public holiday. It is more than the pride and excitement of new citizens who call themselves Australian for the first time on 26 January after being conferred citizenship.
Australia Day provides us with an opportunity to share and celebrate our national community, to reflect on how we could make it better, and to instil meaning and substance behind our identity.
When taken as a whole, Australia Day is in fact a day that builds and strengthens the fabric that holds us together as a national community. It has the power to weave the threads of social inclusion and social cohesion into a unique Australian texture.
On Australia Day, over half of the nation’s population of 21 million attend either an organised community event, or get together with family and friends with the intention of celebrating our national day. Many more spend the public holiday relaxing with family and friends.
While the historic aspects of the day are important, Australia Day celebrations reflect contemporary Australia: our diverse society and landscape, our remarkable achievements and our bright future.
At its core, Australia Day is a day driven by communities, and the celebrations held in each town, suburb or city – unified by the celebration of what’s great about Australia and being Australian – are the foundation of its ongoing success.
