Australia has many things in common with the rest of the world, though there are several parts of our national identity and culture which are peculiar to us. These are detailed in the sections below. They include emphasis on physical as opposed to mental achievement, the concept of mateship, Australian idiom, language and humour. The embracing of the concept of multiculturalism is also covered. Be aware that any culture and national identity is always changing.

This page provides links to information and resources for units and topics covered in this subject at a range of Australian universities. It does not attempt to include all these. Be aware some units/topics have different titles in different universities, even though content may be the same or similar. Australian information is supplied wherever possible.

They are at undergraduate level and listed in alphabetical groupings for ease of access. Some information may be useful at a higher level.

In addition, there are journals, search engines, databases, primary documents, reference material and other general information where these are seen to be relevant.

All standard Glossaries are now found on this page, listed alphabetically.

Additional unit material will be included as time permits.

If you are aware of any worthwhile information which is not included, suggestions or additions are welcome and will be given every consideration.

A - F

Arts & Culture

The role of Arts, Music and Literature within the Australian culture.

• Australian Language, Letters and Literature
  Examples of these, the influences behind them and their effects. Culture & Recreation Portal.
• Australian Painters
  The role of artists from settlement on, what impact they had on Australia. Culture & Recreation Portal.
• Literature - Reflecting Old and New Influences
  Fact Sheet from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade providing a basic introduction. Download a copy.
• Nicholson
  A country’s culture is often reflected in the cartoons about its way of life. This is one example. Cartoons by Nicholson that reflect Australian, rather than international events.
• The Angry Penguins
  ‘Modernist literary and artistic movement that sought to shake up the Australian art establishment of the 1940s. Run by a group of passionate and angry young men - the rebels of their day.’
• The Lucky Country
  Article about Donald Horne and his book. ‘He was thinking about things like Australia’s cultural cringe, its foreign policy and the White Australia Policy. He was, to paraphrase those words, talking about a not too clever country.’

Australian Humour

What sort of humour can be considered Australian ?

• Australian Humour
  ‘Recognised the world over as being distinctly Australian. Our humour is dry, full of extremes, anti-authoritarian, self-mocking and ironic.’ Styles of humour, humour in various media, links. Culture & Recreation Portal.
• The Loaded Dog
  Short story by Henry Lawson. Provides a good example of ‘Aussie humour’.

Australian Identity

Identity, and what makes it, is an integral part of any culture. The following provides information about the ‘Australian’ identity.

• Australian Identity
  Article. Director of the St James Ethics Centre.
• Australian Identity [2]
  Adolescents’ Conceptions of What it Means to be Australian. 2003 article, presented by Nola Purdie at the AARE Conference.
• Australian Identity [3]
  Links compiled by Adelaide High School Library.
• Australian Identity [4]
  Sites about Outstanding Aussies, Aussie Icons, Our Cultural Diversity, Special Days, Commemorations. Teachers’ section.
• Australian Identity : A Cinematic Roll Call
  ‘Australian films have charted a range of views of the Australian identity, and in this article, I have identified four main strands.’ Free. There is also a Theme Pack on Australian Identity available for purchase.
• Australian Identity - Identity & Culture
  Australian Screen. Range of film clips [movies & television]. ‘The clips have teachers’ notes related to this topic.’
  Fascinating !
• Celebrating Australia : Identity By Design
  ‘Revealed how concepts and symbols of national identity have been used and developed by Australian graphic designers throughout the 20th century.’ Article.
• Does Australia Need a National Identity ?
  Incorporates general information, quotes, a timeline review of changes, the present day.

Educational Activities

Educational units and lessons about Australian Identity, most developed by education departments.

• Australian Identity : Who is an Australian ?
  Developed for secondary level by Making Multicultural Australia. All resources can be accessed, all details are provided.
• Australian National Identity :
  Influences and Perspectives. New Basics Project, Education Queensland, Provides all required procedures and links for implementation.
• Being Australian
  ‘Social Studies, Year 7 curriculum in Queensland, Unit 1 : Being Australian. Activity numbers correspond to Sourcebook. The WebQuest What Does it Mean to be Australian ? [written by the same author] also addresses this unit.’
• Migration and Australian Identity
  NSW Board of Studies integrated unit. PDF or Word formats. Primary level.
• This Australian Nation :
  Who are we ? What do we value ?. Presentation from Civics & Citizenship Education. Three main activities. Secondary level. Linked through use of the Australian Readers.
• Voices of Australia
  An education resource for Australian secondary school teachers. ‘Allows for the different stories of Australian people to be heard and celebrated in the classroom. Students will increase their awareness about experiences of diversity, discrimination, race relations, friendship, and respect. Curriculum linked.’
• We Are Australian
  ACivics & Citizenship Educationt. Multiple activities. Middle Primary up. Linked through use of the Australian Readers.
• We Are Australian [2]
  NSW Country Area Program [CAP]. Identity and Values. Activities using the links provided.

• Identity, Race and History
  Australia’s Continuing Neurosis. One of the Alfred Deakin Lectures. Printer friendly format, full transcript. Kim Scott.
• Legend Mate, Bloody Legend
  Review of The Australian Legend and its Discontents, edited by Richard Nile. Interesting review, which links to aspects of the Australian identity. Not about sport but the wider context.
• National Identity
  Australian Studies Centre Online. Article on this topic.
• Raffaello Carboni’s Perception of Australia And Australian Identity
  Article by G Rando on Carboni and his views of an emerging Australian identity. [Carboni was involved in the Eureka Stockade.]
• The Australian Bush
  ‘The bush has an iconic status in Australian life and features strongly in any debate about national identity, especially as expressed in Australian literature, painting, popular music, films and foods.’ Culture & Recreation Portal.
• The Australian Legend and the Frontier Thesis
  ‘Russel Ward outlined his interpretation of the Australian national character in his 1958 book, The Australian Legend.’ A follow-up piece.
• Who’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me ?
  ‘Aims to reveal some of the important primary and secondary sources that have informed the stories, myths and interpretations behind the song. Explore the original sources that tell the multiple stories of Waltzing Matilda.’

Australian Values

What values do Australians see as important ? Also check the sections on Mateship and Myths below.

• Australian Values
  ‘Tongue-in-the-cheek’ presentation on Australian values.
  Warning : some people may be offended by sections of this.
• Life in Australia : Australian Values
  Fact Sheet. Department of Immigration & Citizenship.

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G - L

General Sites

• Australian Culture
  Brief article.
• Australian Culture [2]
  Another tongue-in-cheek presentation. The only apparent, genuine piece of work is the C J Dennis poem. Make of it what you will !
• Australian Popular Culture
  ‘Read books and articles on Australian Popular Culture through Questia. 15 provided on the topic.’
• Cultural Cringe
  Origin, cultural alienation, occurrence in several countries including Australia, bibliography, references. From Wikipedia.
• Cultural Policy in Australia
  Article looking at the development and implementation of this.
• Culture of Australia
  Arts, Sport, Attitudes, Beliefs & Stereotypes, notes, links. From Wikipedia.
• Culture of Australia [2]
  Article.
• Some Aspects of Australian Culture
  Provided by a university for international students. Online and as a PDF download.
• There Is An Australian Culture
  Anrticle that looks at whether there is an Australian culture. Covers aspects of life that make up a culture.
• What Sort of Nation ?
  Teaching unit, Discovering Democracy series.

Indigenous Culture

For information in this area, go to the following pages.

• Indigenous Australia
• Indigenous History

Language

Links to idiom, slang, Strine , more. For more, go to The English Language page, under Dialects.

• Australia Decoded
  Dictionary of Australian English. Words, phrases, acronyms. Each has a clear, and at times extensive, explanation. Choose a beginning letter from the Australia Decoded search box in the main menu.
  Highly Recommended !
• Australian or Aussie Slang
  ‘Considering the variety of accents, & our tendency to use slang words in many situations, the slang shown here on this page should help most visitors to Australia, and give you a few laughs along the way.’
• Australian Slang
  Colloquialisms, idiom, substitutions, sources for slang, gentle insults, perverse reversals, nicknames, lost phrases, further references, more. Culture and Recreation Portal.
• Australian Word Map
  ‘Mapping Australian regionalisms - words, phrases or expressions used by particular language groups. Add your regionalism or see what others have contributed.’
• Slang and Peculiar Terms in Use in the A.I.F. 1921-1924
  ‘Compiled by the newly formed Australian War Memorial’s librarians over the period 1921 to 1924. A snapshot of the language of the soldiers who had fought for Australia and the Empire in the Middle East and Europe. Over 900 terms are included. We can get a real sense of how the average soldier spoke [the swear words that no doubt were also a central part of the soldiers’ vocabulary did not make it, although some are alluded to]. We also gain a sense of how Australian soldiers brought to the battlefields a distinct Aussie identity revealed in this slanguage.’ Australian National Dictionary Centre.
• Let Stalk Strine !
  ‘Taken from a publication called Strine by Afferbeck Lauder. Published by Ure Smith, Sydney. A lexicon on modern Strine usage.’
• Meanings and Origins of Australian Words and Idioms
  ‘A selection of Australian words, their meanings, and their etymologies.’ Listed alphabetically. Australian National Dictionary Centre.
• Strine [“Ow’re yer going”]
  History, with some examples of rhyming slang.
• The Gold Rushes and Australian English
  A Resource for Researchers, Teachers, and Students. ‘The documents are intended to encourage students to do their own work with source material.’ 13 groupings. Australian National Dictionary Centre.
• The Vocabulary of Australian English
  ‘This document outlines some of the most important sources of Australian words, and some of the important historical events that have shaped the creation of Australian words.’ Australian National Dictionary Centre.

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M - R

Mateship

From the earliest European settlement, this was seen as a defining characteristic of Australian culture.

• A Sketch of Mateship
  A sketch demonstrative of the concept of mateship, Henry Lawson. Scroll down to this.
• Gallipoli, Mateship, …
  And the Construction of Australian National Identity. Article on the role and depiction of mateship, especially in film.
• Is Mateship a Virtue ?
  Essay by James S Page that takes a critical look at what mateship is and effects this might have - are these virtues ? PDF file.
• Mateship
  Listing of quotes and statements relating to mateship from Prime Ministers, writers, everyday people. Interesting.
• Mateship [2]
  Origins, military context, use in other situations, references, links, more. From Wikipedia.
• Mateship as an Australian Value
  Article by Tom Lovett in The Epoch Times.
• Mateship, Diggers and Wartime
  Article, Culture & Recreation Portal. Information, links.

Media Presentation

Links to media presentations including several from the ABC.

• Remaking Australia, Part 4 : Miriam Lyons
  ‘A look at remaking Australian culture, for want of a smaller topic.’ One of a series of responses after the Federal election of 2007. Crikey.
• Suburbia
  ‘While Australians like to think that the bush is at the heart of the country, roughly 80 per cent of Australians live in the suburbs’
  Part of a series from Radio National, available as a broadcast or in transcript format.
• Tales of Two Hemispheres
  2004 Boyer Lectures. In audio and transcript formats. ‘Peter Conrad his side of the story of being an expatriate Australian writer and intellectual, returning to his birthplace to rediscover and appreciate anew the qualities that make Australia unique and now an object of desire in this increasingly globalised world.’ 6 broadcasts.
• The Australian People
  ‘When Australia commemorated a hundred years of nationhood in 2001, the people reflected the fact that Australia’s population is now one of the most ethnically diverse in the world.’
  Part of a series from Radio National, available as a broadcast or in transcript format.
• The Local and the Global in Australian Culture
  ‘There are often two conflicting points of view about Australian culture : one that such a young country can hardly be seen to have a national culture at all, and another more positive view that Australia’s no longer a British outpost nor is it a branch office of the United States and it can build something new and different, Down Under !’
  Part of a series from Radio National, available as a broadcast or in transcript format.

Myths, Beliefs & Stereotypes

Information aboutbeliefs seen as integral to Australian culture. Check the Mateship section above.

• Australian Dream
  ‘The Australian Dream or Great Australian Dream is a belief that in Australia, home ownership can lead to a better life and is an expression of success and security.’History, cultural presentations, references, links. From Wikipedia.
• Australian Folklore
  ‘Based on traditional beliefs, legends and customs of a group, handed down through generations.’ Looks at these from many sources. Links to further information. Culture & Recreation Portal.
• Egalitarianism
  Presentation with emphasis on mateship, egalitarianism, a fair go. Looks at responses to these concepts.
• Australian Stereotypes
  Article. Looks at stereotypes and people’s opposing views of them.
• Class in Australia
  Quotes about class in Australia. Several points of view provided.

Tall Poppies

• Flogging the Tall-Poppy Syndrome
  What it is, examples, responses, explanations of the process from several sources.
• Tall Poppy Syndrome
  Article that covers the syndrome in countries including Australia. Examples, references, links. From Wikipedia.

Multiculturalism

General information, award information, illustrators, link listings, more.

• A Timeline History of Multicultural Australia
  Commentaries, speeches, documents, archival material, articles, reports, more. Multiple sections from before Australia became a nation to The Present Generation.
• Making Multicultural Australia
  Assisting young people, parents, teachers and the community to explore Australia’s cultural diversity, tolerance and anti-racism. Research Library [3 000+ pages], audio, video, hotwords, activities & quizzes, history topics, lesson ideas, e-learning topics, documents.
  Exceptional !
• More than 60 Years of Post-war Migration
  Fact Sheet, Department of Immigration & Citizenship.
• Multiculturalism
  Summary, links.
• The Development of Australia’s Multicultural Policies
  How much do you know ? Online quizz. Access other quizzes from this page.
• The Evolution of Australia’s Multicultural Policy
  Fact Sheet, Department of Immigration & Citizenship.

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S - Z

Social and Cultural Features

These links have been compiled by an online education group and cover the post-war decades. Access may be limited on any visit without a Fee-based registration at the site [cost is quite reasonable]. Registration includes access to audio summaries, images and examinations on the topic.

• American and British Cultural Influence 1950s
  Effect on music, cinema, television, food, sport, national identity, more.
• American and British Cultural Influence 1960s
  Effect on music, cinema, television, food, sport, national identity, more.
• American and British Cultural Influence 1970s
  Effect on music, cinema, television, food, sport, national identity, more.
• American and British Cultural Influence 1980sEffect on music, cinema, television, food, sport, national identity, more.
• American and British Cultural Influence 1990s
  Effect on music, cinema, television, food, sport, national identity, more.
• Social and Cultural Features of the 1950s
  The Decade in Context, music & entertainment, fashion sport, international influences.
• Social and Cultural Features of the 1960s
  The Decade in Context, music & entertainment, fashion sport, international influences.
• Social and Cultural Features of the 1970s
  The Decade in Context, music & entertainment, fashion sport, international influences.
• Social and Cultural Features of the 1980s
  The Decade in Context, music & entertainment, fashion sport, international influences.
• Social and Cultural Features of the 1990s
  The Decade in Context, music & entertainment, fashion sport, international influences.
• The 80’s
  Australian life in the eighties. View the video box, photos, blogs, bibliography, comments, more.

Sport

Sport and its influence has always played a significant role in Australian culture.

• Nick Bryant’s Australia
  Part of a blog from the BBC News in which the reporter looks at Melbourne’s Sport Prowess and how it reflects on Australian love of sport [and competition with Sydney !].
• Sport
  ‘What it reveals about the values of Australian society are explored in the Sport : A National Obsession ? display in the Nation gallery.’ National Museum of Australia.
• Sport and Recreation as A Tool for Social Inclusion
  ‘Experiences of refugee and migrant young people’ and the use of sport as a way to inclusion.
• Sport : Touchstone of Australian Life
  Martin Flanagan. Part of the Alfred Deakin Lectures.
• This Sporting Life
  One person’s response to those who see sport as the most important factor, when he doesn’t. Article in The Age.

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