AUSTRALIA

Commonwealth of Australia Alternative Names "Aussie" is a colloquialism that was used during World War I to refer to Australian-born people of British or Irish ancestry. Initially used to describe a happy-go-lucky character capable of battling through hard times, the term was employed after World War II to distinguish those born domestically from "new" immigrants from western and southern Europe. The term continues to have meaning as a label for Australians representing their country. Among some sectors of society, "Aussie" is regarded as Eurocentric and anachronistic in a nation officially committed to ethnic and racial inclusiveness. Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Neighboring countries include Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea to the north, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia to the northeast and New Zealand to the southeast. Capital City Canberra

Demonym

Australian, Aussie

Area Total Population 2011 estimate

7,617,930 km2 (6th) 2,941,299 sq mi

22,650,027 [5] (50th)

Thedemographics of Australiacovers basic statistics, most populous cities, ethnicity and religion. The population of Australia is estimated to be 22,665,169 as of 17 July 2011. [1] Australia is the 50th most populous country in the world. Its population is concentrated mainly in urban areas. Australia's population has grown from an estimated population of about 350,000 at the time of British settlement in 1788 due to numerous waves of immigration during the period since. Also due to immigration, the European component of the population is declining as a percentage, as it is in many other Western countries.

Although Australia has scarcely more than two persons per square kilometer of total land area, this raw figure is highly misleading: most of the continent is desert or semidesert and of limited agricultural value.Consequently, Australia is one of the world's most urbanized countries with an urban population of 89%. The life expectancy of Australia in 1999-2001 was 79.7 years, among the highest in the world.
Indigenous Australians

Though Indigenous Australians are seen as being broadly related as part of what has been called the Australoid race, there are significant differences in social, cultural and linguistic customs between the various Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups.
Aboriginal Australians

The word aboriginal was used in Australia to describe its Indigenous peoples as early as 1789. It soon became capitalized and employed as the common name to refer to all Indigenous Australians. The word has been in use in English since at least the 17th century, to mean "first or earliest known, indigenous". It comes from Latin, Aborigines, derived from ab (from) and origo (origin, beginning).Strictly speaking, Aborigine is the noun and Aboriginal the adjectival form; however the latter is often also employed to stand as a noun. Aboriginal(s) in this sense, i.e. as a noun, has acquired negative connotations in some sectors of the community, who regard it as insensitive, and even offensive. The more acceptable and correct expression is Aboriginal Australians or Aboriginal people, though even this is sometimes regarded as an expression to be avoided because of its historical associations with colonialism. Indigenous Australians has found increasing acceptance, particularly since the 1980s The broad term Aboriginal Australians includes many regional groups that often identify under names from local Indigenous languages. These include:
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Koori (or Koorie) in New South Wales and Victoria (Victorian Aborigines) Ngunnawal in the Australian Capital Territory and surrounding areas of New South Wales Murri in Queensland Murrdi in Southwest and Central Queensland Nyungar in southern Western Australia Yamatji in central Western Australia Wangai in the Western Australian Goldfields Nunga in southern South Australia Anangu in northern South Australia, and neighbouring parts of Western Australia and Northern Territory Yapa in western central Northern Territory Yolngu in eastern Arnhem Land (NT) Tiwi on Tiwi Islands off Arnhem Land Anindilyakwa on Groote Eylandt off Arnhem Land Palawah (or Pallawah) in Tasmania.Different types of immigration

There are a number of different types of Australian immigration, classed under different categories of visa:
Employment visas Australian working visas are most commonly granted to highly skilled workers. Candidates are assessed against a points-based system, granting points for certain standards of education. These types of visas are often sponsored by individual states, which recruit workers according to specific needs. Visas may also be granted to applicants sponsored by an Australian business. The most popular form of sponsored working visa is the 457 visa. Student visas Foreign students are actively encouraged to study in Australia by the Australian Government. There are a number of categories of student visa, most of which require a confirmed offer from an educational institution. Family visas Visas are often granted on the basis of family ties in Australia. There are a number of different types of Australian family visas, including Contributory Parent visas and Spouse visas.

Employment and family visas can often lead to Australian citizenship, however this requires the applicant to have lived in Australia for at least four years with at least one year as a Permanent Resident.

AUSTRALIAN VISAS
Anyone wishing to travel or migrate to Australia requires a valid visa. Apply online for your Australian travel visa or choose the Australian visa category that best matches your needs and complete our Australian visa eligibility assessment to see if you qualify. WORK VISAS The Work visa program provides 18 - 45 year olds the opportunity to work in Australia permanently or temporarily. TRAVEL VISAS The Travel visa category is for people who want to travel to Australia for a short time as tourists or for business.

WORKING HOLIDAY VISAS A Working Holiday visa provides 18 - 30 year olds the opportunity to combine their holiday in Australia with short term work.

STUDENT VISAS The Student

visa program allows people to study at Australian schools, universities and vocational training centres.

BUSINESS VISAS

RETIREMENT VISA

The Business visa program is designed for individuals who want to establish, manage or develop their own business in Australia. The Retirement visa allows retirees over 55 years of age to make a significant financial investment in Australia.

SPOUSE VISA A Spouse visa is available to individuals wanting to marry or join their eligible spouse, de-facto or interdependent (including same sex) partner in Australia.

PARENT VISA A Parent visa allows parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens to stay with their child in Australia.

AUSTRALIALATEST IMMIGRATION NEWS

Australian Immigration outreach officers to visit Wollongong An appointment will be held in Illawarra on July 18 for the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) officers and residents in Wollongong to discuss immigration issues.

New group formed to assist Indian students in Australia In order to help new Indian students in Australia adjust to a new life in the country, a group named "Committee on Student Related Activities" (COSRA) has been formed by a team of prominent community leaders in association with the Indian Consulate here.

Immigration Opportunities for Western Australia The Western Australian economy presents an opportunity for the state government to plan for an expanding economy and employment market. Targeted migration to Australia is essential to meet the states need for skilled labour.

Australia in the Commonwealth -Welcome to Australia Hon Julia Gillard MPter of Australia It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the Australia portal of the Commonwealth of Nations website. Australia is a committed and active member of the Commonwealth, whose members share both strong historical connections and an ongoing commitment to the fundamental principles of democracy, good gover nance, the rule of law and the protection of human rights. Australia is a dynamic and diverse society. Our population of over 22 million includes Australia's indigenous people as well as settlers from over 200 countries around the world. Australia also enjoys a unique and spectacular natural environment and a lifestyle that make us one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. Through our engagement with the Commonwealth and the broader international community, Australia is committed to working actively to develop effective global responses to the challenges that will define our future, such as climate change, terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Australia is also committed to assisting other countries, particularly in our region, the Asia-Pacific, to achieve economic development and stability through our international aid program. didyouknow?
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Australia was a founder member of the Commonwealth in 1931 when its independence was recognized under the Statute of Westminster Australia has been competing in the Commonwealth Games since 1930, and has won an impressive 1906 medals It is one of 28 island nations in the association; the mainland of Australia is the largest island in the world Malcolm Fraser, Prime Minister of Australia 1975-83, delivered the 2nd Annual Commonwealth Lecture on 'Globalization and the Nation State' in 1999 Of the many internationally acclaimed Australian writers, seven have won Commonwealth Writers' Prizes, six for Best Book and one for Best First Book

Australia History

The first inhabitants were the Aborigines. In the 17th Century, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish explorers arrived to the Gulf of Carpentaria. In 1616, the territory became known as New Holland. In 1770, Captain James Cook claimed possession of the island. A British penal colony was set up in 1788, and transported English convicts. The First Fleet arrived in the Sydney Harbour on January 26th, 1788. The Australia Day yearlycelebration The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901. The Act for Immigration Restriction which restricted European Migration was dismantled after the Second World War. The ANZAC => Australia and New Zealand Army Corps. Nowadays, Australia is known for its liberal legislation. Today Australia is one of the most dynamic societies in the world.

Before the arrival of European settlers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples inhabited most areas of the Australian continent. Each people spoke one or more of hundreds of separate languages, with lifestyles and cultural traditions that differed according to the region in which they lived. Their complex social systems and highly developed traditions reflect a deep connection with the land and environment. Asian and Oceanic mariners and traders were in contact with Indigenous Australians for many centuries before the European expansion into the Eastern Hemisphere. Some formed substantial relationships with communities in northern Australia. The first recorded European contact with Australia was in March 1606, when Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon (c.1570 - 1630) charted the west coast of Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. Later that year, the Spanish explorer Luis Vaez de Torres sailed through the strait separating Australia and Papua New Guinea. Over the next two centuries, European explorers and traders continued to chart the coastline of Australia, then known as New Holland. In 1688, William Dampier became the first British explorer to land on the Australian coast. It was not until 1770 that another Englishman, Captain James Cook, aboard the Endeavour, extended a scientific voyage to the South Pacific in order to further chart the east coast of Australia and claim it for the British Crown. Britain decided to use its new outpost as a penal colony; the First Fleet of 11 ships carried about 1500 peoplehalf of them convicts. The fleet arrived in Sydney Harbour on 26 January 1788, and it is on this day every year that Australia Day is celebrated.

In all, about 160 000 men and women were brought to Australia as convicts from 1788 until penal transportation ended in 1868. The convicts were joined by free immigrants from the early 1790s. The wool industry and the gold rushes of the 1850s provided an impetus for free settlers to come to Australia.

Scarcity of labour, the vastness of the land and new wealth based on farming, mining and trade made Australia a land of opportunity. Yet during this period, Indigenous Australians suffered enormously. Death, illness, displacement and dispossession disrupted traditional lifestyles and practices. A Nation is Born The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 through the federation of six states under a single constitution. The non-Indigenous population at the time of Federation was 3.8 million. Half of these lived in cities, three-quarters were born in Australia, and the majority was of English, Scottish or Irish descent.

The founders of the new nation believed they were creating something new and were concerned to avoid the pitfalls of the old world. They wanted Australia to be harmonious, united and egalitarian, and had progressive ideas about human rights, the observance of democratic procedures and the value of a secret ballot. While one of the first acts of the new Commonwealth Parliament was to pass the Immigration Restriction Act 1901, which restricted migration to people of primarily European origin, this was dismantled after the Second World War. Today Australia has a global, non-discriminatory policy and is home to people from more than 200 countries. From 1900 to 1914 great progress was made in developing Australias agricultural and manufacturing capacities, and in setting up institutions for government and social services.

The impact of war The First World War had a devastating impact on Australia. In 1914 the male population of Australia was less than 3 million, yet almost 400 000 of them volunteered to fight in the war. As many as 60 000 died and tens of thousands more were wounded. Out of this experience was born one of Australias most enduring values: the Anzac ethos of courage and spirit. Every year on 25 April, Australia commemorates the brave but devastating battle fought by the Australia and New Zealand Army CorpsAnzacsat Gallipoli, Turkey, in 1915. The day also commemorates all Australian soldiers who have fought in wars since then.

The period between the two world wars was marked by instability. Social and economic divisions widened during the Depression years when many Australian financial institutions failed. During the Second World War Australian forces made a significant contribution to the Allied victory in Europe and in Asia and the Pacific. The generation that fought in the war and survived came out of the war with a sense of pride in Australias capabilities.

Post-war prosperity After the war Australia entered a boom period. Millions of refugees and migrants arrived in Australia, many of them young people happy to embrace their new lives with energy and vigour. The number of Australians employed in the manufacturing industry had grown steadily since the beginning of the century. Many women who had taken over factory work while men were away at war were able to continue working in peacetime. The economy developed strongly in the 1950s with major nation -building projects such as the Snowy Mountains Scheme, a hydro-electric power scheme located in Australias southern alps. Suburban Australia also prospered. The rate of home ownership rose dramatically from barely 40 per cent in 1947 to more than 70 per cent by 1960. Other developments included the expansion of the social security net and the arrival of television. Melbourne hosted the Olympic Games of 1956, shining the international spotlight on Australia. A changing society The 1960s was a period of change for Australia. The ethnic diversity produced by post-war immigration, the decline of the United Kingdom and the Vietnam War (to which Australia sent troops) all contributed to an atmosphere of political, economic and social change. In 1967 the Australian people voted overwhelmingly in a national referendum to give the federal government the power to pass legislation on behalf of Indigenous Australians and to include Indigenous Australians in future censuses. The referendum result was the culmination of a strong campaign by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. It was widely seen as a strong affirmation of the Australian peoples wish to see its government take direct action to improve the living conditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islande r peoples. The long post-war domination of national politics by the coalition of the Liberal and Country (now National) parties ended in 1972, when the Australian Labor Party was elected. The next three years saw major changes in Australias social and economic policy agenda and a heavy legislative program of reforms in health, education, foreign affairs, social security and industrial relations.

However, a constitutional crisis resulted in Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam being dismissed by the then Governor-General. In the subsequent general election the Labor Party suffered a major defeat and the LiberalNational Coalition ruled until 1983, when Labor again won office. In 1996 a Coalition Government led by John Howard won the general election and was re-elected in 1998, 2001 and 2004. Today Australia is one of the most cosmopolitan and dynamic societies in the world. Over 200 languages are spoken, with English the common language. The nation has thriving ethnic media, an international business reputati on, an innovative artistic community, diverse religious and cultural activities and variety in foods, restaurants, fashion and architecture. History The first inhabitants of Australia were the Aborigines, who migrated there at least 40,000 years ago from Southeast Asia. There may have been between a half million to a full million Aborigines at the time of European settlement; today about 350,000 live in Australia. Dutch, Portuguese, and Spanish ships sighted Australia in the 17th century; the Dutch landed at the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1606. In 1616 the territory became known as New Holland. The British arrived in 1688, but it was not until Captain James Cook's voyage in 1770 that Great Britain claimed possession of the vast island, calling it New South Wales. A British penal colony was set up at Port Jackson (what is now Sydney) in 1788, and about 161,000 transported English convicts were settled there until the system was suspended in 1839. Free settlers and former prisoners established six colonies: New South Wales (1786), Tasmania (then Van Diemen's Land) (1825), Western Australia (1829), South Australia (1834), Victoria (1851), and Queensland (1859). Various gold rushes attracted settlers, as did the mining of other minerals. Sheep farming and grain soon grew into important economic enterprises. The six colonies became states and in 1901 federated into the Commonwealth of Australia with a constitution that incorporated British parliamentary and U.S. federal traditions. Australia became known for its liberal legislation: free compulsory education, protected trade unionism with industrial conciliation and arbitration, the secret ballot, women's suffrage, maternity allowances, and sickness and old-age pensions.