Australia is an island continent and country located between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It is a highly developed and multicultural nation with a population of immigrants from Britain, Ireland, and more recently Asia. While most Australians live along the coast, the interior of the continent is mostly uninhabited desert. Aboriginal Australians remain the original inhabitants and have faced discrimination resulting in lower life expectancies and socioeconomic outcomes compared to other Australians.

2. Australia the Country
• Australia is officially named the
Commonwealth of Australia.
• Australia, the country, is made up of the
continent mainland, the island Tasmania, and
numerous other islands in the Pacific and
Indian Oceans.
• Neighboring countries
include Indonesia, Papua
New Guinea, Vanuatu, &
New Zealand.

3. • It remains a part of the Commonwealth
realm.
• It has a democratic government
(constitutional monarchy).
• Queen Elizabeth II is the monarch.
• Kevin Rudd is the prime minister.
Australia’s Government

4. • It is a multicultural country.
• Australia is a country of immigrants.
– 90% of Australians are of British or Irish descent
(mostly convict).
– Since the abolishment of the White Australia policy of
the 1970s, immigration from Asia and elsewhere has
been encouraged.
• As a result, Australia’s demography, culture, and
self-image have been transformed.
• Also, a large number of Australians live outside
their home country.
Australia’s People

5. • Aborigines suffer from higher rates of
imprisonment and unemployment.
• Aborigines suffer from lower levels of
education.
• Life expectancies for males and females is 17
years lower than those on non-indigenous
Australians. Why?...
Australia’s Aborigines

6. • Australia’s foreign relations are driven by a
close relationship with the United States, its
status as a British commonwealth, and its
proximity to Asia.
• It is a founding member of the United
Nations.
Australia and the World

7. • Language
– English is the national language.
– It is spoken by 80% of the country’s population.
• Religion
– Australia has no state religion.
– 64% of Australians list Christianity as their religion (26% of that are
Roman Catholic).
– Surveys have found Australia to be one of the least devout nations in
the developed world.
• Education
– The adult literacy rate is 99%.
– One result of the high literacy
is that Australia enjoys one of
the highest standards of living!
– Australia’s education is ranked 8th
in the world (the United States is 9th).
Australia’s Culture

8. • Sports
– 23.5% of Australians over the age of 15 regularly
participate in organized sports.
– Australia has strong international teams in cricket, field
hockey, rugby, cycling, rowing, sailing, and swimming.
• Famous Australian swimmers include
Dawn Frasier and Ian Thorpe.
– Australia has participated in every
summer Olympic Games since 1896.
• It hosted the 1856 Summer Olympics in
Melbourne.
• It hosted the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
• It has ranked in the top 6 medal-takers since
2000.
Australia’s Culture