Australia Day

Australia Day, 26 January, is the day to reflect on what it means to be Australian, to celebrate contemporary Australia and to acknowledge our history

Australia Day 2023

On 26 January 2023, in all corners of our nation, Australians came together at more than 650 events hosted by councils and local community groups to reflect, respect and celebrate with their communities.

On Australia Day we celebrate all the things we love about Australia: land, sense of fair go, lifestyle, democracy, the freedoms we enjoy but particularly our people.

Australia Day is about acknowledging the contribution every Australian makes to our contemporary and dynamic nation. From our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have been here for more than 65,000 years, to those who have lived here for generations, to those who have come from all corners of the globe to call our country home. 

The 26 January is an important date in Australia's history that has evolved over time. Starting as a celebration for emancipated convicts, today it is a day to acknowledge past wrongs and show respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ survival, resilience and enduring culture.

It is also a day we pay respect to the stories, histories and contributions of the Australians who lived, worked and fought for the values and freedoms we often take for granted. 

And it is day we celebrate the diversity of this nation's people with our various cultures, traditions and belief systems.

Australia Day continues to be hugely popular, with 3 in 4 Australians believing it has a bigger meaning beyond being just a day off.

More than half of all Australians participate in Australia Day attending events organised by State Governments, local councils, community groups or getting together with family and friends.  In addition, over 16,000 new Australians become citizens on Australia Day.

2022 Australia Day Report

Australia Day 2022

2021 Australia Day Report 

Australia Day logo

2022 Australia Day Photographic Competition

Congratulations to the National 2022 Australia Day Photo Competition Winner

Honey Binny                    People with flags - multi cultural               Salamat Po! Australia,  Barrio Fiesta Brisbane

2022 Photo Competition winner

 

Congratulations - below are the  2022 Australia Day Photo Competition State & Territory finalists

New South Wales                        

Rhonda Futterleib           Aboriginal Dancer with flags                      Taree on Manning Rotary Club

Leona Curran                   Smoking ceremony on beach                    Celebrating Culture and Unity - Moona Moona Creek - Huskison

Epy Djulianti                    Lady with mask                                             Unity in Diversity

Victoria              

Niraj Karanjeet                3 Nepalese dancers                                      Geelong Nepalese Association Inc

Howard Burvill                2 children with flags                                     Woodend Rotary Club

Nellie Khoroshina           women dancing in circle                             National Council of Jewish Women Australia – Victoria                                

Queensland                    

Honey Binny                    People with flags - multi cultural               Salamat Po! Australia,  Barrio Fiesta Brisbane

Geoff Morris                    Aboriginal children dancing                       Aussie Fun Day 2022 ,Penninsula Fair Darts Association

Bunu Gautum                  Nepalese dancing                                        Nepalese Art, Culture and Literature Academy of Australia QLD

ACT                     

Ali Khurram                     Father & Child                                              PAFA-NADC Event 2022

Anna Smyth                     Women at Australia Day food stall          ACT community services

Bailey Fox                         Monica Moore singing                              Harmonie German Club                             

South Australia              

Marcia Mudge                 Celebrating citizenship                             City of Unley

Molly Murdock               Children sitting in front of flags               District Council of Robe

MD Asaduzzaman           Children running                                       SABCA Australia Day BBQ & Family Funday 2022

Tasmania                         

Leigh Gracie                     Aboriginal Elder at smoking ceremony    Kentish Awards Ceremony

 Christopher Mann          People dancing                                            Australia Day at Adventure Bay

Karen Brazier                   People watching                                           Aboriginal Elder at smoking ceremony    Rotary Club of Somerset

Western Australia                        

Lisa Li                                Aboriginal and Chinese Dancers                              Community Harmony Australia Day Celebration

Cherie Smith                    Lady wearing Australian and Aboriginal Flag        Australia All Over -Walpole Community Resource Centre

Jo Bryant                          Trio celebrate together                                             Shire of York Community

Northern Territory                       

Oiwodu Ega                     Singers from multicultural backgrounds   OzFusion 2022 Australia Day event

Mike Rogers                    Walking together                                          Nhulunbuy Corporation

Katrina Fong Lim             Priscilla Queen of Utes                               Variety NT -Photo by Nina Franova: Dreamedia Creative

 

 A picture can tell a thousand words, but in this competition, pictures just needed to tell ten words: Reflect, Respect and Celebrate. We're all part of the story.

Thank you to the many people and organisations who entered the 2022 Australia Day Photo Competition.