A Guide to Australia
Australia is known for its diverse ecosystem and fauna, such as its famous eucalyptus trees, dingoes, and kangaroos. But this remarkable land also holds an extraordinary history that can be discovered through festivals, tours, or museums.
Remote towns saw incredible prosperity as prospectors sought their fortune in the 19th century, leaving their legacy for us all to see today at sites such as Sovereign Hill.
Table of Contents
Population
Australia boasts an incredibly diverse population, with nearly one million residents having been born overseas. One out of every five Australians speak another language other than English at home and over half have relatives living overseas.
Australia saw over 300,000 births and 186,000 deaths between March 2024 and 2025, with immigration being the primary contributor. Capital cities saw higher immigration levels compared with regional areas.
Sydney may be Australia’s largest significant urban area by population size alone, but Melbourne surpasses it on Greater Capital City Statistical Area measures. The following table ranks the 51 largest significant urban areas by population – including suburbs and local government areas around capital cities but smaller than their GCCSA populations (except Canberra which includes nearby Queanbeyan in New South Wales). Melbourne currently has 5.56m people as its core population while when added with Newcastle and Wollongong it becomes 6.05m, making Sydney smaller at 5.35m on this measure.
Economy
Australia enjoys an economically prosperous western-style capitalist economy despite its isolation. The nation emerged unscathed from the global financial crisis without experiencing recession, leading the OECD in terms of wealth per capita.
Mining and commodity exports fuel economic expansion while wages support household spending and government revenues.
Though government policies have helped, the absence of structural reforms means growth remains weak. Australia faces several obstacles such as its ageing population and dependence on volatile commodities prices for growth; further, China is highly exposed due to a free-trade agreement; momentum is anticipated to improve as benefits from rate cuts will reach households and businesses; according to Deloitte Access Economics forecasts this will accelerate to 2.4% economic growth by 2026.
Education
Australian education is managed by the second tier of government and compulsory until age 15-17 (depending on state/territory). Education services are delivered both through public (also referred to as State Schools) and private schools that may or may not adhere to Australia’s Curriculum.
Primary school attendance is optional and spans from Foundation Year or Kindergarten through Grade 6. Afterward, many states offer secondary education which offers courses like English, Math, Science, The Arts and Physical Education as part of secondary curriculum.
Students completing secondary school receive either their state high school certificate or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. Both certificates are widely recognized by universities and educational providers across Australia and internationally. Furthermore, the Australian Curriculum also highlights general capabilities and cross-curriculum priorities within each learning area.
Culture
Australia boasts one of the world’s most advanced cultural sectors. Home to 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and many sports and creative industries ranging from ballet to cricket and the Sydney Opera House film Rabbit Proof Fence, Australia boasts an advanced cultural scene which draws worldwide interest. Australia is known for its strong, confident culture that is nurtured by artists like sopranos Dame Joan Sutherland and Yvonne Kenny; jazz musicians William Barton (didgeridoo-player) and Roger Woodward (pianist); composers such as Malcolm Williamson Don Banks and Graeme Koehne; composers such as Malcolm Williamson Don Banks (didgeridoo player) all help contribute immensely towards building its robust cultural landscape.
Aussies are known for being friendly, relaxed, egalitarian people. They value fairness, integrity, and respect regardless of social standing, while celebrating humor such as Crocodile Dundee movies or by comedians such as Barry Humphries. Australia is proud of its independence and pioneering spirit; an annual Anzac Day commemoration marks this fact each year at Gallipoli during World War 1.
