Australia is a young and diverse nation and Australian people come from numerous different cultural backgrounds. Australians are proud of their egalitarian culture whereby people are treated the same regardless of what level of society they come from. This attitude may explain why you may see students criticizing public figureheads or calling staff by their first name.
As you settle and make friends, you will find that there is really no such thing as a “typical” Australian. You will also encounter a wide range of social customs, habits and perspectives on life that may be new and different to your own. This section will prepare you for some of these experiences.
Greetings
Greetings are usually very informal, with students using “hello”, “hi”, or “g’day”. You will also hear the expression “How you going?” or “How’s it?” which translates to “How are you?” In formal situations such as business settings, shaking hands and a “Good Morning” or “Good Afternoon” are traditional greetings. Australians often refer to their friends, both male and female, as “mates”.
Conversation
The majority of Australians speak English although you will find many Australian born individuals speak a second language. One common problem faced by new international students is the slang used by many Australians, which may at times seem like a different language. Don’t be afraid to ask an Australian what they mean when using slang, as they are likely to enjoy translating for you.
Australians have a unique accent and share a tendency to speak quickly and run words together or shorten sounds. If you do not understand, ask them to repeat it. With time, you will find that you understand this new accent and will quickly be using the new lingo yourself!
See a list of Aussie expressions here (PDF file - 20kb)
Names
First names are used in Australia but titles such as Mr, Mrs, Ms and Dr followed by the surname are used in business and formal situations. The use of nicknames or shortened names such as ‘Johnno’ for ‘Jonathan’ or ‘Juz’ for ‘Justine’ is also common. Nicknames are a sign of acceptance and friendship.
Humour
Australians are known for their unique and dry sense of humour. This often involves light-hearted teasing about themselves and others.
Invitations
If someone offers you a “shout”, this means they will pay for your meal or drink. If you offer someone a “shout” of drinks, this means you will pay. If you are asked to “join” or “go” with a group to a meal or to a function, you will be expected to pay for your own expenses.
If you are invited to a home for a meal or function, it is polite to ask if there is something you can bring. This might include a beverage, food or flowers. Most students BYO (Bring Your Own), which means everyone brings either beverages or food to share. Barbecues are popular meals in Australia, especially in summer.
Time
Australians are generally very punctual when it comes to meeting each other socially and starting business and work functions. You should try to be as punctual as possible. Even though it might seem like everyone is very easy-going, Australians do not like to wait or have their time wasted.
Alcohol
In Australia, people under the age of 18 years are prohibited from purchasing and drinking alcohol. There are heavy fines and penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol. In Australian bars and hotels, you pay for each drink as you receive it, not when you are leaving. A hotel has two meanings in Australia; it is a place for accommodation as well as a bar or a pub that sells alcoholic beverages.
It is acceptable for both men and women to drink in bars together. Australian students drink socially at bars, hotels, pubs, parties and restaurants. However, many Australians choose not to drink alcohol and you should also not feel obligated to drink alcohol.
General Behaviour
In urban areas it is an offence to make loud noises after 11 pm. Try not to telephone Australians before 9am or after 9pm. If you have to cancel an appointment or will be late, it is courteous to call and explain to the person waiting for you. Smoking is not permitted on public transport, in government offices, restaurants or in shopping centres. Smoking is also not permitted in any University building.
Bargaining
Bargaining is not practised in Australian shops as products are marked with the sale price. You can try to bargain at garage sales or markets.
Dress
Australians tend to dress casually in almost all situations. Due to the weather, many students wear jeans, t-shirts, shorts and casual shoes. There will be some occasions, such as a job interview, where you will need to dress up. Before buying new clothes, check out what others are wearing. If you are unsure how to dress for an occasion, ask friends or colleagues for advice.
Sport
Most Australians are passionate about sport, both playing and watching. Check the Macquarie University Sports Association website for information on sports on-campus. Cricket, netball and rugby league are very popular in Sydney. Make sure you check out a game. Water sports are popular in Australia because of the good weather and extensive coastline.
Australians At Home
Australians greatly value their home life, and while they are usually pleased to have visitors, it is polite to telephone before arriving unannounced. Australians generally eat three meals a day: breakfast around 7-8am, lunch around noon-1pm and dinner or “tea” around 6-8pm. Given the multi-cultural nature of Australia, you may be invited to a friend’s house to eat Thai food with chopsticks one night, and pizza or a barbecue the next.
There's plenty of useful online information for those considering Australia as a potential place to study.
Australian Government Website
Federal, State, Territory and local Government sites
Study in Australia Website
Official Government site for studying in Australia
Australian Tourist Commission Website
Official Government site for travelling in Australia
NSW Tourism Website
NSW and Sydney tourism information
City of Sydney Website
Official Government site for the city of Sydney
Seek Website
Online employment site for job-seekers
