Australian Citizenship Day is celebrated each year on 17 September.
Australian Citizenship Day is a special day to reflect on and celebrate being an Australian citizen. Australian Citizenship is more than a legal status. It is our common bond that represents our shared democratic beliefs and gives us a sense of belonging and pride in our achievements as a nation.
Active citizens strengthen Australia by working to improve their local community.
History of Australian Citizenship Day
In 2001, Australian Citizenship Day was launched to increase community awareness of Australian citizenship. Australian Citizenship Day now provides a main point for citizenship-related activities and celebrations. It was introduced as a result of a recommendation by the Australian Citizenship Council.
The 17 September was chosen because it is the anniversary of the renaming of the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 to the Australian Citizenship Act 1948.
Many Australian citizenship ceremonies are held on Australian Citizenship Day to mark this special occasion. In 2013, over 2,200 people became Australian citizens at over 46 ceremonies.
Australian citizenship affirmation
The Australian citizenship affirmation is a way to show you are proud to be an Australian. The short statement is similar to the Australian citizenship pledge made by new Australian citizens. The affirmation is voluntary and has no legal status.
The Affirmation
As an Australian citizen,
I affirm my loyalty to Australia and its people,
Whose democratic beliefs I share,
Whose rights and liberties I respect,
And whose laws I uphold and obey.
You might hear the Australian citizenship affirmation at a citizenship ceremony or other event. It allows everyone to stand together and show their commitment to the nation. It helps you feel like you belong. You might also hear the affirmation on:
- Harmony Day
- Refugee Week
- Australian Citizenship Day (17 September)
- Australia Day (26 January)
Everyone is welcome to take part in the affirmation. If you are not an Australian citizen you can join in from the second line.
The very first affirmation was on Australia Day in 1999 at Galston Park in NSW to celebrate 50 years of Australian citizenship.
Watch this video to understand what the affirmation means. You can show this video at schools.
Watch this video to understand what the affirmation means. You can show this video at schools.
Citizenship Affirmation Video
Rosie: In a minute your teachers are going to ask you to say the Australian Citizenship Affirmation with your school mates.
The Affirmation is a short statement based on the pledge that new Australian citizens make.
It’s a chance for us to come together in our school community and affirm our commitment to Australia and its people.
But first, we want to acknowledge country, and then, we’re going to find out a little bit more about what the words in the affirmation mean.
Over to you team …
Children: Here is the land, here is the sky, are my friends and here am I. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we learn and play.
Rosie: That’s lovely everyone, now let’s try the affirmation … any volunteers?
Oh, Georgia! Thank you! Let’s go for it!
Georgia: As an Australian citizen…
Child K: Stop! What’s a citizen?
Rosie: An Australian citizen is a person who chooses to call Australia home and agree with its laws.
Being a citizen is a bit like being a member of a club – but it is being a member of a country. When you are a member, it is your choice; and you choose to agree with the rules.
Many Australian citizens are born in Australia. Some are born overseas. They are welcome in Australia as visitors – and later in their lives they choose to become members of Australia – they become citizens of Australia.
Over and out, let’s keep going!
Icons: citizen, Australia, home, laws, member, membership, choose, born, overseas, welcome
Georgia: As an Australian citizen, I affirm …
Child N: Stop! Affirm! What’s that?!
Rosie: Affirm means ‘yes, yes, I agree, it’s true – and I promise!’
Icons: affirm, yes, agree, true
Georgia: As an Australian citizen, I affirm my loyalty …
Child S: Wait. Here’s another word we need to know.
Rosie: Loyalty is being a friend and sticking with your friend no matter what!
Okay from the top!
Icons: loyalty, friend
Georgia: As an Australian citizen, I affirm my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic …
Child R: Hang on… tell us about this word?
Rosie: Democratic means we treat people the same way and everyone gets a say, everyone gets a turn …
From the top once again …
Icons: democratic, everyone, all people
Georgia: As an Australian citizen, I affirm my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share, whose rights and liberties …
Child K: Wait… this word is a bit tricky too!
Rosie: Liberties means freedom & choosing whatever we want, but without hurting anyone else.
Let’s try again …
Icons: liberty, freedom, don’t hurt others
Georgia: As an Australian citizen, I affirm my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share, whose rights and liberties I respect …
Child S: Wait.. so we hear this word ‘respect’ a LOT. But what does it mean?
Rosie: Respect is to treat others the way you want to be treated, and to show them they are important …
Icons: respect, important
Georgia: As an Australian citizen, I affirm my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share and whose rights and liberties I respect, and whose laws I uphold …
Child R: Here’s another one we need to know.
Rosie: Oh, this one’s easy! Uphold means to hold something up! It can also mean to hold an idea up in our minds. It means we think that idea is important …
One last time!
Icons: hold up, idea, important
Georgia and all Children: As an Australian citizen, I affirm my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share whose rights and liberties I respect, and whose laws I uphold and obey.
Yay!
