Australia Promotes Multiculturalism

Of all the things about Australia, culture is probably the one thing that interests a lot of people the most. Indeed, the country's culture has come to fascinate a lot of people. And one part of it that has caught the attention of many is multiculturalism.

As it is, multiculturalism is very much a part of the country's identity. Despite the fact that much of the Australian way of life is primarily British, there are still tons of other cultural elements that have been incorporated to it. And as Australia's culture continues to evolve, it is like that more elements will be included into it.

And it is interesting to note where the idea of multiculturalism in the country's culture actually started. As have been said earlier, much of the country's current cultural norms have been brought about by the incoming British settlers during the 18th and 19th centuries. However, the Western settlers and the native Aboriginal populace actually had a generally harmonious relationship, thus allowing elements of native culture to seep into the settlers' own. This is evident in the number of native words in the Australian vocabulary as well as the presence of other elements in its culture.

On the other hand, Australia has also been considered as a major immigration destination. Ever since its early history, the continent has been a major migration route, with people from all parts of the globe arriving here regularly. In the 20th century, the country saw the biggest waves of immigration, as many people fleeing the various wars have seen it as a haven. This, in turn, has brought other cultural elements in, which the country gladly accepted.

Because of the deep roots of multiculturalism in the nation's identity, Australia has always been an active promoter of the idea to the rest of the world. The country regularly sponsors exchanges with other countries to to learn more about their respective cultures. On the other hand, Australia also actively promotes its own to other countries.

However, despite these achievements, there is still a lot of challenges facing Australian multiculturalism. Some of these come in the form of opposition within the country itself, as there are groups wishing to protect a so called “Australian identity”. In response to these claims, proponents and supporters of the concept have said that multiculturalism is, in fact, that identity. Thus, they have said that they will continue the efforts to promote an Australia where a wide variety of people can live in.

Why The Irish Are Moving To Australia

For people moving into Australia, emigration from their home country is often seen as the only way that they can start a new life. Indeed, for many of those wishing to establish a new lives, Australia is often seen as one of the best places to head to. And experts agreed that this will likely continue in the years to come.

As of current, much of the immigrants coming to the land down under are those coming from the western countries, including Britain and the United States. However, in recent years, Australia has also become a popular destination for those coming from the Asian countries, as well as those from other parts of the globe.

One of the biggest reasons why a lot of people are moving into the land down under is because of the tons of opportunities available here. As a lot of people have probably known already, the country's economy is now on a boom. And because of this, a lot of businesses in the country now has a huge demand for workers.

Since Australia has a relatively small population, it is not able to take in much of the worker demand of the businesses in here. And this is where foreign workers come in, as they are the ones who fill in the demands of many industries here.

Of all the groups of people moving here, probably one of the fastest growing in terms of numbers are those coming from the country of Ireland. And with the current situation that the country is in, many Irish are now opting to move to Australia. For those who have already read the news, Ireland is currently experiencing a severe economic slowdown. This in turn, has lead many Irish to consider moving our as an option.

It is interesting to note that it is actually not that surprising for a lot of folks in Ireland to choose Australia as the place that they want to head to. You see, Australia and Ireland actually share the same British lineage, which means that it will actually be easy for Irish folks to settle here. In fact, some of the earliest immigrants to Australia are actually of Irish descent.

And Australia is very welcoming of the Irish. As it is, there are many Irish communities in all states. And this would certainly help a lot for them in settling here. Thus, a lot of Irish have come to consider Australia as their second home.

Australia's Local Celebrities

If you are following Australia, current news of local celebrities are likely to catch your attention. As it is, there are actually a lot of famous and interesting people in the country. And here are a few of them that you definitely would want to meet.

As a start, Steve Irwin is probably one of the most popular Australians that the public knows, if you have been hiding under a rock for quite sometime, Steve Irwin is more popularly known as the Crocodile Hunter, which is his monicker in the popular wildlife show of the same name. Through the show, Irwin was able to do much to promote animal conservation to many of his viewers.

Sadly, Irwin died in 2006 due to a fatal encounter with a stingray. However, he has since been considered as a local hero in Australia and has been awarded various recognitions by many groups. The international community has also recognized his contributions to wildlife conservation and have also given him a wide variety of memorials.

Meanwhile, in the realm of films, there have been a lot of Australians that has been quite popular with the audience. One of perhaps the most well known in this field is actor Hugh Jackman. Jackman is best well known by movie fans for his portrayal of the superhero Wolverine in the X-Men franchise, as well as the monster hunter Van Helsing in the movie of the same name. The actor has since appeared in a wide variety of other films.

Another well known Australian is Bob Hawke. If you have been reading the news and history, as well as politics, books, then you already know that Hawke was the country's 23rd Prime Minister, serving from 1983 to 1991 under the Labor Party. But for trivia nuts, he is actually more than that. As it turns out, Hawke actually once held the Guinness Record for being the fastest beer drinker in the world, having downed two liters of the stuff in under 12 seconds during his younger years.

And here is someone that is definitely worth including in the list of famous people in the country: Mary O'Reeri. Well, you might not be all that familiar with her, but she is actually starting to make a name for herself in the land down under. In fact, she has been recognized by Western Australia as the state's local hero for this year for her advocacy on suicide awareness. And it is like that the whole country will be familiar with her soon, as she is a candidate to receive the Australian of the Year Award for 2010.

Australian Solo Adventure

One of the best ways to make use of your Australian travel visa is heading to the land down under for a solo vacation. And you will be surprised at the many things that you find in the country. Here is a quick look at what you can expect when embarking on a loner's trip to Australia.

Preparing for your vacation is actually rather easy. If you have no time to prepare, then there are several companies that offer vacation packages that are especially designed for solo travelers like. These often include activities and itineraries that are suited to your liking.

But, if you are really bent on exploring the country more, it would be a good idea to actually spend some time and sort out the things that you would want to do on your solo escapade. Here, there are several options that you can have. For instance, you can get a prearranged vacation package. On the other hand, many solo vacationers actually opt to go on a backpack trip around the country, as they are actually able to explore Australia more this way.

So what can you expect on your single trip here? As have been said earlier, there are a lot of things to see in the land down under for lone travelers like you. The city of Sydney, for instance, have a wide variety of attractions that you can visit. In particular, the Kings Cross district is a popular destination for solo backpackers like you. And you are in luck, as there are a lot of cheap hostels in the area, so you can easily find accommodations.

On the other hand, beaches are also perennial favorites for travelers like you. For this one, the state of Queensland is probably the most popular destination that you can head to. The state is lined up with a multitude of beaches to visit. And if you are an avid wave rider, then Surfers Paradise is a must visit city. The Great Barrier Reef is also a main attraction for travelers in the area.

On the other hand, the western side of the country offers a wide variety of attractions for the more adventurous travelers. Many backpackers often enjoy the challenge of crossing the vast Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. Uluru is also another famous stopover that you might want to visit.

And there are still countless other attractions that you can find in the land down under. So what are you waiting for? Loosen up, pack your bags and visit the country today.