ANALYSE AND APPLY 6. Explain how symbols like the Australian flag or national anthem contribute to shaping Australia’s national identity. 7. Describe how Australia’s different cultural groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, contribute to the country’s national identity. EVALUATE AND COMMUNICATE 8. Propose a way in which negative stereotypes could be changed to better reflect true cultural traditions, values and practices. 9. Explain whether you believe refugees and asylum seekers are treated differently by the Australian government. Discuss whether this difference is justified. 10. Create a new version of the Australian flag. Ensure that your design appropriately reflects Australia’s diverse national identity. Include a written explanation of the features/symbols/colours which you have chosen to include. Answers and sample responses for this topic are available online.
LESSON 19.5 Inquiry: What is the future of Australia Day?
LEARNING INTENTION By the end of this lesson, you should be able to describe the debate about Australia Day.
Background The debate that surrounds the celebration of Australia Day provides another example of the complex nature of Australian national identity. Australia Day (currently celebrated on 26 January) is the official national day of Australia. This date commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Port Jackson, New South Wales, in 1788. The first evidence of Australia Day celebrations comes from colonial New South Wales. Referring to it as ‘Foundation Day’, Governor Lachlan Macquarie issued the first official observance of the date in 1818 — the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the colony. Prior to 1888, the individual colonies celebrated their respective commemorative events on separate days. It was not until 1935 that all Australian states and territories officially adopted the term ‘Australia Day’ and it was only as recently as 1994 that the date was marked by a national public holiday.
The celebration of this day is far from straightforward — even before we start to discuss what a national day to celebrate the arrival of the British signifies to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. In modern Australia, our national day is celebrated in many different ways. Barbeques, concerts, community events and citizenship ceremonies are held on Australia Day across the country. Some people argue that Australia Day is the perfect opportunity to reflect on what makes our country unique and what it means to be Australian. But to many other Australians, there is nothing about 26 January that deserves to be celebrated.
FIGURE1 Invasion Day protesters call for a change of date.
578 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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