Life in Australia

Background Information about Australia:

This information is intended for people who are applying for a visa to live in Australia, either permanently or on a temporary basis. It provides an overview of Australia, its history, way of life and the values we share.
When applying for selected visas, applicants aged 18 years and over are required to sign an Australian Values Statement confirming they will respect Australian values and obey the laws of Australia.
Australian values include:
 respect for equal worth, and the dignity and freedom of the individual
 freedom of speech
 freedom of religion and secular government
 freedom of association
 support for parliamentary democracy and the rule of law
 equality under the law
 equality of men and women
 equality of opportunity
 peacefulness
 a spirit of egalitarianism that embraces tolerance, mutual respect and compassion for those in need.

These values may be expressed in different ways by different people while still maintaining the same meaning. They are not unique to Australia, but have broad community agreement and underpin Australian society and culture.
The values statement is included with most visa application forms either as a question or as part of the declaration.
Before signing the values statement question on the application form, all applicants for provisional, permanent and a small number of temporary visas are required to have read, or had explained to them, information on values provided by the Australian Government. The information below is designed to help visa applicants understand Australian values before they sign the values statement on their visa application.