Australia

A Common Heritage

• Australians share many characteristics with British people because many Australians are descendants of:– English explorers– Missionaries– Prisoners who came to

Australia in the 1600s and 1700s.

A Common Heritage• When settlers arrived in

Australia, over 750,000 Aborigines (native Australians) lived on the continent.

• As the English established colonies, they forced the Aborigines toward the middle of the island where there is little rain and fresh water.

• Today, only one percent of Australia’s population is Aborigine.

A Common Heritage

• The majority of Australians are descendants of English settlers.

• Like the British, Australians speak the English language.

• Australia’s language has its own unique accent and vocabulary.

A Common Heritage

• The religions in Australia also reflect the country’s English heritage.

• Over 70% of Australians claim to be Christians.

• Almost half of Australians belong to the Catholic or Anglican faiths (Church of England).

The Origins of These Faiths

• The origins of these faiths stretch as far back as the 1600s when England sent Roman Catholic prisoners from Ireland to Australia.

• As the Irish established their Catholicism in Australia, English settlers and missionaries began to colonize the land.

• They brought their Anglican faith and teachings from the Church of England to their new land of Australia.

How Cool is School?Literacy= the ability to read and writeWhen many people in a country are literate, that country has a higher standard of living because educated citizens are more productive and will help a country’s economy grow!

School is Cool in Australia!• Australia has a very successful

economy that is enhanced by a highly literate population.

• 99% of men and women can read and write.

• Literacy rate is high because:– Australia has very good schools– The government provides

primary and secondary education for all students.

– Government supports a growing university system and technical training institutes.

Educated People

• Education helps increase the standard of living.– Teaches people how to

contribute their ideas and innovations to society.

Educated People

• An elementary school teacher can teach basic skills of reading and math.

• A scientist can discover a new technology that will produce more coal and iron ore to sell to a foreign country.

• These contributions help the economy, and a stronger economy means citizens make more $$ and can live better lives.

• It all starts with school!!

Aussie Economics

• Australia has a mixed market economy where supply and demand for a good or service determines what to produce and how to produce it.

• People can own their own businesses and produce what they want.

• In the 1960s mining natural resources like coal and iron ore became an important industry.

Aussie Economics

• Australia’s economy grew substantially when they began trading with China and Japan in the late 20th century.

• Today, mining is still one of Australia’s most important industries.