Australia Day 26 January

Australia Day is celebrated on 26 January each year. This day is an opportunity for us to think about the importance and value of being Australian. We celebrate what we have achieved as a nation together and recommit to making Australia an even better place for the future.

Australia Day 2011

Prime Minister Julia Gillard conferred citizenship on 50 new Australians at Regatta Point in Canberra.

Some 13 000 people from 143 countries became Australian citizens on Australia Day 2011.

Since the first Australian citizenship ceremony in 1949, more than four million people have chosen to become Australian citizens.

Around 325 citizenship ceremonies were hosted across the nation on and around Australia Day by local councils and community groups. Despite the devastating floods, Brisbane City Council raised spirits by hosting this year's largest Australia Day citizenship ceremony with just over 1000 people becoming citizens at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Brisbane City Council hosts this year's largest Australia Day citizenship ceremony.

In NSW, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, presided over a ceremony at Taronga Zoo to welcome 42 new citizens to the Australian family.

Citizenship ceremonies are an important part of Australia Day celebrations. This year around 325 Australian citizenship ceremonies were hosted around the country.

Celebrating citizenship on Australia Day

Barbara Sarri, pictured with her great granddaughter Jordan, celebrates becoming a citizen after 57 years in Australia.

Citizenship ceremonies are an important part of Australia Day celebrations. They are often presided over by officials including the Governor-General, Prime Minister, government ministers and local government mayors.

Australia Day is also an opportunity for all Australians to affirm their commitment to Australia by taking part in an Australian citizenship affirmation ceremony. These ceremonies may be part of a citizenship ceremony or other community function. Australian of the Year winner for 2011, Simon McKeon, led an affirmation ceremony at this year's Australia Day citizenship ceremony in Regatta Point, Canberra.

Australian of the Year Awards

2011 Australian of the Year Award recipients Simon McKeon (right), Professor Ron McCallum AO (second right), Jessica Watson (second left) and Donald Ritchie OAM (left).

As part of the national Australia Day celebrations, the Prime Minister announced the recipients of the Australian of the Year Awards. Each year we recognise the achievements and contributions of eminent Australians through the Australian of the Year Awards by profiling leading citizens who are role models for us all. They inspire and challenge us to make our own contribution to creating a better Australia.

The department proudly sponsors the Local Hero Award which recognises the contributions of citizens in their local communities.

National Australia Day Council

Donald Ritchie OAM, Australia's Local Hero 2011.

The department works in partnership with the National Australia Day Council (NADC) to encourage everyone to celebrate what’s great about Australia and reflect on what it means to be an Australian citizen.