Australian Citizenship Day Celebration Ideas

There are many ways to celebrate Australian Citizenship Day. Join in local celebrations or organise an event for your school, workplace or community.

Walangari Karntawarra introduces the new citizens to local Indigenous culture through music. Photo not to be used or reproduced without the permission of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

Host an Australian citizenship affirmation ceremony

The Australian citizenship affirmation is a great way to celebrate what it means to be Australian.

Affirmation ceremonies can be hosted by businesses, community groups and schools. Local councils often host them in conjunction with Australian citizenship ceremonies.

If you are hosting an Australian Citizenship Day event consider incorporating the Australian citizenship affirmation.

Australian citizenship day cake at a workplace affirmation ceremony. Photo not to be used or reproduced without the permission of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

Explore Australian citizenship in the classroom

Civics and citizenship educational resources are available for primary and secondary school teachers to help explore and celebrate Australian citizenship in the classroom.

The curriculum-linked teaching resource I am Australian: Exploring Australian Citizenship encourages students and teachers to appreciate the significance that citizenship holds for all Australians.

Image link to curriculum teaching resource I am Australian: Exploring Australian Citizenship. Photo not to be used or reproduced without the permission of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

The teaching resources are complemented by online student interactives and printable activity sheets.

Schools may wish to host an Australian Citizenship Day event to build on the educational resources' learning outcomes. See what Aranda Primary School teachers and kids had to say about the Australian citizenship affirmation ceremoney they held to celebrate Australian Citizenship Day.

Image link to Aranda Primary School celebrating Australian Citizenship Day (youtube video). Photo not to be used or reproduced without the permission of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

Explore resources for schools.

See how other schools have celebrated Australian citizenship in the classroom.

Register your event and you will receive a celebration kit for your school.

Be an active citizen in your local community

Australia is strengthened by active citizens who work to improve their local community. On Australian Citizenship Day consider giving something back to your local community. You could:

• volunteer at a local school, sporting organisation, environmental group, aged care facility or charity
• organise a barbeque with your neighbours
• welcome people new to your community
• raise some money within your school, business or organisation and donate it towards a local project.

Ashfield Library in NSW held a morning tea to celebrate Australian Citizenship Day in 2011, inviting their local community to meet Ashfield’s elected councillors and to show their appreciation for the great work of several community organisations over the year. The Mayor of Ashfield, Councillor Lyall Kennedy, commented “it was lovely to have a display to highlight the importance of citizenship and I know the community really enjoyed the event”.

Active citizens inspire us to make our own contribution towards creating a better Australia. The department sponsors Australia's Local Hero as part of the Australian of the Year Awards. The Local Hero Award recognises those 'ordinary' Australians who do extraordinary things.

Past Events

Be inspired by people celebrating Australian citizenship.

Watch the launch of Australian Citizenship Day 2010 in Burnie Tasmania with national finalist for the Local Hero award, Delwyn Polden, and her students.

Image link to Delwyn Polden, and her students (youtube video). Photo not to be used or reproduced without the permission of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.