Role-play guidelines

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The role-play method is a good way to get the whole class into a fun activity. The guidelines give you all the information you need to conduct your own mock Australian Citizenship ceremony.

A print-friendly version of the role-play guidelines for teachers is available.
See: Role Playing an Australian Citizenship Ceremony (36KB PDF file)

Australian Citizenship ceremonies

These ceremonies are public events at which candidates make the Australian Citizenship Pledge and become Australians. More and more, an Affirmation ceremony follows at which all present can pledge their commitment to Australia.

Some 100,000 people each year become Australian citizens at ceremonies around the country. Local councils conduct most of these ceremonies. They involve the Mayor or the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, if present, as the Presiding Officer. The Presiding Officer conducts the ceremony and confers citizenship on candidates.

Role-playing involves students acting out all the parts of the people in a citizenship ceremony. Role-play teaches students how people born overseas become citizens, and will raise their awareness of the value and importance of citizenship. The role-play helps them to learn what makes a good citizen.

Schools may conduct role-plays at any time during the year or as part of celebrations for special national days.

These guidelines provide assistance to you in your role-play. They are meant as a guide only.

Conducting role-plays

Before starting the activity, choose students to play these roles:

*The Mayor, or when present, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship is the Presiding Officer. The Presiding Officer conducts the ceremony and confers Australian citizenship on candidates.

National symbols

Display these national symbols at Australian citizenship ceremonies:

You may find these national symbols at your school or students can make them in class, for example, a drawing or painting of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms.

Ceremony performances

Students may like to perform a musical item before and/or after the ceremony.

Australian Citizenship Pledge

Words of the Australian Citizenship Pledge should be provided to all citizenship candidates. Each candidate may choose to make either Pledge No. 1 or Pledge No.2.

Pledge No. 1:

'From this time forward, under God,

I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people,

Whose democratic beliefs I share,

Whose rights and liberties I respect,

And whose laws I will uphold and obey.'

Pledge No 2

'From this time forward,

I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people

Whose democratic beliefs I share,

Whose rights and liberties I respect,

And whose laws I will uphold and obey.'

Australian Citizenship Certificates

Students may design and develop mock Australian citizenship certificates for the role-play. This can be a class activity with students thinking about what symbols and images feature on the certificates.

Gifts for new citizens

Gifts are often presented to new citizens at their citizenship ceremony to mark the significance of the occasion. You may incorporate this element into your role-play. Some ideas for gifts that students can make include:

For further information

For further information on conducting role-plays of Australian citizenship ceremonies please contact the Citizenship Information Line.
Telephone: 131 880