Australians respect people with strong opinions, even if they don't agree. Avoid discussions about the treatment of the aboriginal people. Don't comment on anyone's accent. Accents often distinguish social class.
Spitting in public is rude. If there is a line for something, always queue and wait for your turn. To call over a waiter or person of service, do not wave or yell. Instead, keep an eye out for them until they make eye contact, and then nod or raise your hand.
Australian customs & etiquette basics
Communication: Australians are very casual, direct and humorous when communicating. Honesty is appreciated and arrogance is looked down on. Punctuality: Always be on time in business settings. In social settings, it's okay to be a little bit late (~15 minutes).
Aussies pride themselves on being good friends and neighbours, and not just to people they know. They tend to greet everyone from the mail carrier to the cab driver with a “g'day” or “how ya going?”. For Australians, this emphasis on mateship creates a cheery, welcoming attitude, and one that says anyone can be a mate.
A welcoming country
Australians believe in respect, mateship and a fair go. These define and shape our country, and together with our democratic institutions, have created our peaceful, prosperous and stable society.
The Reputation Institute, a global private consulting firm based in New York and Copenhagen, has just released its third annual list of 50 countries, ranked according to what it says is people's trust, admiration, respect and affinity for those countries. Topping the list for the second year in a row: Canada.
“Australian society values respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual, freedom of religion, commitment to the rule of law, Parliamentary democracy, equality of men and women and a spirit of egalitarianism that embraces mutual respect, tolerance, fair play and compassion for those in need and pursuit of the ...
The tough conditions of settler times also played a part in Australians' dry, self-deprecating and sarcastic sense of humour. While in many countries it's considered poor taste to find humour in difficult circumstances, Australians tend to look at the lighter side.
Aussie's are known for being open-hearted and open-minded and think that everyone has the right to get a fair go. This can be seen in universal support of publicly funded health care and education systems.
Generally speaking, Australians are friendly, honest, and open-minded people. For example, if you see a stranger on the street, you can smile and say hi to them, and they're likely to smile back and reply to your greetings. Australians are also known for their laid-back attitude and sense of humor as well.
Even in formal situations, Australians tend to prefer first names. Calling someone (even your boss) 'Mister' or 'Miss', 'Sir' or 'Ma'am' can sound a bit stiff.
Aussies can be very clingy. They crave human companionship and love being included in pretty much everything you do, including being involved in all family activity. Since they require an active lifestyle, they will want to join in everything and anything that is going on around them.
Your Aussie may require time to adjust to a new life and learn to trust you before he feels comfortable enough to cuddle with you. To cuddle means to be vulnerable, and your dog may just need patience and time to understand that his vulnerability won't put him in a position to be hurt.
While adaptable, the loyal and devoted Australian Shepherd does best with its people nearby. They are often demanding of attention and they do not like to be left alone.
Australians place high value on friendships and are usually relaxed, casual and informal when greeting someone. There are no laws regarding friendships or dating. Friendships and social events with both sexes are common. The Aussie students have all been kind and welcoming in all of my classes.
So, being Australian means that you accept and respect our nation's laws and institutions, you land on our shores legally, and you have a good grasp of the English language.
Humility and authenticity are strong values in Australian culture. As such, Australians are very down to earth and always mindful of not giving the impression that they think they are better than anyone else. They also tend to value sincerity, humour, informality, whilst loathing pretentiousness.
When it comes to competitiveness, education and political stability, Denmark ranks among the world's elite. This is according to a number of international rankings from, among others, the World Economic Forum.
When we are Warm, we care about people, welcome difference, inspire each other, understand our customers, and make people smile.