Culture Wise Australia
David Hampshire & Martin Kidd
Travellers often underestimate the depth of cultural isolation they can face abroad, particularly in a country with a different language. To many people, Australia must seem an ‘easy’ option, with its English language, long history of immigration, multicultural society and millions of annual visitors. However, sooner or later, most newcomers find certain aspects of Australian life alien – and not just the wildlife – and some come unstuck as a result. Culture Wise Australia will help you understand Australia and its people, and adapt to the Australian way of life. Most importantly, it will enable you to quickly feel at home.
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Extracts from the book…
Community Life
Australians tend to live on top of each other, particularly in the cities, where most of them live, although in the Outback your nearest neighbour may be hundreds of miles away. Although most Australians aspire to own a detached house on its own plot, many live in flats or apartments, which are called units. In cities, particularly Sydney, it can be difficult to find accommodation other than a unit.
In some older blocks, walls may not be as thick as in modern buildings or have the same sound-proofing, so you may hear more from your neighbours than you would like to. Nevertheless, Australians aren’t particularly noisy (except when watching footy). Your neighbours won’t usually be inquisitive or nosy and if you live in an apartment in a city you may rarely see them. If you want to get to know your neighbours you may need to invite them round for coffee or a drink.
Community Regulations
Communities draw up regulations governing communal areas, e.g. patios, gardens, entrance halls and parking spaces, and private areas visible from outside such as balconies and facades. These regulate such things as the keeping of pets, noise levels, exterior decoration, rubbish disposal, and the use of communal facilities and areas. When you move into a communal property, you should obtain a copy of the community rules and regulations and read them carefully. Some communities impose few regulations, while others have a long list of rules for residents.
Regulations are agreed by majority vote at community meetings and, although you may not agree with them, you’re obliged to obey them. If you wish to make a change to the exterior of your property (such as install a satellite TV dish) or use a communal area (e.g. to store a bicycle), you should obtain permission from the community. If this isn’t forthcoming it’s better to give up the idea rather than disobey the regulations.
Local Community
As soon as you move to a new home you should try to become part of your local community. Introduce yourself to your immediate neighbours and greet others with a cheery g’day or good morning when you meet in the lift or in the entrance. If possible, use local shops and get involved in the local community. This gives you the chance to practise your English (if it isn’t your mother tongue) and for others to get to know you – receiving a greeting from neighbours and local business people will also help you feel more at home. Although the onus is on you to take the initiative, most Australians won’t be shy about striking up a conversation.
It’s common for neighbours to invite newcomers around for a cup of tea (or something stronger), although in cities (where people living alongside each other often remain strangers) you may have to go out of your way to meet your neighbours. A good way to meet the locals is to hold a barbie (although difficult in an apartment) and invite all your neighbours.
If you’re invited to a barbie, it’s usual to take a bottle of wine or a six-pack of beer and you may also be asked to bring your own meat or whatever else you wish to eat. Some invitations ask guests to bring along a ‘plate’, which means a buffet dish from which everyone can help themselves.
Men and women tend to congregate separately at social occasions such as parties or barbies. You are, however, permitted to mix with members of the opposite sex.
Driving
Australia has a high accident rate compared with other developed countries, although it has fallen dramatically in the last 30 years. In 2005, around 1,700 people were killed on the roads (compared with approximately 3,000 in the UK, which has around three times the population) and 22,000 seriously injured in over 600,000 reported accidents. Public holiday periods are the most dangerous times to be on the roads. Some three-quarters of transport-related deaths are among men, a third of whom are aged between 15 and 34. Young men aged 20 to 24 are seven times more likely to die in traffic accidents than women of the same age.
Like most people, Australians haven’t learnt to co exist with the motor car in their cities, where traffic jams, parking problems and vehicle pollution are endemic. Traffic congestion and pollution is chronic in Sydney (where it’s estimated it will get six times worse in the next 20 years) and Melbourne, where rush hours should be avoided if at all possible.
If you’re spending a short time in Australia, bear in mind that it’s a BIG country; don’t try to see it all in a few weeks, which is impossible (please note: Uluru is not a day trip from Sydney and there’s no bridge to New Zealand). If you rush through the Outback by train or car, you’ll see little and the country will appear to consist of a vast nothingness. However, if you take your time and do a bit of cycling or walking, you’ll experience unexpected wonders.
Visitors
Most foreign driving licences are valid for a year in Australia, although it’s usually worthwhile obtaining an International Driving Permit (IDP), particularly if your national licence doesn’t contain your photograph. If a foreign licence isn’t written in English, you must have an IDP or an official translation. Your driving licence, translation and passport must be carried when driving. If you come to Australia to take up residence, you must obtain a state or territory licence within three months.
Among the Australians’ many strange habits is that of driving on the left hand side of the road, which they inherited from the British. You may find this odd if you come from a country where people drive on the right; however, it saves a lot of confusion if you do likewise. Take it easy until you’re used to it – you may find it helps to have a ‘THINK LEFT’ reminder notice on your car’s dashboard. Also bear in mind that some of the controls are reversed (though not the pedals), so it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with them before setting off.
Australian Drivers
Like motorists in all countries, Australians have their idiosyncrasies and customs. Although they aren’t considered to be among the best or most considerate drivers in the world, most Australians are good and careful drivers who take their driving seriously. On the other hand, Australia has its fair share of seriously crazy drivers and, as in many other countries, road rage is becoming a problem. Many Australian drivers are aggressive, particularly truck drivers, and it’s usually every man for himself, particularly in Sydney. Slow-moving vehicles on country roads are often reluctant to move over to allow faster vehicles to pass.
Northern Territorians are considered to be Australia’s worst drivers as they tend not to bother with the niceties of driving, such as indicating, stopping at stop signs and red lights, keeping to lanes, being sober, wearing seatbelts, etc. (They’re scornfully referred to as ‘bush motorists’.)
Shooting (running) red lights is common practice in Australian cities and the all red period (when all vehicles are required to stop) has been increased to help combat this problem.
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PRICE: £9.95
PUBLICATION: January 2008
EDITION: 1st
PAGES: 256
BINDING: paperback
SIZE: 200x130mm
COLOUR PHOTOS: approx. 200
