I Am, You Are, We Are Australians

• Maddison Konn, Grade 7
• Short Story
• 2019

I am, you are, we are Australians


What does this saying mean? What does it mean to be Australian? Is it the amount of barbeques we have per year or how Aussie our accent is? Is it the amount of times we go to the beach or if we play cricket?

Good morning/Good afternoon Mrs Robinson and fellow classmates. Today, I’m presenting my speech on the topic I am, you are, we are Australians.

Being Australian isn’t about the colour of your skin or what your first language is. To me, being Australian is about loving, caring and contributing to this country in a positive way. It’s about celebrating the great things that we have accomplished and being grateful for everything that this country gives us.

From the very first Aborigines to the most recent migrants, Australia is proudly called home to all. There are more than 25 million people living in Australia and over one quarter of them were born overseas. I believe so many people choose our country to live in because of the high volume of multiculturalism here in Australia. We are so lucky to have such a beautiful and welcoming place to call home.

In saying this, not all Australians are as accepting and multicultural as the others and I find this extremely sad. Racism and bullying is not funny on any level and as Australians, we shouldn’t be lowering our reputation as a multicultural country. Don’t get me wrong, our country is amazing and is usually on top of any racial bullying but there are still quite a few people who think it is okay to speak badly about certain cultures. This needs to stop! Australia is known for its ability to accept all, no matter what race they are.

Harmony Day is a perfect example of how Australia celebrates cultural diversity. It is about respecting others and giving everyone a sense of belonging. We celebrate this day on the 21st March and people wear their national costume to represent community, participation, inclusiveness, diversity, respect and belonging.

When writing this speech, I began researching different countries around the world and what makes Australia so great. I found many reasons but the one that stood out for me is that we have actual free will, which enables us to pursue our own dreams. We are all free to have our own traditions and beliefs, all while maintaining a positive Australian attitude. Another one of the many great things in Australia is that we don’t have an ‘Australian criteria’ so we don’t have to eat meat pies or damper to fit into it. We can still love this country while being different in our own way but I do feel that everyone should respect the current Australian values in place.

In conclusion, “I am, you are, we are Australian” isn’t about how we look, what language we speak or what beliefs we have. It’s about the love, compassion and contribution we give to this country in return for what it has given to us. It’s about remembering how lucky we are to be part of such an amazing country and respecting each other for the different Australians that we are.