Australian culture is fairly laid-back but we speak our mind openly and directly. You might think Aussies all live in the outback riding kangaroos to school, but actually more than 3 in 4 of us live in a big city along the coast.

The Department of Immigration has listed the main values of Australia that international students should know in their free e-book, Life In Australia:

• Freedom of speech
• Freedom to choose your religion
• Democratic government, and the right for every person to vote to choose their political leaders
• Freedom to choose who you associate with (spend time with)
• Respect for the equal worth, dignity and freedom of the individual
• Equality of opportunity no matter what gender, marital status, religion, nationality, disability, or sexual preference you have
• Peacefulness, not starting fights
• Tolerance, mutual respect and compassion for those in need