Key Points
- Australian Citizenship Day is on 17 September.
- Re-expressions of the National Anthem and translations of the Citizenship Pledge are now available in over 60 languages.
- Minister for Immigration Tony Burke said he was “grateful” that new citizens have chosen to call Australia home.
It took more than 15 years for Amal and Shaker Al Mousawi to officially call Australia home.
The couple escaped conflict in Iraq and journeyed to Australia with a limited understanding of English.
They spent years enrolled in settlement and language training to prepare for the citizenship test.
“It was one of the happiest days of my life … I had this feeling and sense of being born again," Amal told SBS Arabic.
Amal (left) and Shaker (right) Al Mousawi were granted Australian citizenship in August. The couple said that after years of living in limbo, they now feel a sense of security and are grateful to the Australian government. Source: SBS / Yasmine Alwakal
Evie Wong, who was born in Taiwan, described Australia as a wonderful country.
"The environment is great, everyone's friendly, and the opportunity here is great ... work-wise or raising a family. It's a very good place," Wong said following the oath ceremony at the Governor-General's residence.
Another resident, Chin Mun Lim, 29, said it was "a pretty good feeling to finally be recognised as a citizen."
Governor-General Sam Mostyn told attendees the occasion provides an opportunity for all citizens to celebrate Australia’s multicultural identity and shared democratic values.
“[It's] an extraordinary step and a big commitment to this country," she said.
"As an Australian who has the ultimate honour of conferring citizenship, it makes me feel more Australian as we welcome people from all over the world in moments like this.”
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Australian Citizenship
The ceremony at the Governor-General’s residence marked the launch of the SBS initiative, which makes Advance Australia Fair and the Citizenship Pledge accessible to millions of new Australians.
The Governor-General believes these translations "mean more people understand the significance of the words, have a sense of its place in our national character and history."
"That can only be a good thing."
Tony Burke, the Minister for Immigration and Home Affairs, speaking at a different event, welcomed new citizens.
“There’s been some terrible messages that some people have been receiving about immigration," Mr Burke said.
“I’ll have one message to every new citizen and that’s to say to them, welcome home. We are grateful that they chose Australia, and welcome home."
An Australian citizenship recipient holds his certificate during a citizenship ceremony on Australia Day. Source: AAP / Dan Peled
Citizenship test
The Australian citizenship test was introduced on 1 October 2007.
Residents seeking citizenship must pass the test, and for many, it can be a real challenge.
For Amal, however, determination made all the difference.
"Everyone told me I wouldn’t pass, but I was determined. Thank God I studied hard and finished the test with five minutes to spare. I passed," she said.
In 2020, Australia introduced a major change to its citizenship test to assess knowledge of key values including freedom, democracy and equality.
Basem Hamdam, a migration expert, says the multiple-choice test requires an overall mark of at least 75 per cent and certain questions must be answered correctly.
"There are five questions that a person cannot make mistakes on," he added.
“But these questions can be remembered and studied.”
For new citizens like Shaker, being Australian is about more than legal status.
"It's a way of life. All Australian values are beautiful in every way,” he said.
With inputs from SBS Arabic Producer Dima Alkaed.
