Since 15 October 2007, if you apply for visa, you need to sign the Australian Values Statement to acknowledge that you understand and appreciate the values, way of life and laws of Australia. It’s mandatory now and you can’t get an approval without it.

To give you all necessary facts and figures, they issued a 40-page book called Life in Australia. On its colorful and well-designed pages you learn many curious geographical and lifestyle facts. I only quickly skimmed through it, but my immediate impression was that it is a great and entertaining read.

Here you can learn more about the statement, the procedure and download the book itself. You can also order a printed version on some languages, and they promise to release an audio version soon.

Interesting, hah!

Comments from the past

Danielle Says: December 2nd, 2008 at 14:41

Thanks. I’ve been looking for it for a long time, and aha, finally i found it here! That website seems helpful. But during scan, i get a question suddenly, how many australians can remember or just know several points clearly if someone just ask? it’s like a funny question.

Aleksey Gureiev Says: December 2nd, 2008 at 15:06

:) Right. Valid question.

The point is probably in making the newcomers know and respect the way of life, to tune them on the correct wave length from the start so to speak. Insiders are already under some internal influence, although some periodical reminding of the values wouldn’t hurt. :)