1. Australia

2. A Common Heritage Australians share many characteristics with British people because many Australians are descendants of: – English explorers – Missionaries – Prisoners who came to Australia in the 1600s and 1700s.

3. A Common Heritage When settlers arrived in Australia, over 750,000 Aborigines (native Australians) lived on the continent. As the English established colonies, they forced the Aborigines toward the middle of the island where there is little rain and fresh water. Today, only one percent of Australia’s population is Aborigine.

4. A Common Heritage The majority of Australians are descendants of English settlers. Like the British, Australians speak the English language. Australia’s language has its own unique accent and vocabulary.

5. A Common Heritage The religions in Australia also reflect the country’s English heritage. Over 70% of Australians claim to be Christians. Almost half of Australians belong to the Catholic or Anglican faiths (Church of England).

6. The Origins of These Faiths The origins of these faiths stretch as far back as the 1600s when England sent Roman Catholic prisoners from Ireland to Australia. As the Irish established their Catholicism in Australia, English settlers and missionaries began to colonize the land. They brought their Anglican faith and teachings from the Church of England to their new land of Australia.

7. How Cool is School? Literacy= the ability to read and write When many people in a country are literate, that country has a higher standard of living because educated citizens are more productive and will help a country’s economy grow!

8. School is Cool in Australia! Australia has a very successful economy that is enhanced by a highly literate population. 99% of men and women can read and write. Literacy rate is high because: – Australia has very good schools – The government provides primary and secondary education for all students. – Government supports a growing university system and technical training institutes.

9. Educated People Education helps increase the standard of living. – Teaches people how to contribute their ideas and innovations to society.

10. Educated People An elementary school teacher can teach basic skills of reading and math. A scientist can discover a new technology that will produce more coal and iron ore to sell to a foreign country. These contributions help the economy, and a stronger economy means citizens make more $$ and can live better lives. It all starts with school!!

11. Aussie Economics Australia has a mixed market economy where supply and demand for a good or service determines what to produce and how to produce it. People can own their own businesses and produce what they want. In the 1960s mining natural resources like coal and iron ore became an important industry.

12. Aussie Economics Australia’s economy grew substantially when they began trading with China and Japan in the late 20 th century. Today, mining is still one of Australia’s most important industries.