Australians – a people as diverse as the land they inhabit. It is a Wednesday evening in inner city Sydney and a Greek-Australian guy sits at a sushi bar on Crown St grabbing a quick bite before an 8pm meeting. On Queensland’s Gold Coast, a first generation Japanese-Australian treats her family to local authentic Italian cuisine.

With a brief history of about 200 years, what is unique about Australia is that it is a mix of just about every culture from all over the world in one proudly egalitarian society. Famous for their happy-go-lucky attitude, Australians are proud of their relatively classless social structure. In Australia, there is a real push towards social collaboration, and an interest in making use of the world’s people resources and their diverse experiences.

Until World War II, most Australians were of British and Irish descent. After the war, however, immigration from Greece, Italy, Yugoslavia, Lebanon and Turkey increased and, more recently, influxes from Asia mean that Australia is a cultural melting pot and that English is a second language for many of its residents.

Most Australians live in the states’ capital cities. These cities – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Hobart and Canberra – are the principle focuses for Australia, both in business and in the myriad sporting and cultural events that take place.

Australians love their sport. Up north the football is rugby, and the relaxed surfing lifestyle is only interrupted once a year when the Indy cars bring their party to sunny Queensland. Down south, the football is Australian Rules – the obsession of many a Victorian. Victoria is the site of the world-famous Melbourne Cup, the Australian Grand Prix and the Australian Open, one of tennis’s Grand Slam events. The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race also attracts a massive national following every Boxing Day. But for the die-hard Aussie, nothing says summer like cricket – for some, an enthralling game of tactics and skill, and for the rest, a great excuse to drink beer and have fun.

All of Australia’s capital cities have vibrant cultural and arts festivals, such as the Festival of Sydney and the spectacle that has gained worldwide following, the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Melbourne’s International Film Festival and Comedy Festival, along with Adelaide’s Womadelaide, rival the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as quality celebrations of the arts.

Australia has a vibrant contemporary arts and music scene. Most cities play host to all sorts of art exhibitions and shows at any one time and Australian audiences can expect to see anything from the best in modern Shakespearean adaptations to opera and even circus performances. Dining out is also an exciting experience, with cuisines from all over the world to choose from.

Australia’s nightlife and electronic music scene have made their marks on the world stage. The capital cities and tourist centres regularly play host to both international and world-class home-grown acts. Music festivals abound on the Australian calendar with something for everyone. Tamworth draws country music fans every year, and the Big Day Out tours the nation every summer, drawing high-profile and alternative music acts and massive crowds.

The modern Australian is multi-cultural, often multi-lingual, with a host of experiences, both unique to Australia and drawn from all corners of the world. This makes Australia’s make-up unique and gives its people a truly global mindset. The modern Australian is interested in all cultures and influences and is open and ready to embrace all that the world has to offer.