If you’re ever having trouble adjusting to life in a new country, you can access a range of support services to help you get through it, from academic support to counselling. Learn more about support at LTCA.
Australia is a safe, welcoming and multicultural society, which means you should have no trouble fitting in!
To be a real Aussie while you are here, you must experience these traditions.
Australians are generally easygoing, but there are one or two things you should know about us.
If someone says, “it would be nice if you cleaned up,” or, “it’s nice to have a clean house”, they usually mean, “please tidy up” and would expect you to take the hint!
Never step in front of someone in a line. If someone lets you in, make sure you thank them.
Regular greetings include, “hello”, “hi”, “g’day”, “hey”, and “How are you?”. In formal situations, you should shake hands.
Australians like people who are humble, kind, have a sense of humour, and who do not draw attention to their qualities.
If you are invited to a BBQ, picnic or party, it is considered good manners to bring something to share.
In Australia, slang is less of an exception and more of a total social norm. To the untrained ear and fresh international students coming to Australia, some Aussie slang can seem like a whole new language - but don’t worry, you’ll soon get the hang of it!
Aussie’s have different phrases and words to other English-speaking countries. Australians also tend to shorten words and lengthen them to add some Aussie flare. Even English-speaking people have difficulty understanding some Australian phrases.
Use this glossary to help you in your first few weeks here.
Arvo: | Afternoon |
Banger/Snag: | Sausage |
Barbie: | Grill or Barbecue grill |
Bickie: | Cookie (short for biscuit) |
Bloody oath: | An expression used to stress a point or an opinion |
Boardies: | Slang for board shorts, worn by surfers |
Bonnet: | Hood or engine end of a car |
Boot: | Trunk end of a car |
Bottle-o: | A liquor store |
Breaky: | Breakfast |
Budgie smuggler: | Nickname for Speedo swimming trunks for men |
Chewy: | Chewing gum |
Crook: | Ill or sick |
Cuppa: | A hot beverage |
Dag: | Someone who doesn’t dress well and/or has unrefined manners |
Dart: | A cigarette |
Dead horse: | A hot beverage |
Dog’s breakfast: | A mess |
Fair dinkum: | True or genuine |
Festy: | Gross; disgusting |
Flat out: | Busy |
Footy: | Football (rugby or AFL) |
Fortnight: | Once every two weeks; a period of consecutive 14 days |
Good on ya: | Great job or well done |
Heaps: | A lot; ie. “thanks heaps!” |
How ya going?: | How are you doing |
Jumper: | A pullover sweater |
Keen: | Excited to do something |
Knackered: | Pooped, tired, exhausted |
Maccas: | Nickname for McDonald’s |
Mate: | Friend/buddy; mate’s rates is a discounted price for work services from a friend |
Mozzies: | Mosquitoes |
No worries: | Don’t worry about it; no problem |
Ripper: | Great |
Ropeable: | Very angry |
Rubbish: | Garbage; also, used to describe when something is bad or ridiculous |
Rug up: | Bundle up to keep warm when it’s cold outside |
Sanger: | Sandwich |
Servo: | Service/petrolgas station |
She’ll be right: | Everything’s going to be ok |
Shout: | Someone’s turn to buy a round of drinks |
Sook: | Someone who is tame or unoffending |
Spewin’: | Very angry |
Spit the dummy | To throw a fit or get upset about something |
Stubbie: | Bottle of beer (a beer cozy/holder is called a stubbie holder) |
Sunnies: | Sunglasses |
Suss: | Size up or study something; or, if someone seems a bit suspicious, you can call them suss |
Swimmers/Togs | Bathing suit |
Thongs: | Flip-flops |
Tinny: | Small aluminium boat or a can of beer |
Tracky: | Tracksuit or sweats/sweatpants |
Tradie: | Tradesperson |
Whoop Whoop: | Made up name for a tiny town in the middle of nowhere |
Yewy: | U-turn |