True-colour image of Earth from Landsat satellites

© Planet Observer/Universal Images Group via Getty Image

Celebrating Australian citizenship. Celebrating Australian citizenship

From this distance it’s easy to get lost in the wonder and beauty of the world, but today, on Australian Citizenship Day, we’re focusing on our own ‘land down under’. Born in 2001, the event was launched to help increase awareness of Australian citizenship and provide another chance for all Australians to reflect on our common bond, democratic beliefs and achievements as a nation. Why September 17? Because today also happens to be the anniversary of the renaming of the Nationality and Citizenship Act - now known as the Australian Citizenship Act.In the 18 years since its inception, Australian Citizenship Day has grown exponentially, with many states and cities performing citizenship ceremonies to mark the occasion. In 2017, close to 5000 people from 131 countries became citizens in the week leading up to the big day, with the majority stemming from India, the United Kingdom and South Africa.