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Australia Day 2025 citizenship events begin across the country

Australia Day 2025 citizenship events begin across the country
Australia Day events begin across the nation, with flag-raising ceremonies and tens of thousands of people from more than 100 countries taking the oath of citizenship. 

Australia Day events have begun across the nation with flag-raising ceremonies and tens of thousands of people from more than 100 countries taking the oath of citizenship on Sunday. 

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ACT

VIC

NSW

SA

WA

ACT 

A family with two adults and three children hold certificates standing next to Anthony Albanese.
Chidi and Veronica Alozie and their children Favour, Precious and Emmanuel pose with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after becoming Australian citizens.(AAP: Mick Tsikas)

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday morning attended a ceremony at Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, where he received a general salute from the Australian Federation Guard.

Governor-General Sam Mostyn was received with the Vice-Regal Salute and inspected the guard.

The event starts their official Australia Day calendar of events with a personal engagement with First Nations culture.

Victoria 

In Melbourne, a few hundred people have gathered at the Town Hall for a citizenship ceremony, where a choir welcomed attendees with a rendition of Waltzing Matilda.

A few hundred people watch a stage as a choir sings.
A choir sings Waltzing Matilda for a citizenship ceremony at the Melbourne Town Hall.(ABC News: Leanne Wong)

The City of Melbourne said about 150 new Australian citizens were inducted at their event today, hailing from 38 different countries.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece welcomed the new citizens, recounting his own experience of moving to Australia from England while a schoolboy

"There are no boundaries on what you can achieve," he said.

"We are a nation of immigrants, but we are one Australia."

He also acknowledged the debate around the date of Australia Day.

"The ability to openly debate issues without fear is one of the many things Australia Day celebrates." 

NSW

The Tangri family celebrates Australia Day. (ABC News )

Kunal Tangri is with his family celebrating Australia Day and acknowledging the importance of First Nations culture.

"I moved to Australia 20 years ago for a better life, and we all are happy living here so Australia Day is important for us," he says.

They were among the many families celebrating at the annual citizenship ceremony hosted by the City of Parramatta in Parramatta.

A man and a woman with a pram in a park.
Families celebrating at the annual citizenship ceremony hosted by the City of Parramatta in Parramatta.(ABC News: Anushri Sood )
Families celebrating at the annual citizenship ceremony hosted by the City of Parramatta in Parramatta.(ABC News: Anushri Sood )
A person holding an indigenous flag.
Families celebrating at the annual citizenship ceremony hosted by the City of Parramatta in Parramatta.(ABC News: Anushri Sood )
Families celebrating at the annual citizenship ceremony hosted by the City of Parramatta in Parramatta.(ABC News: Anushri Sood )

South Australia

A woman with grey hair standing in a field.
Jan Chorley was part of the Adelaide event. (ABC News)

Hundreds gathered at Adelaide's Elder Park/Tarntanya Wama on Sunday morning for Australia Day celebrations.

The event started with Mourning in the Morning — a ceremony to honour the state's First Nations people.

Jan Chorley, CEO of the Australia Day Council of South Australia, said it was a way of "starting in a very ceremonial way that honours our First Nations stories and First Nations peoples".

"It's just a magnificent way to commence the morning and reflection and just acknowledgement of our magnificent First Nations communities and peoples that live in our state," she said.

An Aboriginal woman standing in a field.
Aboriginal language worker Karina Lester spoke at the event. 

Karina Lester, an Aboriginal language worker from the Mobile Language team, said she was "grateful" to be invited to speak at the Mourning in the Morning event about Indigenous languages.

"It's important for us all, Australians, to get together and hear the important issues that are happening for us — and Closing the Gap target is a big agenda for the nation," she said.

Western Australia

Families gathered along South Perth's foreshore to celebrate their loved ones becoming Australian citizens.

One hundred people from 37 countries became Australians at the City of South Perth ceremony.

New citizens spoke about the joy of starting a life in WA, and many were excited by the opportunities offered by Australia.

A little girl waves an Australian flag with a big smile.
The Australia Day citizenship ceremony in South Perth.(ABC News: Ruby Llittler)

Others reflected on the long journey it took to become citizens.

Several Perth councils, including Mosman Park and Fremantle, decided not to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.

In Esperance, close to 40 swimmers took part in the annual Australia Day Swim Through.

Held every year since 2000, the 2.5-kilometre race featured locals of varying ages and abilities.

The Esperance Swim Through has been held every year since 2000. (ABC News: Hayden Smith)

"It's a great way to bring everyone together," said competitor Lisa Bell ahead of her second Swim Through.

A large team of volunteers was on surf skis and jet skis to ensure the safety of competitors.

More to come.

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