Page Title

Welcoming our Newest Australians

The Welcome Message initiative allows students to write or draw a message of welcome to new Australian citizens. Using the templates provided on the Department of Home Affairs website, students’ work can be hung in the classroom or provided to your local council where they can be gifted to new citizens as a special keepsake at their citizenship ceremony.

You can contact your local council directly to discuss the activity, and to find out whether they would like to receive these messages.

Tips on Writing the Message

There is no right or wrong as to what could be included in a welcome message – the possibilities are endless. Students are encouraged to use their own personal experiences from li fe in Australia to create a truly unique message for the new citizens. In addition to the message of welcome, students (particularly in younger grades), may also wish to draw a picture that represents Australia.

To help provide ideas to include in the welcome messages, teachers may find it useful for students to answer some of the following questions about themselves and new citizens. You can encourage students to draw from their responses to develop a heartfelt message for new citizens.

Country where I was born
Country my parent(s)/caregiver(s) were born
Countries where my grandparents were born
My favourite Australian animal (and why)
What I think new citizens would like most about Australia
What I would miss most about being away from Australia
What being an Australian citizen means to me
What would you say to someone who has just arrived in Australia?
What do you like most about living in Australia?
What advice would you give to new Australian citizens?
What are some kind words or phrases you could use to say to new citizens to make them feel welcomed and included in Australia?

Students may also wish to use the following prompts as a lead-in sentence to their welcome message:

I hope your life in Australia …
Thank you for …
I hope you love …
I suggest that you try ... (food, sports, activities etc.)
I recommend that you visit/watch/listen to (favourite places, TV shows, movies, podcasts etc.)
Some interesting facts about Australia are …

Some examples