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The New Citizenship Test for Australian Migrants
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The Citizenship Test for Australian Migrants Will Start Late in 2007
If you are a migrant and you seek to naturalize you will be required to pass a test demonstrating you familiarity with Australia's history, her main institutions, and the values held by her people, and included in this is something known as 'mateship'.
The Australian multicultural heritage is an element of the society which is well appreciated, however, the government does consider it important that the new citizens integrate with their neighbours. Citizenship is bound up with an appreciation of, and an agreement to further the values which most Australians hold in common. From the last months of 2007 prospective citizens will have to demonstrate an understanding of the English language.
The booklet containing the information immigrants will need before they can pass is handed to each one. By reading this publication they will be able to learn about Australian history, its political institutions, economic foundation, and its indigenous background as well as basic cultural values. Becoming a citizen requires an overriding commitment to the Australian nation. The nation is described as being at ease with the world and itself.
The pamphlet defines 'mateship' as voluntarily helping and receiving help from others, especially in times of difficulty.
A mate can be almost anyone, even a stranger. Mates can certainly be found among your friends, can be a partner, a spouse, or a sister or brother, or among your children, and more. The migrant applying will learn the list of a total of 200 questions and be tested on 20 of them.
The minimum requirement is that the applicant must respond to at least 12 correctly.
Giving people a 'fair go', is one of 10 core values which new passport holders must take to their hearts, alongside 'mateship'. The values Australians hold in common are also tolerance, compassion, gender equality and freedom of speech.
We are sure that unless they too are to be given the booklet and study it many present citizens of the country would fail. For example, how many will know what year European settlement began (1788)?
The pamphlet amounts to 40 pages of information and knowledge. The government has said that the aim of the citizen testing requirement was to achieve a balance between ethnic diversity and social cohesion, from the current very wide diversity of migrant origins. New citizens are wanted by Australia but they need to have an overriding commitment to Australia, to our laws, to our values and to the community.
The penalty is high if the applicant does not have much English language, and this has been criticized by some.
The government believes, we are told, that the requirement for English language skills is in the interests of the applicants. Applicants will simply do better and achieve their aims so much more easily as English speakers in Australia.
Australia was founded by, and still lives by its immigrants, so the manner in which newcomers continue to integrate into the community is important. The new test suggests that this will be appreciated more than ever by the newcomers as they take up their new status.
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You will find is much more information about the Citizenship Tests across all tesing nations at http://www.citizen-test.wppts.com. Further information about the Australian Citizenship Test.
Steve Evans is also a regular contributor to the Dog Breeds Compendium Click here for Dog Breeds Information.
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