1.
Australia
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Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands. It is the worlds sixth-largest country by total area, the neighbouring countries are Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and East Timor to the north, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to the north-east, and New Zealand to the south-east. Australias capital is Canberra, and its largest urban area is Sydney, for about 50,000 years before the first British settlement in the late 18th century, Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians, who spoke languages classifiable into roughly 250 groups. The population grew steadily in subsequent decades, and by the 1850s most of the continent had been explored, on 1 January 1901, the six colonies federated, forming the Commonwealth of Australia. Australia has since maintained a liberal democratic political system that functions as a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy comprising six states. The population of 24 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard, Australia has the worlds 13th-largest economy and ninth-highest per capita income. With the second-highest human development index globally, the country highly in quality of life, health, education, economic freedom. The name Australia is derived from the Latin Terra Australis a name used for putative lands in the southern hemisphere since ancient times, the Dutch adjectival form Australische was used in a Dutch book in Batavia in 1638, to refer to the newly discovered lands to the south. On 12 December 1817, Macquarie recommended to the Colonial Office that it be formally adopted, in 1824, the Admiralty agreed that the continent should be known officially as Australia. The first official published use of the term Australia came with the 1830 publication of The Australia Directory and these first inhabitants may have been ancestors of modern Indigenous Australians. The Torres Strait Islanders, ethnically Melanesian, were originally horticulturists, the northern coasts and waters of Australia were visited sporadically by fishermen from Maritime Southeast Asia. The first recorded European sighting of the Australian mainland, and the first recorded European landfall on the Australian continent, are attributed to the Dutch. The first ship and crew to chart the Australian coast and meet with Aboriginal people was the Duyfken captained by Dutch navigator, Willem Janszoon. He sighted the coast of Cape York Peninsula in early 1606, the Dutch charted the whole of the western and northern coastlines and named the island continent New Holland during the 17th century, but made no attempt at settlement. William Dampier, an English explorer and privateer, landed on the north-west coast of New Holland in 1688, in 1770, James Cook sailed along and mapped the east coast, which he named New South Wales and claimed for Great Britain. The first settlement led to the foundation of Sydney, and the exploration, a British settlement was established in Van Diemens Land, now known as Tasmania, in 1803, and it became a separate colony in 1825. The United Kingdom formally claimed the part of Western Australia in 1828. Separate colonies were carved from parts of New South Wales, South Australia in 1836, Victoria in 1851, the Northern Territory was founded in 1911 when it was excised from South Australia
2.
Government of Australia
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The Government of the Commonwealth of Australia is the government of the Commonwealth of Australia, a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, the terms of this contract are embodied in the Australian Constitution, which was drawn up at a Constitutional Convention and ratified by the people of the colonies at referendums. Separation of powers is implied by the structure of the Constitution, the Australian system of government combines elements of the Westminster and Washington systems with unique Australian characteristics, and has been characterised as a Washminster mutation. Section 51 of the Constitution provides for the Commonwealth Governments legislative powers and allocates certain powers, all remaining responsibilities are retained by the six States. Further, each State has its own constitution, so that Australia has seven sovereign Parliaments, the High Court of Australia arbitrates on any disputes which arise between the Commonwealth and the States, or among the States, concerning their respective functions. The Commonwealth Parliament can propose changes to the Constitution, the Commonwealth Constitution also provides that the States can agree to refer any of their powers to the Commonwealth. This may be achieved by way of an amendment to the Constitution via referendum, more commonly powers may be transferred by passing other acts of legislation which authorise the transfer and such acts require the legislative agreement of all the state governments involved. This transfer legislation may have a clause, a legislative provision that nullifies the transfer of power after a specified period. In addition, Australia has several territories, two of which are self-governing, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, Australian citizens in these territories are represented by members of both houses of the Commonwealth Parliament. The territory of Norfolk Island was self-governing from 1979 until 2016, the other territories that are regularly inhabited—Jervis Bay, Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands—have never been self-governing. The federal nature of the Commonwealth and the structure of the Parliament of Australia were the subject of protracted negotiations among the colonies during the drafting of the Constitution, the House of Representatives is elected on a basis that reflects the differing populations of the States. Thus New South Wales has 48 members while Tasmania has only five, but the Senate is elected on a basis of equality among the States, all States elect 12 Senators, regardless of population. This was intended to allow the Senators of the smaller States to form a majority, the ACT and the NT each elect two Senators. The third level of government after Commonwealth and State/Territory is Local government, in the form of shires, towns, the Councils of these areas are composed of elected representatives, usually serving part-time. Their powers are devolved to them by the State or Territory in which they are located, with this act, Australian law was made unequivocally sovereign, and the High Court of Australia was confirmed as the highest court of appeal. The theoretical possibility of the British Parliament enacting laws to override the Australian Constitution was also removed, the Legislature makes the laws, and supervises the activities of the other two arms with a view to changing the laws when appropriate. The Australian Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the Queen of Australia, a 76-member Senate, twelve Senators from each state are elected for six-year terms, using proportional representation and the single transferable vote, with half elected every three years. In addition to the state Senators, two senators are elected by voters from the Northern Territory, while another two senators are elected by the voters of the Australian Capital Territory
3.
Australian Air Force Cadets
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The Australian Air Force Cadets, known as the Air Training Corps until 2001, is a Federal Government funded youth organisation. The parent force of the AAFC is the Royal Australian Air Force, along with the Australian Army Cadets and the Australian Navy Cadets it is part of the Australian Defence Force Cadets. Cadets receive the opportunity to participate in a range of activities such as. While the age limit for enrolment is 18, cadets can continue their career until the age of 20. Terminated cadets are welcome to apply to rejoin the AAFC as either an Instructor of Cadets or Officer of Cadets, Cadets and staff are not automatically entitled to, or required to serve in the Australian Defence Forces. The AAFC organisation as a whole falls under the command of Headquarters AAFC, HQAAFC has no physical location as it is made up of members from around the country. The only person to hold the rank of Group Captain is the Commander – Australian Air Force Cadets. The CDR-AAFC reports to the Director General Cadets – Air Force, a member of the RAAF who holds the rank of Air Commodore, under HQAAFC are the Operational Wings and Directorates, each headed by a Wing Commander who holds the appointment of Officer Commanding or Director respectively. The primary positions within HQAAFC are Directorates perform a support function to Operational Wings. As of 01-Jan-2015 there are 7 Directorates under the announced Headquarters AAFC restructure, each Wing contains a number of different squadrons. For more information on specific squadrons see List of Australian Air Force Cadet units, each year the Royal Australian Air Force awards the Australian Air Force Cadets – Air Force Trophy. The winner of the Air Force Trophy is honoured with the custodianship of the AAFC National Banner for the following year, the Cadet Reference Group is a cadet body within the Australian Air Force Cadets established to represent the views of AAFC Cadets to the strategic level of management. There should be two representatives from each Squadron, a Cadet Reference Group Representative and an Assistant Cadet Reference Group Representative. Senior Cadets, and Cadet Senior Non-Commissioned Officers – CWOFF, CFSGT & CSGT – will normally fulfill the CRGREP role for their Squadron whilst a CCPL to CDT would fulfill the ASSTCRGREP role, the Squadron CRGREPs & ASSTCRGREPs report to their Wing CRG Executive. 2 &3 Wings are broken down into regions, North, South, in these regions CRGREPs & ASSTCRGREPs report to their respective Regional Representatives who in turn report to their Wings CRG Executive. The Wing CRG chairman is responsible for providing representation to the management of the Wing by reporting to the Wing Officer Commanding, the AAFC organisation as a whole falls under the command of Headquarters AAFC. HQAAFC has no physical location as it is made up of members from around the country, the only person to hold the rank of Group Captain is the Commander of the Australian Air Force Cadets. The CDR-AAFC reports to the Director General Cadets – Air Force, a member of the RAAF who holds the rank of Air Commodore, under HQAAFC are the Operational Wings and Directorates, each headed by a WGCDR who holds the appointment of Officer Commanding or Director respectively
4.
Australian Navy Cadets
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The Australian Navy Cadets is a voluntary youth organisation owned and sponsored by the Royal Australian Navy. Together with the Australian Air Force Cadets and Australian Army Cadets, the organisation was founded in the early 1900s and officially recognised under the Naval Defence Act in 1910. Prior to 1973, the organisation was known as the Australian Sea Cadet Corps, and was administered by the Royal Australian Navy. After 1973, the Navy assumed full responsibility for the Corps, the Australian Government review, Cadets The Future recommended a final name change to Australian Navy Cadets in 2000. From 1942 until his death in 1952 HM King George VI was the Admiral of the Sea Cadet Corps, activities can include, but are not limited to, navigation, communications, first aid, drill, maritime history, firearms proficiency and adventurous training. There are 91 Training Ships across Australia, with a membership of over 400 staff and 2,200 cadets. However,2012 reporting suggested membership has fallen drastically to about 1,600, the ANC adheres to a rank structure similar to the Royal Australian Navy, with cadets having the opportunity to progress from the rank of Cadet Recruit to Cadet Midshipman. Each unit has a complement which lays out how many cadets the unit is allowed to carry, Training camps and examinations are held for promotion in rank. The structure and organisation of the Australian Navy Cadets is based on that of the Royal Australian Navy however additionally features a community involvement component. Ranks of the Australian Navy Cadets are divided into Staff ranks, volunteers do not become staff until appointed by the ANC. Each state had a Senior Officer Naval Reserve Cadets who answered to the LNA or Local Naval Authority usually the Commanding Officer of the establishment on which the NRCHQ of that state resided. A Cadet Liaison Officer, usually a RANR Officer, was situated in HMAS Cairns, HMAS Moreton, HMAS Watson, HMAS Lonsdale, HMAS Encounter, HMAS Huon, the CLO had responsibility for the liaising between the NRC and RAN in their state. There was no national HQ or national staff until the ANC was established in 2001, prior to 2001 the ANC did not have the title or position Director General ANC, instead the overall Commanders position was called Director of Reserves Navy which was a RAN – RANR position. Cadets learn teamwork and leadership skills, and put these into practice at regular weekly parades, Cadets also have the opportunity to attend training camps for the purpose of promotion in rank, standard training, or to gain additional qualifications. TS Hobart, a band unit, also offers musical activities as well as the normal cadet curriculum. All ANC units can participate in sea rides on Royal Australian Navy ships as part of the Twinning program, as the ANC is part of the International Sea Cadet Association, the opportunity is present for members to go on exchange programs with overseas cadet groups. The ANC/Young Endeavour Voyage Scheme is a program for Australian Navy Cadets aged 16 and over, focused on building leadership, teamwork. This scheme is being sponsored by the RAN and extends to 24 Australian Navy Cadets, sponsorship covers all voyage fees, airfares and accommodation
5.
Australian Army Cadets
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The Australian Army Cadets is a youth organisation that is involved in training and adventurous activities in a military setting. The programme has more than 19,000 Army Cadets between the ages of 12½ and 19 based in 237 units around Australia, the motto is Courage, Initiative, Teamwork and a recently added motto respect. The cadet programme has strong links to the Australian Army and is a part of the Australian Defence Force Cadets, however, its members are not members of the Australian Defence Force by virtue only of their membership of the Australian Army Cadets. While cadets are encouraged to consider enlisting in the military, it is not required that they do so, the Australian Army Cadets is authorised under Section 62 of the Defence Act 1903 with lawful policies provided in the Cadet Forces Regulations 2013. The Australian Army Cadets is an organisation that is modelled on the Australian Army. It differs from Scouts Australia and other youth groups as its main focus is that of learning and using military. The organisation boasts a nationwide reach with Cadet units in every state, youths who have reached the age of 12 years are eligible to apply for enrollment into the AAC. Once enrolled, they may remain as a cadet until the day before they attain the age of twenty years, from 2001 to 2005, cadets have made up 10% of applications and 11% of total Australian Defence Force enlistments. The Kings School and Newington College vie for the honour of having the oldest Cadet Corps in Australia, an embryonic corps was founded by Newington College when a drill master was appointed to staff in 1865. Two years later, a sergeant-major was appointed and muskets and carbines were purchased, the first official unit in Australia was established on 29 March 1866 at St Marks Collegiate School by Reverend Macarthur. In June 1868, The Kings School had closed and did not reopen until January 1869, when it was amalgamated with the St Marks unit, the unit was renamed The Kings School Cadets Corps. In 1910, the training scheme was introduced, under the scheme all medically fit males 14–18 years of age had to serve in cadets. Boys who did not comply were charged and dealt with by the courts, Training cadets were divided into two groups. Senior cadets aged between 16–18 years of age were attached to Militia Units, called Regimental Detachments, while students aged between 14–16 years of age remained as school cadets, Officers came from teaching staff and selected cadets were made Cadet Lieutenants. In 1939, the outbreak of World War II caused the Regimental Detachments to be disbanded as staff were needed to train soldiers for overseas service, some School Based Units closed down while some struggled on. By the end of World War II, Regimental Detachments had been re-raised, between 1949 and 1975, School Based Units were attached to Citizen Military Forces units. The CMF is the precursor of the modern day Australian Army Reserve, the Duke of Edinburgh presented his banner as a gift to the Corps on 2 May 1970 at Victoria Barracks, Sydney. At this time, there were 46,000 cadets in Australia, in 1975, the ACC was disbanded by the Whitlam Labor government and was re-raised by the Fraser Liberal government on 1 October 1976
6.
Australians
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Australians, colloquially known as Aussies, are people associated with Australia, sharing a common history, culture, and language. Present-day Australians are citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia, governed by its nationality law, the majority of Australians descend from the peoples of the British Isles. Many early settlements were penal colonies, and transported convicts made up a significant proportion of the population in most colonies, large-scale immigration did not occur until the 1850s, following a series of gold rushes. Prior to British settlement, Australia was inhabited by indigenous peoples – Aboriginal Australians, Aboriginal Tasmanians, and Torres Strait Islanders. A small percentage of present-day Australians descend from these peoples, the development of a separate Australian identity and national character is most often linked with the period surrounding the First World War, which gave rise to the concept of the Anzac spirit. The Eureka Rebellion of 1854 and various events of the Second World War, large-scale immigration occurred after the First and Second World Wars, with many post-World War II migrants coming from Southern and Eastern Europe introducing a variety of elements. Immigration from the Middle East, south and east Asia, Australian culture has diverged significantly since British settlement. Australians are referred to as Aussie and Antipodean, Australians were historically referred to as Colonials, British and British subjects. Australian identity draws on a multicultural, European and British cultural heritage, today, Australians of Anglo and other European descent are the dominant majority in Australia, estimated at 85–92% of the total population. Historically, European immigrants had great influence over Australian history and society, since soon after the beginning of British settlement in 1788, people of European descent have formed the majority of the population in Australia. The majority of Australians are of British – English, Scottish, Welsh, Cornish, or Manx –, although some observers stress Australias convict history, the vast majority of early settlers came of their own free will. Far more Australians are descended from assisted immigrants than from convicts, about 20% of Australians are descendants of convicts. Most of the first Australian settlers came from London, the Midlands and the North of England, anglo-Celtic Australians have been highly influential in shaping the nations culture. By the mid-1840s, the numbers of settlers had overtaken the convict population. In 1888,60 percent of the Australian population had been born in Australia, out of the remaining 40 percent,34 percent had been born in the British Isles, and 6 percent were of European origin, mainly from Germany and Scandinavia. In the 1840s, Scots-born immigrants constituted 12 percent of the Australian population, there were 1.3 million British migrants to Australia in the period from 1861–1914, of which 13.5 percent were Scots. 5.3 percent of the convicts transported to Eastern Australia between 1789 and 1852 were Scots, by 1850, there were 290,000 Aboriginal Australians. The European population grew from 0.3 percent of the population of the continent at 1800 to 58.6 percent at 1850, germans formed the largest non-British community for most of the 19th century
