1281 (Design date 10/20) - Page 1© COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, 2020
Australian values statement
Form
1281
Department of Home Affairs
The Department of Home Affairs acknowledges that Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the traditional custodians
of the Australian land.
Life in Australia – Australian values
The Australian Government encourages people to gain an
understanding of Australia, its people and their way of life, before
applying for a visa to live in Australia.
This includes understanding that the English language, as the
national language, is an important unifying element of Australian
society. Australian society is also united through the following
shared values:
• respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual;
• freedom of religion (including the freedom not to follow
a particular religion), freedom of speech, and freedom of
association;
• commitment to the rule of law, which means that all people
are subject to the law and should obey it;
• parliamentary democracy whereby our laws are determined
by parliaments elected by the people, those laws being
paramount and overriding any other inconsistent religious or
secular ‘laws’;
• equality of opportunity for all people, regardless of their
gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, race, or national or
ethnic origin;
• a ‘fair go’ for all that embraces:
– mutual respect;
– tolerance;
– compassion for those in need; and
– equality of opportunity for all.
The Life in Australia booklet provides more information on the
values that Australians share and their way of life. This booklet is
available in a wide range of languages and can be obtained from
www.homeaffairs.gov.au
You are encouraged to read the Life in Australia booklet before
completing this application form. If you have difficulty, or are
unable to read the booklet, you may have the content of it
explained to you, for example, by a friend or relative. This form
contains a statement, that you must sign, that confirms you
understand and will undertake to conduct yourself in accordance
with the values of Australian society (as explained in the booklet)
and will obey the laws of Australia.
This statement must also be signed by each person aged 18 years
or over, who is included in your visa application, unless they have
already signed the statement on the visa application form. If
anyone has concerns about signing the statement then you
should talk to your visa case officer.