http://lifeintheuk.net/index.php AussieTest.com: Everything you need to know about the Australian citizenship test en Copyright 2008 Red Squirrel Publishing 2008-10-27T12:11:00+00:00 http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/citizenship_test_review_to_be_released/ http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/citizenship_test_review_to_be_released/#When:12:11:00Z The federal government will release a review of the controversial citizenship test within weeks according to The Age.Under the test, which was introduced by the Howard government, prospective Australian citizens are quizzed on numerous topics relating to Australian culture such as cricketing great Don Bradman, legendary racehorse Phar Lap and Simpson's donkey. The government received a review of the test, chaired by retired diplomat Dick Woolcott, more than two months ago and has yet to act. Immigration Minister Chris Evans said the government would release the review within weeks. "Cabinet is making a decision on the report and it should be made public pretty shortly," he told the Nine Network on Sunday. "I took a decision that we would release the report at the same time as we released the government's response." News 2008-10-27T12:14:24+00:00 http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/celebrating_australian_citizenship_day_2008/ http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/celebrating_australian_citizenship_day_2008/#When:22:56:01Z More than 1600 people will become Australian citizens today as part of Australian Citizenship Day celebrations around the nation.Citizenship Day events will include a ceremony on the Spirit of Tasmania passenger ship in Devonport, Tasmania as well as ceremonies at Perth’s Bayswater City Council, Brisbane City Hall, the grand ballroom at Sky City Casino in Darwin, the 1st Victorian Sea Scout Hall in Melbourne’s Albert Park, Ayers House in Adelaide and at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s Parramatta office in Sydney. The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, will confer 17 people with Australian citizenship at a special ceremony at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra. ‘Australian Citizenship Day is an opportunity for all Australians to celebrate the value and meaning of Australian citizenship,’ Senator Evans said. ‘It is an opportunity for us to think about the changes that shaped our nation, and to reflect on the role we play in building Australia and our future. ‘It is an appropriate time for us all to reflect on the responsibilities and privileges of being an Australian citizen. ‘Citizenship is a unifying force for our nation. We are enriched by people from more than 230 countries. Our record of welcoming and embracing new arrivals is fundamental to our identity, social cohesion and future as a nation. ‘Through citizenship, we all share a commitment to values including mutual respect, equality, freedom of speech and religion, the rule of law and democracy. ‘Citizenship means you belong to the Australian family and enjoy the responsibilities and privileges of living in the country and through voting to have a say in its future. ‘More than 120 000 people became citizens in 2007-08.  I encourage anyone who is eligible to join them and formally become a part of our community as Australian citizens.’ News 2008-09-20T22:56:53+00:00 http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/independent_committee_to_review_citizenship_test/ http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/independent_committee_to_review_citizenship_test/#When:07:56:00Z An independent committee of seven eminent Australians will review the citizenship test, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, announced today.Former Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Secretary Richard Woolcott AC will chair the Citizenship Test Review Committee, which will examine the operation and effectiveness of the test since its introduction on 1 October last year. ‘The Government is committed to maintaining the citizenship test, but now that it has been in place for six months, it is timely to review it to make sure it is achieving its proper purpose as an effective pathway for residents to become citizens,’ Senator Evans said. ‘The committee will examine aspects of the content and operation of the citizenship test, including the experiences of applicants and the impact on citizenship applications, and consider ways to improve its operation and effectiveness. ‘The committee will be chaired by Mr Woolcott AC, a former diplomat with a long and distinguished public service career and an excellent ambassador for multicultural relations.’ The six other members appointed to the independent committee are former Olympian Rechelle Hawkes; SBS director Paula Masselos; refugee advocate Julianna Nkrumah; Australia Day Council CEO Warren Pearson; former Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Rtd Chris Ritchie AO RANR; and legal expert Professor Kim Rubenstein. ‘The committee will consult actively with the Australian community to ensure views from the public are heard and considered, so I urge people to take the opportunity to provide feedback,’ Senator Evans said. ‘It is important to Government that stakeholders and interested members of the public are given the opportunity to contribute to the development of future policy directions regarding the citizenship test. ‘The Rudd Government believes that a citizenship test can play a valuable role in both encouraging people to find out more about our great nation as well as understanding the responsibilities and privileges which being an Australian citizen brings. ‘A test is also a useful mechanism for determining whether a person meets the general legal requirements for becoming an Australian – including whether they possess a basic knowledge of the English language.’ The committee began work on the review today (28 April) and is due to report back to the Minister by mid year.  News 2008-04-29T07:57:28+00:00 http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/australian_government_to_review_citizenship_test/ http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/australian_government_to_review_citizenship_test/#When:15:47:00Z The Minister of Immigration has announced that the Australian citizenship test is to be reviewed amid the release of figures that show a significant proportion of applicants have failed the test.Senator Chris Evans, the Minister of Immigration in the new Australian Federal Government, has announced that the Australian citizenship test will be reviewed.  This will be undertaken as part of the process of the new Government taking office. The Minister also released figures showing the number of people who have taken, and passed, the test. 10,725 citizenship tests were completed from 1 October 2007, when the test was introduced, and 31 December 2007.  About 90 percent of applicants have passed the test on their first or subsequent attempt.  But of the total number of tests taken about 20 percent resulted in failure. The failure rate has been heavily criticised by some observers, particularly groups representing refugees and ethnic minorities.  These groups have also questioned more fundamental aspects of the test and have labelled it discriminatory.  They say it fails to test applicants on the things they need to know to live successfully in Australia. The Minister has continued to back the concept of the test but wants to undertake a review that looks at the content of the test and the support services provided with it.  ‘If people are not succeeding, we need to find out why, and how we can help to support them better. It’s all about making the process work better for all concerned”, he stated.  Former Prime Minister John Howard was heavily involved in the development of the test and ensured the study materials had a strong emphasis on culture and history. For the meantime the testing process will continue as normal.  News 2008-01-06T16:16:11+00:00 http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/australian_citizenship_testing_begins_with_83_pass_rate/ http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/australian_citizenship_testing_begins_with_83_pass_rate/#When:09:47:00Z In the first week of Australian citizenship testing, 83% of would-be citizens passed the multiple choice test. However the government admitted that not all of the questions had been finalised in time and that further test questions were planned.The Herald Sun reported that 51 would-be citizens failed the multiple choice test, out of 297 who have taken it so far. However, there was a lower pass rate among refugees and temporary protection visa holders. The average time taken to complete the test was 11 minutes. The fastest time was two minutes and 22 seconds. The applicant in this test passed with 90% of answers correct. The test was originally planned to be based on 200 questions, however The Age has reported Opposition Leader, Kevin Rudd, as revealing that Kevin Andrews’ Immigration Department was not able to fully complete the preparation of questions in time for the introduction of testing. The list of questions is a closely guarded secret and the questions are not available to the public. It is unclear whether the additional questions being prepared by the Immigration Department will make the test more difficult or what affect they may have on the pass rate. News 2007-10-10T15:42:39+00:00 http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/australian_citizenship_tests_to_start_in_october_2007/ http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/australian_citizenship_tests_to_start_in_october_2007/#When:11:07:00Z The Australian government has finally published the resource book and set the start date for the citizenship test. Most people wishing to submit an application for Australian citizenship on or after 1 October 2007 will first need to pass the Australian Citizenship Test.Anyone planning to apply for Australian citizenship must now hurry to submit their application before 1 October 2007 to avoid having to take the test. The introduction of the test had been delayed by several months, mostly because the resource booklet had not been completed in time. A media campaign will be launched during October to raise general public awareness about the test. The Australian Citizenship Test consists of 20 multiple choice questions drawn from the book Becoming an Australian Citizen.  Applicants will need to answer a minimum of 12 questions correctly (60%) in order to pass. News 2007-09-18T11:09:05+00:00 http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/australian_citizenship_test_approved_by_senate/ http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/australian_citizenship_test_approved_by_senate/#When:18:23:00Z The Federal Senate in Australia has approved the legislation required to implement the Australian Citizenship Test.In its last session before the federal election the Senate has approved the Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Testing) Bill 2007.  The bill now returns to the lower house of parliament for final approval. The bill was passed with some minor amendments but there is little change to the original proposals submitted by the Government for approval. It is being reported that the resource book for the test will be finalized in the next ten days.  The book is currently being consulted on.  This process is being led and managed by the Minister of Immigration and Citizenship, Kevin Andrews. The Government has never committed to a definite implementation date for the test but it is understood that the test is expected to be implemented on 1 October 2007. News 2007-09-12T18:26:23+00:00 http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/becoming_an_australian_citizen_a_summary/ http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/becoming_an_australian_citizen_a_summary/#When:16:16:00Z The Australian government recently released a draft of Becoming an Australian Citizen – the resource book that applicants will study for the Australian Citizenship Test. We summarise the contents of the book here.On 26 August 2007 the resource book Becoming an Australian Citizen was released in draft form.  The content of the book had been the subject of speculation in the media for some time.  Below we provide a summary of the book so that potential test applicants can know what to expect. The book is presented in four parts.  The first summarises the main privileges and responsibilities of being an Australian citizen.  The key privileges are voting, holding a passport and being able to pass citizenship on to your children.  The main responsibilities are compulsory voting, serving on a jury and participating in the life of the country. This part also sets out ten important values in modern Australia.  These values focus on freedoms enjoyed by citizens, respect for others and that the principle that all people are treated equally. The second part is the largest.  It covers a wide variety of topics as it traces the development of modern Australia.  It begins by summarising the history of human life in the country: from the arrival of indigenous people, followed by European settlement and the wave of immigration after World War 2.  The make-up of today’s population is summarised, as are the nation’s symbols and traditions. The country’s history is then covered in more detail.  The hardships and difficulties experienced by Aboriginal people since European settlement are covered in detail.  Australia’s military history is discussed in depth, especially the Gallipoli invasion and the growth of the ANZAC tradition.  The development of the nation’s economy is discussed, as is the birth of the modern government.  The exploits and successes of Australia’s artists and sportspeople are also summarised. The third part of Becoming an Australian Citizen looks at government in Australia.  It explains the role of the constitution in setting the rules of government and the differences between federal, state and local government.  It also sets out the key positions in the government such as the Prime Minister and the Governor-General. The fourth and final part explains how the citizenship test works and its role in the applying for Australian citizenship. The draft resource book is currently open for consultation and will be finalised later in 2007 once the legislation required to enact the test has passed through the Australian federal parliament. News 2007-09-01T23:13:06+00:00 http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/sample_questions_from_ibecoming_an_australian_citizen_i/ http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/sample_questions_from_ibecoming_an_australian_citizen_i/#When:10:49:00Z The Australian federal government has released a draft of the resource book Becoming an Australian Citizen. The book includes 20 sample questions, designed to give a feel for what the test questions will be like.Immigration Minister, Kevin Andrews, released a draft of the resource book Becoming an Australian Citizen on 26 August 2007.  Questions for the Australian Citizenship Test will be drawn from the book.  The draft book includes a number of sample questions, designed to give an indication of what the test questions will be like.  The sample questions are reproduced below.  The answers can be found by clicking a link at the bottom of this page. The draft resource book can be downloaded here: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/resource-book/index.htm 1. In what year did Federation take place? 2. Which day of the year is Australia Day? 3. Who was the first Prime Minister of Australia? 4. What is the first line of Australia’s national anthem? 5. What is the floral emblem of Australia? 6. What is the population of Australia? 7. In what city is the Parliament House of the Commonwealth Parliament located? 8. Who is the Queen’s representative in Australia? 9. How are Members of Parliament chosen? 10. Who do Members of Parliament represent? 11. After a federal election, who forms the new government? 12. What are the colours on the Australian flag? 13. Who is the head of the Australian Government? 14. What are the three levels of government in Australia? 15. In what year did the European settlement of Australia start? 16. Serving on a jury if required is a responsibility of Australian citizenship: true or false? 17. In Australia, everyone is free to practise the religion of their choice, or practise no religion: true or false? 18. To be elected to the Commonwealth Parliament you must be an Australian citizen: true or false? 19. As an Australian citizen, I have the right to register my baby born overseas as an Australian citizen: true or false? 20. Australian citizens aged 18 years or over are required to enrol on the electoral register: true or false? For the answers to these questions please click this link: http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/answers_to_sample_questions/ News 2007-08-28T11:12:24+00:00 http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/government_releases_draft_resource_book_for_test/ http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/government_releases_draft_resource_book_for_test/#When:09:15:00Z Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews has released a draft version of the resource book that prospective citizenship test applicants will use to study for the citizenship test. He has also revealed more details of how the test will work.A draft of Becoming an Australian Citizen, the resource book for the Australian Citizenship Test has been released by Kevin Andrews, the Immigration Minister.  Questions for the test will be drawn from the resource book. The book is approximately 40 pages in length and covers a number of topics about Australia and Australian life, including history, society, culture and Australian values. Test applicants will face 20 questions drawn from the book.  These questions will come from a database of some 200 questions.  Applicants will need to answer a minimum of 12 questions correctly (60%) in order to pass.  The correctly answered questions must include three specific questions on the responsibilities and privileges of being an Australian citizen. Tests will be conducted in every office of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and also in other locations in regional centres. Assistance will be available for those applicants with special needs, such as a disability or a low level of literacy. The book has been released to give people an indication of what the test will cover.  It is also open for consultation and can be commented on at the Immigration Minister’s website. A copy of the draft resource book can be viewed at the website: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/resource-book/index.htm Mr Andrews confirmed that the test is scheduled for implementation later in 2007 but did not give a specific date.  Legislation that will bring the test into law is currently before the Australian Parliament.  The test cannot be implemented until the legislation is passed. News 2007-08-28T09:48:55+00:00 http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/new_aussie_test_to_be_based_on_britishness_test/ http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/new_aussie_test_to_be_based_on_britishness_test/#When:14:33:00Z The materials used by would-be Australian citizens will be based on a UK booklet used for Britain's own citizenship test. The materials used by would-be Australian citizens will be based on a UK booklet used for Britain’s own citizenship test. The booklet titled ‘A Guide to Australian Life’, printed entirely in English, will be compulsory reading. The booklet is in line with new legislation outlining citizenship requirements introduced by Andrew Robb, the parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Affairs. The citizenship test will be comprised of a English language exam and 30 multiple choice questions, randomly generated from a pool of 200, quizzing migrants on Australian life and values. Robb studied examples from Canada, Holland and the United States, and decided the British model, known as the Life in the UK test, would be the most suitable model. Officials from the UK are understood to have shared knowledge and experiences in implementing the test with their Australian counterparts. The content of the test is still being finalised by officials and has been shrouded in much secrecy. The test is expected to be introduced by September 2007, or before the next Australian election. News 2007-07-24T14:40:46+00:00 http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/further_details_about_aussie_test_topics_revealed/ http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/further_details_about_aussie_test_topics_revealed/#When:14:04:00Z The Australian citizenship test will include questions on the country's Christian background, geography and the colour of the flag.Department of Immigration and Citizenship senior official, Andrew Metcalfe, has confirmed that would-be citizens should expect questions on Australia’s post-1788 religious heritage. Christian groups had lobbied the Government to acknowledge this background in its primer on what defines Australia and being Australian. “I think without doubt you can ultimately trace our values and beliefs back to the body of knowledge that derives from the Old Testament and upon which the Judaeo-Christian background is based,” Mr Metcalfe recently told a hearing of the Senate’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee. “We are talking about questions that go to Australia, our values, our history, our geography, our political system and national symbols,” Mr Metcalfe said. “Part of Australia, its values and its history would go to our belief system, so I imagine that that is an area that would be covered in the resource book.” Much secrecy has surrounded the contents of the test prompting some criticism. Labor senator Annette Hurley claimed the secrecy had created “a bit of a climate of uncertainty for people who are considering citizenship”. The questions will come from a pool of about 200 confidential questions, drawn from information in the citizenship resource book. The test will require applicants to answer 20 multiple-choice questions, including three that relate specifically to national values. While the test’s pass rate is 60 per cent, applicants must get all three “Australian values” questions right to pass. There is no limit to the number of times applicants can sit the test. News 2007-07-24T14:19:56+00:00 http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/increase_in_iraqi_refugees_comes_at_the_expense_of_those_from_africa/ http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/increase_in_iraqi_refugees_comes_at_the_expense_of_those_from_africa/#When:16:59:00Z The Australian federal government has announced that it will lift the intake of refugees from the Middle East. But this will result in a dramatic decrease in refugees from AfricaImmigration Minister Kevin Andrews has outlined changes to Australia’s intake of refugees.  Australia takes about 13,000 refugees each year, and that number will not change.  What will shift are the locations that refugees come from. In recent years approximately 70 percent of refugees being accepted into Australia have come from Africa.  But now this number will drop and there will be a more even balance in the intake between people from Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The change is partly a response to the needs of Iraqi Christians who have fled the war in their home country.  The increase in the intake in Asia is likely to come from Burmese and Bhutanese refugees. News 2007-08-19T17:16:05+00:00 http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/australia_targets_english_speakers_for_immigration/ http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/australia_targets_english_speakers_for_immigration/#When:16:51:00Z Speakers of English will be awarded extra credit under the points system for immigration operated by the Australian governmentThe Australian government has announced that five extra points will be awarded to potential immigrants who can pass an English language test as part of the application process for work visas.  A points system is used to determine who are given visas to work and live in Australia.  Points are allocated for various factors such as age, experience and skills. The move is part of an overall push to lift the numbers of skilled workers coming to live in Australia.  It is complemented by a lift in the overall target for skilled workers coming in to the country; from 97,000 to 102,500. It is expected that the forthcoming policy change will attract workers such as teachers, dentists and nurses from primarily English speaking countries such as the United Kingdom. News 2007-08-19T16:57:39+00:00 http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/citizen_test_easier_for_some/ http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/citizen_test_easier_for_some/#When:00:59:00Z The Australian Government has left open the option of offering an easy version of its citizenship test to migrants who are unable to meet the English requirements of the main test. Australian Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews’s revelation about the clause in the legislation to be introduced follows concerns raised in the Coalition partyroom that certain groups, such as women at home with children or traumatised refugees, would fail the citizenship test because of their circumstances. Mr Andrews said the Department of Immigration and Citizenship would monitor results of the test for the first six months to determine whether a pattern emerged suggesting a group had particular difficulties. Migrants in such a group could either be offered extra assistance if they had completed 400 hours of English tuition or the alternative test, he said. “The legislation provides that there can be more than one test,” Mr Andrews said. “Although we are initially only setting one test, if we find there is a group of people who have a particular learning impairment, that another test will meet their requirements, then we will have the ability through the legislation to have another test. “But we’ll monitor and see if we actually need that.” Mr Andrews said he hoped the test would be up and running by Citizenship Day on September 17.  News 2007-06-26T01:00:47+00:00 http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/australian_residents_rush_to_become_citizens_before_the_going_gets_tough/ http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/australian_residents_rush_to_become_citizens_before_the_going_gets_tough/#When:00:53:01Z NewswireToday - /newswire/ - Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 06/24/2007 - The Australian Government’s plans to make it tougher to become an Australian Citizen have prompted a surge in applications from people trying to beat its introduction in September . There is a surge in applications to become Australian Citizens has people hope to avoid the introduction of a new Citizen test. Citizen applications were up 44 per cent compared to the same month last year, with Victoria was more than 60 per cent higher, and this year has seen more people becoming citizens than in the whole of 2005-06. The rush of new applicants comes with the continuing debate over the merits of the new test, which will involve applicants demonstrating their knowledge of Australian history, traditions and values. The cost of the citizenship is also due to double to $240. The Australian Government is planning to spend $29m over the next five years to advertise the new changes, which is on top of recent advertising campaigns promoting Australian Citizenship. Criticism of the new Citizen Test has come from the prominent Liberal backbencher Petro Georgiou, who said the new tests will discriminate against non-English speaking arrivals who still could be model Australian Citizens. Under the current system, applicants need to have been permanent residents for a minimum of two years and understand “basic English”. Under the new provisions, applicants will be given a Q&A test of 30 questions drawn from a list of 200. The UK is following Australia’s lead and is now also talking of a similar test for new immigrants to the UK. News 2007-07-27T11:30:35+00:00 http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/how_does_the_test_work/ http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/how_does_the_test_work/#When:00:43:00Z The focus of the test will be on Australia’s values, history, traditional and national symbols. Information people will need to know to answer the test questions will be included in a resource book which is being developed to help people prepare for citizenship. The test will: * be computer based * consist of around 20 multiple choice questions drawn randomly from a large pool of confidential questions * include three mandatory questions on the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship * be in English. The pass mark will be 60 per cent including answering the three mandatory questions correctly. People will need to sit and pass the test before lodging their citizenship application. The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship will oversee the development of the test questions. He is looking to use experts to develop questions designed to demonstrate knowledge of the information contained in the citizenship resource book. About the Test 2007-06-26T00:43:42+00:00 http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/will_everyone_have_to_sit_a_test/ http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/will_everyone_have_to_sit_a_test/#When:00:41:01Z Most applicants for citizenship by conferral are required to: * understand the nature of their application for citizenship * possess a basic knowledge of the English language * have an adequate knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship. Successful completion of a test will be the only way to satisfy the Minister that an applicant meets these requirements. The requirements will be amended slightly to add an adequate knowledge of Australia and this too will need to be demonstrated through successful completion of the test. People who are not required to have a knowledge of the English language or the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship will not be required to sit a citizenship test. This includes applicants: * with a permanent physical or mental incapacity that means the person is not capable of understanding the nature of their citizenship application * aged 60 years or over and under 18 years. About the Test 2007-06-26T00:42:48+00:00 http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/answers_to_sample_questions/ http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/answers_to_sample_questions/#When:10:37:00Z Answers to sample questions from the draft resource book Becoming an Australian Citizen Below are answers to questions provided in the draft resource book Becoming and Australian Citizen, released by the Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews.  The questions can be found here: http://www.aussietest.com/index.php/news/sample_questions_from_ibecoming_an_australian_citizen_i/ 1. 1901 2. 26 January 3. Edmund Barton 4. Australians all let us rejoice 5. Wattle 6. 21 million 7. Canberra 8. The Governor-General 9. By election 10. Voters in their electorate 11. The party (or parties) that wins a majority of seats in the House of Representatives 12. Red, white and blue 13. The Prime Minister 14. Commonwealth, State or Territory and Local 15. 1788 16. True 17. True 18. True 19. True 20. True News 2007-08-28T11:14:48+00:00