6 Greatest Misconceptions of the World about Australians

It’s common for people to have misconceptions based on what they have heard, read or seen on TV. Sometimes, they automatically see it as the truth just because of how often they hear about it. However, not everything we hear, read or see on TV is true.

Take for example what a lot of people think about Australians. Below are just some of the most popular (and ridiculous) misconceptions about them.

1. Everybody talks like Steve Irwin.

Maybe it’s because Steve Irwin who achieved worldwide fame from the television series The Crocodile Hunter was one of the most popular Aussies on TV that people began to think all Australians talk like him. But no. Not everyone says “Crikey, mate”. In fact, none of the other common Aussie slang, such as “G’day mate”, “shrimp on the barbie”, “hard yakka”, and “Sheila” are common at all.

2. Everyone in Australia is like Crocodile Dundee.

Here’s another common misconception brought about by the media, specifically from the hugely popular 80s film starring Paul Hogan called Crocodile Dundee. While Australia is famous for the Great Outback, not everyone Down Under is a rugged bushman who spends their time wrangling crocodiles or killing snakes.

3. Aussies ride kangaroos to school.

While it is true that there exists a large population of kangaroos in Australia, you can’t find them everywhere. Hardly any kangaroos find themselves in the city. People even have to make it a mission to actually find one in the countryside. So, the idea that Aussies ride them to school (or to work) is downright absurd.

4. Aussies keep koalas as pets.

Koalas, like some species of kangaroos, are native to Australia. However, it also doesn’t mean that they live in people’s backyards. Koalas are actually asocial animals who spend 20 hours a day sleeping leaving only 4 hours for social activities. That will make them pretty boring pets, don’t you think?

5. Aussies love to throw some “shrimp on the barbie”.

True, Aussies love a good barbecue. False, they call it “prawns” and not shrimp. Enough said.

6. It’s always sunny in Australia.

Some people think that it never rains in Australia. While it’s true that Australia is one of the driest continents on earth, it still experiences rainfall at an average annual rate of less than 600 millimetres. If it didn’t rain, how do you think everyone there will survive?

As you can see, most of these popular beliefs about Aussies are not true at all. Some are just ridiculous. So, before you start stereotyping Aussies, or any nationality for that matter, keep an open mind, get to know them firsthand and see for yourself.

Originally published at homehello.com.au on March 4, 2015.