A Guide to Collaborating with Australian Colleagues

Australians tend to be relaxed yet professional

Australia is synonymous with a laid-back culture, and this is generally reflective of the typical Aussie workplace. Australians tend to be informal in their interactions, adopting a friendly and casual demeanor. They’ll usually address co-workers and business partners by their first names upon meeting them for the first time.  

It’s not uncommon for Australians to use slang terms in the workplace, either, with a study by language experts Preply revealing that over 30% of Aussies use slang terms like ‘mate’ in most conversations. Don’t be surprised to be greeted by an Australian colleague by being asked, “How’re you going, mate?”

That said, this doesn’t mean that Australian workers are in any way unprofessional. While they’re not averse to workplace humor and it’s normal to have a friendly chit-chat before getting into a work-related discussion, Australians still value (and expect) a high degree of professionalism in a work setting. 

Australians are mostly direct communicators

Excuse the pun, but when it comes to business communication, Australians rarely beat around the bush. Instead, they tend to be quite direct, matter-of-fact communicators, preferring to get to the heart of the matter quickly and avoid unnecessary waffle.

When collaborating with an Australian colleague, expect them to say pretty much what they’re thinking. This somewhat direct style can come across as a little brusque for those used to a more tactful approach, but it doesn’t mean they’re being impatient or impolite — they simply tend to tell it as it is. 

Be mindful, too, that your Australian colleagues may be more receptive to this more direct approach when having information relaid to them. Try to be concise, candid, and up-front where possible — it may be better to get to the point swiftly without feeling the need to color your discussions with hyperbole or nonessential details.

Australians value punctuality and courtesy 

Despite their mostly easy-going nature, don’t be fooled into thinking Australians are apathetic towards lateness. They take punctuality seriously, and consider it impolite to arrive late to a meeting without a valid excuse. If you do have a genuine reason for turning up late — or missing a meeting altogether — you should be courteous and let the organizer know, ideally ahead of time.

Most Australians will expect you to schedule an appointment if you have something important to discuss, and these should be made as far in advance as possible rather than being sprung last-minute. Meetings tend to be fairly informal, but that doesn’t mean they’re not valuable — peoples’ time should be respected, and your Australian colleagues will expect the meetings they attend to be a constructive use of their time. 

Australia is a diverse, multicultural nation

While Australia’s population is largely made up of white English speakers, almost 30% of its inhabitants were born outside of the country, contributing to a diverse range of demographics and a varied mix of cultures. Diversity and inclusion are therefore important to Australian businesses, and you should show respect for those with different cultural backgrounds.  

For instance, some people within the country have Aboriginal heritage, whose beliefs and customs may differ from those with English ancestry. There are also a number of different languages spoken by indigenous people in Australia. 

When collaborating with Australian colleagues, it’s important to display cultural sensitivity. Don’t make any assumptions based on one’s identity, and refrain from stereotyping someone because of the way they look, speak, or the beliefs they hold. 

Australian workplaces are often characterized by equality

As much as Australia is a diverse country, there’s also a decidedly egalitarian view of workplace collaboration and relationships when compared with many other cultures. Even in hierarchical organizations, less emphasis tends to be placed on the importance of job titles, with input from all team members considered. 

Decision-making does not necessarily default to the most senior person in the room; managers and executives in Australian companies are often approachable and open to feedback and ideas from employees at all levels.

That said, while the country has made progress in closing the gender pay gap, there’s still work to be done to achieve gender equality in the workplace — women make just 87 cents for every dollar their male counterparts earn. 

Australians generally favor a collaborative approach

The favoring of a more level organizational playing field lends itself to a collaborative approach where input from various team members is encouraged and valued. Many Australian businesses do not favor a top-down management style, opting instead for a more joined-up, synergistic approach.

This means that working with Australian colleagues often involves a lot of stakeholders, with many voices getting their chance to be heard. This may slow down the decision-making process somewhat, but the feeling is that drawing on a range of diverse perspectives often leads to better, more informed decisions in the long run.

If you’re working for an Australian business, you shouldn’t be afraid to speak up, even in the company of more experienced or senior colleagues. Equally, if you’re managing a project which involves Australian stakeholders, you should encourage everyone to share their thoughts and provide feedback regardless of their job role.

Of course, it’s important to remember that each individual in the workplace is different, and not every one of your Australian colleagues will share the same values and behavioral traits. However, by considering the general principles of an Australian workplace, you can collaborate with co-workers from Down Under effectively, building meaningful and mutually-productive relationships.