The biggest culture differences between Australia and the UK. Image credit: AdobeStock
But when you start to get a bit deeper, you’ll realise there are cultural differences. We’ve already covered
the cultural differences between Australia and Europe, but let’s go into more detail with a European country, namely the UK:
Brits are sometimes less direct when it comes to their communication style. They often say the opposite of what they mean, but it’s their tone of voice that lets their true feelings be known. For example, when they say “I’ll bear that in mind”, it sounds promising, but they usually mean there’s no chance they’ll do it. Aussies, on the other hand, are usually more straightforward and don’t beat around the bush.
When it comes to their job, Aussies and Brits work just as hard and are just as professional as one another. Australians may be better at separating their work life and personal life though. You’ll find many Brits taking pride at being the last one at the office or responding to emails or buying printer cartridges in the middle of the night. Aussies will be long asleep by now, having got through all their work earlier so they could make the most of their free time.
Probably not a surprise that the British are seen as more formal than Australians. This can even be misconstrued as being stand-offish, but it’s just because many Brits aren’t used to greeting each other on the street, especially in big towns and cities, and often keep to themselves. They may be known as being over-the-top when it comes to apologising but will often walk around without a smile on their face, which may be quite alien to Aussies. Our article on English politeness might shed more light on the matter. On the other hand, Australians are known for their small talk and love of striking up conversations and therefore come across as very friendly.
One stereotype of Aussies is their laid-back nature and it is generally spot on. While many Brits wolf down their brekkies, down their cups of tea, and are out of the house at lightning speed for work, an Aussie’s typical day may consist of getting up early, working out, and then casually heading into work, starting off their day in a relaxed manner.
Hierarchies at work are usually more pronounced in Britain than in Oz. In Australian companies, everything is less formal on the whole and there’s a less defined hierarchical structure, meaning the employees are all seen as more equal than in a British company, for example. While Brits might ‘suck it up’ and not complain when something isn’t to their liking, the Aussie culture means that employees are often encouraged to speak openly at work to ensure the workforce stays on good terms.