Australia: An isolated country achieving global connectivity
Our geographical isolation is propelling our desire for greater connectivity and influencing everything from how much we travel, to the food we eat and our lifestyle habits.
According to new research by demographer Bernard Salt in the Towards a super connected Australia report commissioned by nbn™, one of our defining characteristics is our geographical isolation from the rest of the world. For better or for worse, this has created a sense of disconnection that Aussies have sought to overcome. Here’s some of the ways we have become more connected with our global neighbours:
• A jet setting nation: Travel is one of these means and from the baby boomers in the 1970s and 1980s right up until Gen X, Gen Y and soon to be GenNBN, journeying overseas is considered a right of passage for millions of Australians. In fact, about eight million Australian visits are made overseas every year today, a generation ago this number was barely two million.* Australians today have had more exposure to other cultures than previous generations either through travel or through contact with migrants. This global connectivity has led us to adopt aspects of other cultures across everything from food, design and living styles – alfresco dining anyone? But as much as we travel, we still call Australia home. For more than a generation whenever Australian travellers have returned home their immediate advice to friends and family is that we live in the best country on earth. We prize our lifestyle; we see value in global connectivity; and we use whatever means we have at our disposal to build global connectivity.
• Multicultural Australia: The nationalities that are the fastest growing in the Australian population are different to the traditional Anglo heritage. Australia’s newest migrants are coming in big numbers from China, India and the Philippines. This non-Anglo-migration trend is likely to continue as Australia becomes more connected globally. With ubiquitous access to fast broadband GenNBN could work for or own new businesses that connect globally-sourced products with local markets or that connect local products with international buyers.
• Global Business: The development of the nbn™ network may lead to new businesses being formed that connect globally-sourced products with local markets. It could even lead to the development of micro-businesses marketing local products to global markets. Interestingly, we’ll see these sorts of businesses evolve not in the traditional business setting, but in suburbia or even in lifestyle retreats, as Aussies find a way to connect technology and their desire for global connectivity with their lifestyle.
It’s this desire for global connectedness combined with improved connectivity via the nbn™ network that will see Australia as a nation, and its individuals, prosper – not only in travel, but also in business, leisure and a world of other lifestyle pursuits.
Why has the number of Aussies travelling every year increased from two million to eight million in a generation? Check out below how much a flight used to cost in comparison to the average weekly income...
For more information on the Towards a Connected Australia report visit nbn.com.au/gennbn.