To what extent has your study of Australian poetry contributed to your understanding of, or response to, your sense of being Australian or living in Australian society

There are many factors that shape my sense of being Australian and living in an Australian society. All my previous experiences- whether they be books I have read, films I have viewed, advertisements I have listened to or watched, people I have talked to, experiences I have encountered on my travels, even the National Anthem and annual Australia Day celebrations contribute in some part to my sense of myself as Australian. Factors such as my …

…life that supports what I feel about my own identity is in the people around me. Without the society we live in, the media, my own friends and most importantly my family I would not be able to define my own identity. The importance of the people around you can be captured by a poet and together in sharing these texts we are able to reaffirm our own identity and help others in finding theirs.