WITH Australia Day approaching it's a good time to ask: what does it mean to be Australian? One answer is that we are a multicultural society where diversity and difference prevail and, as a result, there is no such thing as an Australian.
Those advocating multiculturalism argue we are a nation of ethnic and racial groups each with its own unique way of life. Instead of being Aussies we are Italian-Australian, Greek-Australian, Lebanese-Australian, Irish-Australian, Anglo-Australian or Vietnamese-Australian. That because we are a land of immigrants with different languages, customs, religions and beliefs that are all considered equally worthwhile it's also wrong to argue that there is a mainstream Australian culture that binds everyone together. 
Reality check - the first thing to understand is that if we only focus on what divides us then we will become a nation of tribes.
As noted in the Australian Bureau of Statistics Australian Social Trends,   April 2013, and notwithstanding the propaganda about being cosmopolitan, there is such a thing as the average Australian.
The ABS survey states "despite the considerable diversity in Australia and the changes Australia has gone through over the years, the largest group of Australians have actually changed very little".
Christianity is still the major religion at 61 per cent, while the number professing Buddhism is 2.5 per cent, Islam 2.2 per cent and Hinduism 1.3 per cent. Despite the high rate of recent migration it is also true that "the average Australian was born in Australia and so were both parents".
Ninety per cent of those who reported their ancestry described themselves as English, Australian, Irish or Scottish.
Add the fact that our political and legal institutions are inherited from the UK and it should not surprise that we are a Western, liberal democracy where basic rights are guaranteed and all are free to live their lives without state intervention and control.
This explains why, according to the US-based Freedom House, while Australia has one of the highest ratings for protecting freedom, countries in our region such as China, Thailand, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Vietnam and Cambodia are categorised as totalitarian.
Our culture, according to the Freedom House, guarantees freedom of speech and a free media while such rights are denied in the majority of countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
As anyone who has travelled overseas will appreciate, there is a uniquely Australian culture and one that distinguishes us from the rest of the world. Compared to the Brits and Americans Australians are egalitarian, down to earth and practical.
When chauffeured Australian politicians travel in the front next to the driver, we treat our bosses as equals and millions of migrants have been welcomed on the basis that we believe in a "fair go". With sporting heroes such as Shane Warne and comedians such as Paul Hogan it's clear that Australians like larrikins and, as shown by Sam Kekovich's lamb ads, we have a unique sense of humour. Only Australia could have produced Dame Edna and her gladioli.
The fact that the description "mate" can be used both as a term of endearment or an insult is uniquely Australian, as when it is employed to cover the fact that you can't remember the name of the person you are talking to.
Proven by the thousands travelling to the shores of Gallipoli every year and those walking the Kokoda Track, it's also true Australians value heroism and self-sacrifice and that patriotism is alive and well, especially among our young.
As described by Dorothea Mackellar's poem My Country and evidenced by recent weather events in Sydney and many parts of inland Australia, we are a land of "droughts and flooding plains". Our climate and terrain are unique and help fashion who we are.
It's true that migrants have changed our way of life - compared to 40 years ago cafes and espresso coffee are mainstream, wine has nearly outstripped beer as the beverage of choice and Asian-rim cooking is widespread.
At the same time, regardless of ethnicity, religion or race, we are all Australian with a unique culture that all should acknowledge and celebrate.Dr Kevin Donnelly is a senior research fellow at the Australian Catholic University and Director of the Education Standards Institute.