More than 500 new citizens, representing 64 different countries, took the pledge and officially became part of the Australian community.
Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke welcomed the new Australians, describing Australia Day as a time to reflect on who we are, where we come from and what unites us as a community, while also looking ahead and celebrating the shared values that make Australia an inclusive and dynamic nation.
After the formal proceedings, the event continued in a relaxed and festive atmosphere with a traditional Australia Day sausage sizzle, turning the city centre into a space for connection and celebration.
Many young Italians were also among the new citizens, reflecting a community that is increasingly established and actively contributing to Australian society.
One of them was Michele Zecchini, a 35-year-old electrician originally from Rome, who arrived in Australia at 25 and spent a decade working towards citizenship.
It was a long and demanding journey, one he marked with emotion alongside his wife Elena and their two children, aged three and two.
“I’ve spent the most important years of my adult life here and built a family,” he said. “It was a tough journey, but it was possible thanks to the people I met along the way who supported me.”
During the hardest moments, he said he was guided by a quote from Carl Jung: “No matter how isolated or alone you feel, if you do your work authentically and conscientiously, unknown friends will come looking for you.”
Zecchini also welcomed the Lord Mayor’s acknowledgment of young tradies working in construction—a sector where Australia continues to face a serious and ongoing shortage of skilled workers.
Australia needs qualified tradespeople, Zecchini said, but this should be matched with streamlined visa processes, a clearer pathway linking vocational training, apprenticeships and access to stable visas, and less bureaucratic procedures for recognising overseas qualifications.
A structured dialogue between institutions, industry and migrant communities, he said, could help create more transparent and efficient pathways—ones that meet the needs of the Australian economy while aligning with the expectations of those choosing to build their future here.
Brisbane’s January 26 ceremony was more than a formal milestone. It was a celebration of stories shaped by integration, hard work and belonging—and a reminder of what it truly means to become an Australian citizen: a goal built day by day through commitment, resilience and community spirit.
