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Australian dating culture: Dating in the “Land Down Under”!
Australia is a melting pot of cultures, so it’s no surprise that our dating culture is a colorful blend of traditions, values, and expectations.
If you’re planning on dating an Australian, there are a few things you should know about Australian dating culture.
Here’s a quick guide to help you understand the ins and outs of Australian dating culture.
Australian Dating Culture Compared to Other Countries.
Dating in Australia or New Zealand is a bit different from other countries. For one, Australians tend to go on dates in groups more often than alone.
This is because Aussies are generally very social people and love to spend time with friends.
Another difference is that Australians don’t have the concept of “dating” as other countries do.
Instead, they’ll just hang out as mates and see where things go from there.
There’s no pressure to commit or anything like that. Because of this relaxed attitude, Australians can come across as somewhat flirty compared to other cultures.
However, this doesn’t mean that they’re any less serious about finding a long-term partner.
Stages of Dating in Australia.
There are usually four stages of dating in Australia. The first stage is meeting someone either at a bar, club or through mutual friends.
If you hit it off and want to take things further, you’ll usually go on a couple of dates before becoming an “exclusive” boyfriend/girlfriend (or partner).
Once you’re in a committed relationship, you’ll likely move in together after a while.
This is all dependent on the couple, of course, but typically these are the stages of dating in Australia.
Depending on your cultural background and values, some of these stages may be different or even non-existent.
However, most Australians will go through these stages at some point in their lives.
How Australians meet potential partners.
The first stage of dating is usually meeting someone. This can happen in a variety of ways, such as through mutual friends, online dating sites, or at work or school.
As mentioned before, Australians are very social people and love spending time with friends.
This means that many couples meet through mutual friends or at social gatherings like parties or BBQs.
Others might meet through work or school. And of course, online dating is also popular in Australia!
Tinder is especially popular with younger Australians while older folks tend to use platforms like eHarmony or RSVP.
No matter how you meet someone, though, it’s important to be yourself and take things at your own pace.
Once you’ve met someone you’re interested in, the next stage is going out on dates.
Going Out on Dates.
The second stage of dating is going out on dates. This is where you’ll start to get to know each other better and decide if there’s potential for a relationship.
Australians usually go out in groups rather than one-on-one dates, so don’t be surprised if your first date is with a group of friends rather than just the two of you.
Becoming Exclusive.
The third stage of dating is becoming exclusive. This is where you’ll decide if you want to take your relationship to the next level and make it official.
In Australia, this usually involves becoming boyfriend and girlfriend or getting engaged or married.
Moving In Together.
The fourth stage of dating is moving in together. This is where you’ll live together as a couple and start to build a life together.
For many Australians, this is the natural next step after becoming exclusive.
Importance of Family and Friends in Australian dating culture.
Australians usually meet potential partners through mutual friends or through work or school.
Once you’ve met someone you’re interested in, your family and friends will often play a role in whether or not your relationship progresses to the next stage.
For example, they may give their approval (or disapproval) of your partner which can either make or break the relationship.
Next, we’ll do a quick rundown of do’s and don’t of dating in the land down under.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Dating Down Under.
Landing in a new country can be daunting. There are the safety concerns, of course, but once you’re past that there’s also the worry of cultural faux pas.
Will you accidentally offend someone by not understanding a local custom? Will people stare at you because you’re doing something strange?
If you’re planning on spending any significant amount of time in Australia, learning about the local dating culture is a must.
After all, you don’t want to make things awkward when trying to forge new romantic connections.
To help you out, we’ve put together a list of some common do’s and don’ts when it comes to dating in Australia:
Do: Get Used to Being Direct.
One noticeable feature of Australian dating culture is that
Australians are generally very direct when it comes to asking someone out on a date or telling them that they’re interested in them, unlike in some other countries where people tend to beat around the bush or play games.
Australians usually follow suit, so if you don’t feel comfortable being as direct as your Australian partner wants to be, try getting them to tone it down a bit!
A good way of doing this is by mirroring their actions. If they’re being more physical with their body language on one particular day, respond back with similar behavior yourself.
Less is sometimes more! After all, nobody likes an overbearing partner who smothers them with affection – it’s just not very attractive.
So learn to chill out (Australia-wide) and let your hair down instead. If you think they look great that day, tell them why!
Don’t: Forget That Australia Has a Unique Culture.
Yes, we know learning about another person’s culture can be tiresome. We get it, really we do (well… most of us).
But Australia has a pretty unique culture when compared to many other countries, so it is worth learning about what shapes our national identity!
For example, did you know that Australians are famous for their love of sport? Or that Aussie slang can be pretty confusing for outsiders?
If you want to make sure that your date goes smoothly, then make sure that you brush up on your knowledge of all things Aussie before meeting up!
It will undoubtedly impress them… even if they do have to explain a few things to you along the way.
Do: Be Prepared for Some Zen-Like Chill.
If there’s one thing that Australians are renowned for, it’s our laid-back attitude to life.
So if your date asks if you want to ‘chill out’ at their place or go ‘for a couple of quiet drinks somewhere low-key’ instead of hitting the town for a night on the tiles… don’t panic!
Chances are they just want to take things slow and get to know each other better without any pressure, which is pretty reasonable when you think about it.
Just go with the flow and see where things lead…
It could turn out to be surprisingly fun!
Don’t: Assume That Everyone Loves Going Out Drinking.
While many Australians do enjoy going out clubbing and getting merry on the weekends (there are after all), this isn’t necessarily true for everyone Down Under.
So if your date says no when you ask them if they want another drink or want to leave the party early.
Don’t assume that they don’t like having fun! It could just be that they prefer staying home on Friday nights or only like going out drinking in moderation.
The best thing to do here is to simply ask them what they would prefer doing instead.
Chances are they would be more than happy to show you around their favorite bars or clubs instead.
Conclusion.
So there you have it, a quick guide to Australian dating culture!
Australians are generally laid-back people who enjoy spending time with their friends and family.
When it comes to dating, Australians typically take a more casual approach and tend to go out in groups rather than one-on-one dates.
If you’re thinking about dating an Australian, keep these things in mind and you’ll be sure to have a good time!