The Australian Aboriginal nation is complex, diverse and is one of the world's longest surviving cultures. For more than 50,000 thousand years (current thoughts are that this period is closer to 150,000 years), Aboriginal people have lived and thrived in Australia's tough natural environment; its rich flora and native wildlife enabled them to establish their presence on the land. They all shared an intimate understanding of the land, and travelled with the changing seasons to obtain their food.  All of Australia's Aboriginals were semi-nomadic hunters and gatherers, with each clan having its own territory. These territories or 'traditional lands' were defined by geographic boundaries such as lakes, rivers and mountains. Every stretch of country has its own creation ancestors and sacred places, traditional ceremonies, totems and art. The most recognisable sacred site in Australia is Uluru (named Ayres Rock by European settlers). Aboriginal sacred sites are mainly kept secret, and have only become public knowledge in recent times because the sites have become under threat from white settlers.

Among the different Aboriginal clans are common responsibilities and values. These values have been maintained through different generations working together on ceremonial sites and tracks that cross the continent, and through elders orally passing traditions down to their descendants. Much of this history and can be found depicted through traditional rock paintings dotted throughout the country. Some of the most striking and best preserved rock paintings can be viewed at rock galleries in the Kimberley's, Central Australia, Arnhem Land and other parts of northern Australia.

'Aborigine' was not the name these people used to describe themselves.  It was the name given to the first Australians by the Europeans because it means "the original inhabitants of the country". Aborigines use the names applicable to their own groups.