Dear Australia

Let's mark this moment in history - send your letter before 18 August.

Let's mark this moment in history - send your letter before 18 August

We know that the last few months have had an extraordinary impact on families, communities and our way of life. There have been highs and lows, moments of joy and learnings for all of us.

At Australia Post, we think it’s important that we mark this moment in our nation’s history. So we’ve created a national letterbox where, from now until 18 August, you can write a letter to share your experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re working with the National Archives of Australia, where eligible Dear Australia letters will be kept for future generations. This will enable all Australians to record their impressions of this remarkable time.

Video: In a video, we pass a front yard where a mother, son and an inquisitive black Labrador tend to the front garden.

Audio: Instrumental music.

Voice Over: Dear Australia,

Video: It’s early morning and we pass a tradesman saying goodbye to his wife as he loads his ute, as the children play on the grass.

Voice over: We’ve been seeing a lot of you now that you’re home a bit more.

Video: We move past a house where two sisters sit on the front step - their mum watching over them from the front veranda.

Voice over: And we’ve noticed some wonderful things.

Video: Through the autumn leaves we see a young man with a smile on his face holding a box, walking towards the front gate.

Voice over: Strangers becoming neighbours, neighbours becoming friends

Video: We move past some neighbours, catching up over the small side fence along the driveway – a man waves towards the camera.

Voice over: and even tea parties over side fences.

Video: We then see a mother and son on their balcony in an apartment building, waving as we move past with smiles on their faces.

Voice over: We wanted to mark this moment

Video: We pass by three children on the front deck of their house, one holds up a picture as the others throw paper planes.

Voice over: in our history.

Video: Standing behind his fence on a rural property, an elderly gentleman drinks his morning coffee and nods.

Voice over: so we’ve created a national letterbox

Video: An envelope appears on screen with an address on the front. It reads “Share your experience of this time in a letter. Send it to: Dear Australia, Locked Bag, Australia 9999”.

Voice over: where you can share your experience of this time in a letter which we’ll preserve for future generations

Video: It’s late afternoon and we end on a Postie, riding his bike slowly on the footpath. An Australia Post logo then appears on screen against a red backdrop.

Voice over: we look forward to hearing from you. Love, Australia Post

Getting involved is easy

Your letter could contain a message of hope, a story of community spirit, a description of how this event has changed your life; it could even incorporate a piece of your child's artwork. (Kids, please get your parent or guardian to help!¹)

1. Write your letter

2. Place it in a stamped envelope addressed to:

Dear Australia
Locked Bag
Australia 9999

3. Mail your letter

Post it in any red street posting box or your local Post Office.

Video: Handwriting of the audio appears on a lined piece of paper.

A line of 10 stick people is drawn to the right of the handwriting.

Audio: The sound of a pen writing on paper.

Dear Australia, To mark this moment in history,

Video: Handwriting continues. An outline of Australia is drawn with a letterbox in the middle. An arrow points to the letterbox.

Audio: we’ve created a national letterbox where you can

Video: Below the handwriting, a drawing of a blank letter with a pen moves to fill the letter with black lines, an arrow then points to the next drawing of an envelope with a stamp. Another arrow is drawn and points to a drawing of a large office building that says ‘National Archives of Australia’.

Audio: share your experience of this time in a letter, to be preserved for future generations.

Video: The camera moves down the page as the handwriting of the audio continues.

Audio: To be part of this inspiring movement, simply write a letter or draw a picture, and post it to:

Video: An arrow is drawn and points to the handwritten address. To the right of the address is a drawing of a postie with a helmet standing next to her motorbike.

Audio: Dear Australia, Locked Bag, Australia 9999

Video: The camera moves down the page as handwriting continues.

At the bottom of the page, a Post Office with trees behind it is drawn. An Australia Post delivery van drives past from right to left.

Audio: We can't wait to hear from you.

Video: Handwriting continues, and small loves hearts are drawn next to the word ‘love’ and above a drawing of the Australia Post logo.

The video fades into a white background that shows the red Australia Post logo.

Below is an internet search bar with white text reading: ‘Australia Post Dear Australia’

Audio: Love, Australia Post

We're looking forward to hearing from you.

Accessibility

We’re encouraging all Australians to participate in Dear Australia. If you’re a person living with disability and require an alternative format to submit your letter, please contact us at dearaustralia@auspost.com.au or call us via the NRS to discuss alternative ways you may be able to submit a letter.

Sharing your experiences

We’re sharing some Dear Australia letters here², so we can reflect and learn from each other’s experiences now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dear Australia is open to all Australians, including children. However, children will need consent from their parent or guardian. Please ensure it’s clear that an adult has assisted with the letter or drawing, otherwise we won’t be able to transfer it to the National Archives of Australia or potentially share it with Australia.

We’ve created a permission slip that you may like to use.

We’ll transfer all letters to the National Archives of Australia that meet the terms and conditions of our campaign.

Letters that won’t be eligible for transfer are:

letters that appear to be from children, unless it’s clear the letter is from the child and their parent/guardian together or has been prepared with the assistance of their parent/guardian
letters we aren't able to have translated to English
letters we believe are not in keeping with the spirit of the campaign (including those not speaking to experiences relating to the pandemic)
letters that (either entirely or in part) provide feedback on Australia Post services or contain a complaint
letters that are indecipherable or illegible, or contain:

(a) illegal, indecent, obscene, threatening, discriminatory, harassing, defamatory, predatory, offensive or objectionable content;

(b) religious or political messaging;

i. lewd or sexually suggestive imagery; or

ii. gambling, alcohol / drug / tobacco use.

Eligible letters will be stored permanently at the National Archives of Australia.

Yes. We’ll be opening letters to ensure they are eligible under the terms and conditions.

We won’t reply to any letters considered eligible under the terms and conditions of the campaign.

Letters sent to the Dear Australia campaign address that (either entirely or in part) provide feedback on Australia Post services or contain a complaint will be considered, recorded, checked for existing case history and, where appropriate, responded to. View more information on feedback and complaints, including the different ways you can contact us.

We’ll share some of the most engaging letters with Australia, including on our website and social media accounts.

No, but rest assured, we’ll review all letters and black out any information we consider sensitive.

We’re encouraging all Australians to participate in Dear Australia. If you’re a person living with disability and require an alternative format to submit your letter, please contact us at dearaustralia@auspost.com.au or call us via NRS to discuss alternative ways you may be able to submit a letter.

If you don’t want your letter to be published by Australia Post, please make this clear on your letter. All eligible letters will be sent to the National Archives for preservation, and made available for public access under the Archives Act 1983.

If your letter is published (including on our website or social channels) but you’d like it removed, email us at dearaustralia@auspost.com.au to let us know and we’ll take steps to remove it as soon as we can.

We’ll ‘black out’ information including last names, street addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, names of schools or workplaces and any other information we consider sensitive.

Australia Post collects your personal information through your letter to run the Dear Australia campaign.If your letter is written in a language other than English, it may be disclosed to a translation service provider for the purpose of translation. If your letter is delivered in a medium other than in writing, it may be disclosed to a transcription service provider for the purpose of transcription. Provided your letter qualifies for inclusion in the collection, it will be transferred to the National Archives of Australia for retention as national archives and made available for public access under the Archives Act 1983. It may also be published by Australia Post, including (but not limited to) on the Australia Post website and on Australia Post’s social media accounts. Your information is handled in accordance with the Australia Post Group Privacy Statement, which outlines how to access and/or correct your personal information or make a privacy related complaint. For more information, visit auspost.com.au/privacy.

We’re accepting letters until 18 August 2020.

Terms and conditions

View 'Dear Australia' campaign terms and conditions

¹ Australia Post cannot accept a letter from anyone under 18 years of age unless it is clear on the face of the letter that it is from the child and the child’s parent/guardian together; or it has been prepared with the assistance of the child’s parent/guardian.

² Surnames, street addresses, email addresses, phone numbers or other information we consider to be sensitive will be removed/redacted/deleted prior to sharing.

Dear Australia

Let's mark this moment in history - send your letter before 18 August

Getting involved is easy

Sharing your experiences

Frequently Asked Questions

Can anyone send a letter or artwork to Dear Australia?

Will all letters be transferred to the National Archives?

Where will the letters be archived?

Will Australia Post be opening the letters?

Will you reply to letters?

Will you be sharing or publishing any letters?

Will I be notified if my letter is to be shared or published?

What if I require an alternative format to submit my letter?

What if I don’t want my letter published?

Will personal information be kept in the letters that you’re sharing during the campaign?

What is your privacy notice and policy?

When can I send my letter to Dear Australia?

Terms and conditions