A new national survey has found that while commemorating troops is important for most Australians, many lack knowledge on the conflicts where Australians served.
A new national survey conducted by the War Studies Research Group at 91˰涶has revealed a significant gap in Australians’ understanding of the country’s military history, including limited awareness of the Frontier Wars and uncertainty about the rationale behind Australia’s involvement in conflicts.
The survey, which gathered responses from 1,500 adults across the country, found that while Australians strongly support commemorative traditions like Anzac Day, many lack a deeper knowledge of the historical events and decisions that have shaped the nation’s military past.
Dr Nicole Townsend, the lead researcher on the project, said the findings point to a disconnect between national remembrance and historical understanding.
“Australians are deeply connected to Anzac Day and, in particular, the personal stories of service and sacrifice,” Dr Townsend said.
“But our survey shows that this connection doesn’t always translate into an understanding of the conflicts Australia has been involved in, or the reasons behind them.
“Unsurprisingly, most people have awareness of major conflicts like the World Wars and the Vietnam War, but knowledge of other conflicts involving Australian troops was significantly lower.
“And while more than half of respondents said they were interested in Australian military history, the number of those willing to educate themselves further on it was substantially smaller.”
Only 10% of respondents were aware of the Frontier Wars, a series of violent conflicts between Indigenous Australians and European settlers during colonisation. The results showed these wars remain underrepresented in mainstream narratives and Australians are divided on how to commemorate them.
While only 4% of those surveyed were against commemorating the Frontier Wars at all, no single option for commemoration received overwhelming support. Inclusion of the conflicts at the Australian War Memorial was the leading option of those listed in the survey, with 16% in favour.
“The Frontier Wars are a foundational part of our national story,” Dr Townsend said.
“More than half of the participants in our survey believe that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people resisted colonisation and rejected the idea of a peaceful settlement. But acknowledging these conflicts remains divisive.”
When asked about Australia’s involvement in 20th and 21st century conflicts, WWII was the only war where a majority of people believed it was in Australia’s interest to send troops (59%). Less than a quarter of people thought Australia’s involvement in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars was in the national interest.
“There is a clear attitude of scepticism among Australians about the rationale for committing troops to fight in war,” Dr Townsend said.
“This reflects a broader need for transparency and public debate around defence policy and military decision-making.”
Despite these gaps in knowledge, the survey found that 88% of Australians support Anzac Day commemorations, and a majority express respect for the Australian Defence Force.
The survey also highlighted generational differences in historical awareness. Younger Australians were less likely to be familiar with key military events, including the Korean or Boer Wars or specific battles within the World Wars, compared to older generations.
Dr Townsend said she hoped the findings will encourage educators, policymakers, and cultural institutions to broaden the scope of military history presented to the public.
“We need to move beyond symbolic remembrance and foster a more informed and inclusive understanding of our military history,” she said.
“It is crucial for Australians to have access to accurate and comprehensive information about our military past.
“Greater inclusion of Australian military history in the primary and secondary school curriculum would be a significant step towards deepening the knowledge base of Australians, particularly as a core subject and rather than as an elective subject in later years.”