Australian librarians have participated in and contributed to international librarianship for over 125 years. Individual and collective practice is well regarded internationally since it is in dialogue with international concerns, is based on shared values and reaches high standards. Many are willing contributors to international initiatives, contributing on a broad front and sometimes leading discourse in new areas. The profession in Australia is characteristically open to models of practice, ideas and colleagues from elsewhere. It has been enlivened by practitioners from other countries and Australian professionals have contributed elsewhere, especially in Southeast and East Asia. The principal challenge is to maintain and build on these characteristics. (Contains 13 notes.)