How to Tell If A Product is Truly Australian Made

We’ve all been there—you’re standing in the shop, scanning the shelves, and something catches your eye. The label has a kangaroo, maybe a splash of green and gold, and you think, “Great! Aussie made.” But is it really?

With more people wanting to support local businesses and shop Australian made, it’s become more important than ever to know exactly what you’re buying. Because the truth is, not everything that looks Aussie on the outside is genuinely made here. Some products are only packaged or labelled in Australia but are actually made elsewhere—making it tricky to tell what’s local and what’s not.

We’re here to help clear things up. We’ll break down what “Australian Made” really means, how it’s different from other labels like “Australian Owned” or “Packaged in Australia,” and what to look for when you're trying to shop smart and support local.

Let’s make sure your next purchase is genuinely Aussie—from the ground up.

What does ‘Australian Made’ actually mean?

“Made in Australia” sounds pretty straightforward, right? But when it comes to product labelling, there’s a bit more going on behind the scenes. That’s why it’s good to know what it actually means when something claims to be Australian made—and what the official rules are.

To carry the Australian Made green and gold kangaroo logo, a product has to meet some pretty specific criteria. The most important one? The product must have been substantially transformed in Australia. In other words, it can’t just be assembled or packed here—the core manufacturing process needs to happen on Aussie soil.

For example, if raw ingredients are brought in from overseas and simply mixed or packaged here, that usually doesn’t count. But if something is created, built, baked, sewn, or manufactured here using Australian processes and skills, then it’s likely to qualify.

It all comes down to value-add. The Australian Made Campaign and Australian Consumer Law both define this as more than a surface-level change—something meaningful needs to happen in Australia to change the product’s fundamental form, function or nature.

So, that tea box you saw that says “Packed in Australia”? It might be packaged here, but if the tea leaves were grown and processed overseas, it’s not technically Australian made.

When in doubt, it helps to ask:

➡️ Was the product truly created here, or just finished here?
➡️ Did the core of the work happen in Australia?

If the answer is yes, you’re likely looking at a genuinely Australian made product.

The different terms: What’s the difference?

One of the trickiest things about shopping local is working out what all the different claims on packaging actually mean. You’ll see labels like Australian Made, Product of Australia, Australian Owned, and Packaged in Australia—and while they might sound similar, they mean very different things.

Here’s a quick breakdown to help you sort the genuine Aussie-made goods from the ones that just look the part:

Australian Made

This one’s the big one—and the one to really look for.

 A product is considered Australian Made if it was substantially transformed in Australia. That means it was manufactured here, and the process changed it into something new. The materials don’t all have to be from Australia, but the main work needs to be done here.

Example: Skincare products that are formulated, blended, and bottled in Australia—even if some ingredients come from overseas.

Product of Australia

This is the gold standard.

To claim Product of Australia, everything—from ingredients or materials to the final manufacturing—must come from and be done within Australia. It’s the most stringent label and usually found on things like food or agricultural goods.

Example: A jar of honey made from bees farmed in Australia, processed and packed locally with no imported ingredients.

Australian Owned

This doesn’t refer to where the product is made—it refers to who owns the company. A brand can be 100% Australian owned but still make its products overseas.

Example: An Aussie-owned brand that manufactures its clothing in China but designs and operates its business from Australia.

Packaged in Australia

This one’s a bit of a red flag if you’re looking to buy genuinely local.
It usually means that the ingredients or parts are imported, and the only thing that happens in Australia is the packaging or labelling. It’s still supporting some Aussie jobs, sure—but the product itself isn’t truly made here.

Example: Coffee beans grown overseas, roasted and packed here.

📝 Pro tip: If you ever feel unsure, flip the packaging over and read the fine print. Many brands will proudly list where their product is made—and if they’re certified to use the green and gold kangaroo logo, that’s a great sign.

How to spot the real deal

So now that we know not all “Aussie-looking” products are truly Australian made, how do you actually tell which ones are the real deal? There are some clear indicators that can help you shop with confidence.

The most reliable sign? That familiar green and gold kangaroo logo—Australia’s official certification trade mark for genuinely Australian made, grown, or produced goods. But there’s more to it than just spotting the roo.

Understanding the Australian Standard Mark

When it comes to food products, there’s a standardised way the label must be presented—and it’s designed to give you clarity at a glance. These labels are set out by Australian Consumer Law and must appear inside a clearly defined box.

There are typically three parts to this label:

• Kangaroo Logo – This icon tells you the product was made, grown or produced in Australia. It's your first visual cue that something is homegrown.
  

• Bar Chart – This one’s really useful. It shows how much of the product’s total ingredients (by weight) are from Australia. The fuller the bar, the more local content you're getting.
  

• Supporting Text – This clarifies everything for you in plain language: whether the product was made in Australia, how much of it is Australian content, and any relevant context.

These three components together make up what’s known as the “three component standard mark.”

The three types of origin labelling

Depending on the product and how it was made, you might see one of three different label types:

1. Three-component standard mark