Kate Darian-Smith is Professor of Australian Studies and History at the University of Melbourne, Australia. She is the Director of the Australian Centre, an interdisciplinary research and teaching department which focuses on Australia's human and natural environments within their international context. Kate has previously taught in universities in the UK and the USA. She is the author and editor of several books on Australian history and society, including a number of books written for young people about Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. The consultant, Dr David Lowe, is a lecturer in Modern International and Australian History at Deakin University in Australia. He has published several works on the history of Australia in world affairs and especially on Australia and the Asia-Pacific region since the Second World War.