TikTok is a special place where Aussies come to connect with communities, be entertained, grow their business, and create and discover with people from around the world. Today, we're celebrating our mission as we continue to inspire creativity and bring joy across Australia for more than 8.5 million Aussies.

It is truly our honour to be a home to such a diverse and growing community, which includes everyone from foodies, book lovers, educators, families and emerging musicians and so much more. In fact, nearly one third of the population spend time on TikTok, connecting with our incredible local and global community of more than one billion people.

Creating real-world opportunity

But it isn’t just regular Aussies that are enjoying TikTok for connection and entertainment - TikTok is also the preferred platform for over 350,000 businesses looking to find their community and harness it for real-world success.

For example, Chebbo’s Burgers (NSW), founded by Ali Chebbani. Started during COVID-19 from his home kitchen, TikTok helped him to find huge success and today he has a food truck permanently stationed at Roselands and will soon open a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Marrickville.

@chebbo The KatsuBurger! 🇯🇵 For the Katsu: - 4 chicken thighs, boneless and skinless - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs - 1 egg, beaten - 1 cup all-purpose flour - Salt and pepper, to taste For the Tonkatsu Sauce: - ½ cup ketchup - 2 tablespoons soy sauce - 1 tablespoon brown sugar - 1 tablespoon mirin - 1 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce - 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger - 1 clove garlic, minced For the Japanese Coleslaw: - 2 cups shredded cabbage - 1 medium carrot, shredded - 2 spring onions, finely chopped - 3 tablespoons Kewpie mayonnaise - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar - 1 teaspoon sesame oil Instructions: 1. Prepare the Japanese coleslaw: In a large bowl, combine shredded cabbage, shredded carrot, and chopped spring onions. In a separate bowl, mix Kewpie mayonnaise, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Pour the dressing over the vegetables and toss to coat evenly. Set aside. 2. Make the Tonkatsu sauce: In a small saucepan, combine ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar, mirin, Worcestershire sauce, grated ginger, and minced garlic. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens slightly. Remove from heat and set aside. 3. Prepare the chicken katsu: Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Set up a breading station with three shallow plates: one for flour, one for the beaten egg, and one for panko breadcrumbs. Dredge each chicken thigh first in flour, then dip in the egg, and finally coat with panko breadcrumbs, pressing gently to make sure the crumbs adhere. 4. Once the oil is hot (about 165c), carefully add the breaded chicken thighs and fry for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Use a thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 75°C. 5. Assemble the burger and enjoy! #burgertok #japan #tokyo ♬ original sound - Chebbo 🍔

Or Chefs & Dogs (ACT), founded by Courtney Willcox and Daniel Tomas - chefs by training and dog-parents to two kelpies, Joey and Alkai. When Joey was diagnosed with Lupus six years ago, the couple embarked on a holistic approach to their dog's diet. Joey made a remarkable recovery, which led Courtney and Daniel to open Chefs & Dogs, a raw dog food delivery business that offers a range of healthy treats and supplements, servicing all of Australia. Today, they use their 2.6m strong TikTok following to spread awareness about pet nutrition.

@chefsanddogs 🧁 Flaxseed Kangaroo Shepherds Pie #asmr #kangaroo #flaxseed #shepherdspie #dogdad #dogchef #bigdogpetfoodspartner #andycooks ♬ original sound - Chefs and Dogs

Who could forget Edgars Mission, the animal rescue sanctuary based in Victoria, who has amassed a huge community of 1.9 million followers on TikTok. Following a number of videos going viral during the initial pandemic lockdowns, they use the platform to raise awareness of animal welfare, educate their community on their work and help their fundraising efforts.

@edgarsmission This Sunday marks the two-year anniversary of Baarack's arrival at Edgar's Mission. ❤️ Found after wandering for years in a state forest, with a matted fleece weighing over 35 kg, Baarack's story is one of resilience and hope. Despite the many obstacles he faced, Baarack found a way to survive, relying on his instincts and the kindness of the person who found him. 🐑 Sheep of today require at least annual shearing for their welfare. This is a direct result of human selective breeding for wool that is cut from the animals, in more often than not brutal ways in commercial shearing sheds. It too speaks to how humans have altered their lives, reducing them to commodities. The wild mouflon of Europe and Asia, from whom they are descended, was a coarse-haired animal with a downy undercoat. This body covering responded to the seasons, growing dense and providing protection in the cooler months, only to then be shed in the summer months. #friendsnotfood #tiktokpartner #tiktokforgood #farmsanctuary #rescueanimals #sheepshearing ♬ Epic Music(863502) - Draganov89

And lastly, Hello Fern; a handcrafted, personalised gifts business run by Tahnee, a mum of two boys who reside on a cane farm in Mackay, Queensland. In 2015, she was looking for a way to combine her creativity with a business that allowed her to work from the family home while looking after her kids. Through TikTok Tahnee has gained a loyal following of more than 40,000 people who appreciate her handcrafted items and the personal touch she brings to each order. 

@hellofernaustralia Our most popular product can be customised too! #customisedbabygift #hellofernaustralia #woodenbabybook #babyjournal #babybook ♬ original sound - Hello Fern 🇦🇺

This is just a snapshot of the many businesses across Australia who are building communities and creating economic opportunities through TikTok.

The 250 people who work at TikTok Australia want to say thank you to all of our loyal users! We are deeply grateful to each of you that enjoy our platform and for helping us on our mission of inspiring creativity and spreading joy.