WA welcomes more than 3000 new citizens

More than 3000 people from 109 countries have become citizens on Australia Day in Western Australia.

A total of 3069 people - mostly from the UK, South Africa, the Philippines, India and Ireland - became Australian citizens at 80 ceremonies across the state.

Opposition leader Mark McGowan attended the biggest ceremony at the City of Wanneroo where 816 people were welcomed, while Premier Colin Barnett welcomed 62 new citizens at a ceremony in the City of Swan.

Earlier, the premier and federal Social Services minister Christian Porter also helped the Kujah family celebrate their first Australia Day since moving to Perth from Syria in November.

The family is the first of 12,000 Syrian refugees to be relocated to Australia and they enjoyed a traditional community barbecue at the City of Bayswater.

"The development of WA owes much to the hard work, valuable skills and commitment of those who have chosen to make this state their home," Mr Barnett said.

"We are all West Australians, with a rich and diverse heritage, and as West Australians we embrace our cultural, religious and linguistic diversity."

Mr McGowan said he was in awe of WA's new citizens and their achievements.

"To leave the place of your birth, your traditions, your family often, your friends, your community, (to) strike out, go across the seas to somewhere often on the other side of the world to make a home takes courage," he said.

The cities of Joondalup, Stirling, Cockburn, South Perth and Mandurah also held large Australia Day citizenship ceremonies.

Regional areas, including Geraldton and Kalgoorlie-Boulder, also welcomed new citizens.