Charity, church services and cheer as Australians give back on Christmas Day

Australians have celebrated another Christmas Day in characteristic style, giving up their time to help others in need, while catching some sun and surf along the way.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spent the day at the Rev Bill Crews Foundation in Sydney's inner-west, where more than 2,000 meals were served to the community.

Mr Albanese wished the country a Merry Christmas and said the free lunch represented what the day was all about.

"For all Australians, it's an opportunity to show the spirit of Christmas that we see here in Ashfield this morning," he said.

"It's important to remember what brings us together as a nation, and it is that spirit of Australians who always look after each other."

Giving back during silly season

While Santa usually makes house calls, patients at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne were treated to a special visit, organised by Fire Rescue Victoria as part of their 'Once A Year club'.

Santa, Bluey, and a live band were on hand to entertain children at the hospital who were unable to make it home for the holidays.

Leading firefighter Brett Hall said a day spent giving gifts to sick children was the highlight of his calendar.

"This is the greatest privilege I get in the fire brigade, to continue a 97-year tradition … to keep bringing Santa to come and see the kids and the families and spread some joy to those who need it the most," he said.

Nicholas was celebrating his very first Christmas in hospital, but he received a letter from Santa and plenty of presents to make up for it.

In inner-city Brisbane, about 300 people were expected for Christmas breakfast and lunch celebrations organised by not-for-profit group Community Friends.

One of the organisers, Jimmy Fahham, said attendees would share in two good meals, as well as take away any extra food, which had been gathered through donations, and through groups like OzHarvest, to sustain them for the week — but it was also about having company for the day.

"A lot of people … they have nowhere to go, they have no relatives, no children and they need someone to look after them," he said.

"We don't ask questions. We don't ask who they are. We don't ask anything about religion or politics. We just do it for the love."

In Darwin, councillor and cafe owner Sam Weston hosted a free barbecue breakfast this morning in the city's CBD, a Christmas Day tradition now in its sixth year.

"There was one particular Christmas morning when I wanted a coffee and opened up the cafe, and a few locals came in asking for a feed," Mr Weston said.

"I had some food left over and I thought, 'next year, let's make a bit of an effort'.

"Six years later, we've got nearly 40 volunteers."

The team of volunteers, who travelled from as far as Humpty Doo in Darwin's rural area, spent the morning serving up free meals to anyone who wanted one.

They also made several trips distributing donated grocery hampers to Top End families, delivering to Bagot Community in the city's north and out to regional hub Palmerston in the south-east.

Backpacker Christmas

Thousands of people poured into Sydney's Coogee Beach for Christmas Day, after crowds were urged to avoid neighbouring Bronte — the traditional home of what has become known as "Orphans Christmas" or "Backpacker Christmas".

This afternoon, Coogee was a sea of Santa hats and red swimwear, while the beach reserve has become the scene of DJ tents and dance parties.

Council rangers are on scene making their way through the crowd — which is expected to get bigger later in the day — reminding people to celebrate respectfully and to take their rubbish with them.

An English backpacker told the ABC that despite the cloudy weather, she could not imagine spending Christmas at any other place.

"If you're English, you know that this is good; in England, it's like minus five, so this is perfect weather," she said.

NSW Police said there have been no disturbances to date and no increase in the number of officers patrolling the beach in the wake of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack.

Sunny and sandy day on the coast

The weather was picture perfect at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast, where the beach was packed with locals and tourists alike this morning.

Emily and Ellen McDermott woke up at 3 o'clock this morning so they could drive down from Beenleigh, just outside of Brisbane, and catch the sunrise on Christmas morning.

"We've got the barbie, had some brekkie, went for a walk on the beach, had a nap, we've never done this before, so maybe a new tradition," Ellen McDermott said.

John and Olivia Rumsey had travelled all the way from England to soak up the sunshine and celebrate Christmas with their friends in Australia.

The pair said they may be disappointed by their country's innings at the cricket, but spending Christmas on the Gold Coast had softened the blow.

"We're outside, we've got our hats on, it's sunny, we've already had champagne, and we're not cold, and it's not grey, it's beautiful, and now we're going to go and swim in the surf," John Rumsey said.

Up the coast, cool cabanas lined the shore as locals and tourists set up camp for the morning on the Sunshine Coast.

There were Santa hats, beach barbecues, games of cricket, and children catching waves at Alexandra Headland, along with some lifeguards who could not help but get caught up in the festive spirit.

Kim Salisbury and her family were also parked up in their camp chairs, enjoying the sunshine.

She said the kids were "champing at the bit to open presents".

"We'd like to wish kindness and happiness to everyone," Ms Salisbury said.

"It's about time with family and friends … you just can't beat that.

"We're hoping for a better year next year, especially after last week. It makes you appreciate what you've got."

Thousands flock to midnight mass

At St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne, midnight mass began differently from years past, with Archbishop Peter Comensoli welcoming a delegation from the Jewish community.

Rabbis and Jewish community leaders were invited to light candles on a Menorah and read Bible verses to the congregation before the mass, in an interfaith show of support.

"We live in the reality of the 14th of December, during the festival of lights, Hanukkah, when darkness descended upon our Jewish brothers and sisters," Archbishop Comensoli said.

"It seems appropriate that we might from a Menorah, light our cathedral … dispelling darkness, bringing light — God's light — to all of us."

Light was similarly the focus at the midnight mass at Saint Francis Xavier's Cathedral in Adelaide, where 1,400 people gathered to hear Archbishop Patrick O'Regan.

Archbishop O'Regan said the events in Bondi were "very much part of our thoughts" during the service.

"Darkness cannot extinguish the light," he said.

"But it's not just looking at the light, but it's also trying to be the light.

"That's what I think the message of Christmas is, too: be the light, not just rejoice that there is a light who is Christ, but also reflect that and be bearers of that light."

Meanwhile, in Toowoomba, 25-year-old recently-ordained Catholic priest BJ Perrett delivered his very first Christmas mass to the congregation at Our Lady of Lourdes parish at the "joyful time" of year.

Despite his nerves, he said he had been excited to say mass to the congregation before joining a local family for Christmas lunch.

"There's a great joy there for me and remembering my family traditions … and the Christmases I spent with family," Father Perrett said.