We're people that like to wear art on our sleeve, literally.
It's estimated that one in five Australians have a tattoo and, among females, it's now one in four. Getting inked is an increasingly popular means of expressing our individuality or marking a special event.
But are tattoos always kosher at work?
Social researcher Ashley Fell from research company McCrindle say some professions are more accepting of tattoos than others - think tradespeople and baristas - but Australian employers, overall, seem to be embracing the trend.
"As the composition of the Australian workforce has shifted to comprising more Gen Ys and Gen Zs, there seems to be greater acceptance of visible tattoos at work," Ashley says. "They are no longer a sign of youthful rebellion; they are now seen as a way of symbolising important chapters in our lives - and more women are getting inked later in life."
Like senior lecturer with the University of New England's School of Law, Bronwen Jackman, who is not shy about her collection. At last count she had 15 tattoos and she is often asked by law students 'is a tattoo a good idea for my career?'
"What I say to them is that the legal profession remains very conservative and they need to respect dress codes for court," Bronwen says. "As an officer of the court, your responsibility is to the administration of justice, and that needs to be taken seriously. I would never, ever have a visible tattoo, no matter what my age, if I were appearing in court."
Bronwen's body decoration began at the age of about 45 with a discreet butterfly, after the trauma of losing her mother. "My way of coping with the grief was to reinvent myself," Bronwen says. "Having got that one, I found it addictive. Every tattoo since has symbolised a significant stage in my life - the break-up of a close relationship or a milestone I would mark."
A sci-fi fantasy dragon and angel, hummingbirds, sprites and a Phoenix now adorn Bronwen's torso and she is particularly proud of her sleeve, featuring an iris, flowers and black lattice work, and her new Early American-style tattoo on the inside of her right arm. The tattoos have never been an issue in the workplace because she is very fair-skinned, and tends to cover them up for practical reasons.
"I don't care that anyone sees my tattoos, but because they are personal to me I keep them in places that I can generally hide," Bronwen says. "If I dress professionally, nothing is on show. I would never, for instance, have a neck tattoo, just in case I returned to legal practice."
While she even knows former politicians with tattoos "that no-one knows about", Bronwen believes anyone considering one needs to balance their professional aspirations with their desire to express themselves with body art.
"Start small and make sure it isn't obvious," says Bronwen, who intends to keep expressing herself through tattoos. "Remember that these are permanent fixtures on the skin - and they are expensive."
And, for the record, McCrindle researchers found last year that 27% of people say they regret, to some extent, getting a tattoo, and 15% have considered or investigated having a tattoo removed.
