Duda met with Polish Australians at Keysborough, near Melbourne, where the community set up a Catholic shrine.
Duda said that Poland is developing, that it is increasingly beautiful, and that Poles are ever better off.
He added that when Polish Australians visit Poland "you will be able to look with satisfaction and think: 'Maybe it would be worth coming back'".
Duda also gave state distinctions to people who promoted Poland's culture and history in Australia
According to Duda, some 180,000 people in Australia have Polish heritage.
The Polish president also thanked Australia for accepting Polish soldiers after WWII, while also commemorating troops from both countries at Tobruk, Lybia, during WWII, in a ceremony in Melbourne, Australia.
In April, 1941, the "Rats of Tobruk" – a German name for the Australian troops later adopted by veterans – aided by Polish troops, launched an eight-month-long campaign which was ultimately successful, despite huge losses to the Australian contingent.
On Saturday, day one of Duda's trip to Australia, during which he is accompanied by his wife and a large number of diplomats, the president said that alongside meeting Polish-Australians, he wanted to boost bilateral ties, especially trade.
He also said that, as Poland marks its centenary of independence in 2018, he wanted to meet as many Polish expats as possible this year.
He said some 180,000 people in Australia had Polish heritage, while the Polish diaspora worldwide counted some 20 million people.
The trip is the first official visit ever made by a Polish head of state to Australia. (vb)
Source: PAP