Profile: Australian PM Julia Gillard

Julia Gillard has been sworn in as Australia's 27th prime minister on Thursday.

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard speaks to the media after addressing a lecture themed "Women and Leadership" at a women's college in New Delhi in this August 31, 2009.[Xinhua]

The country's first female Governor-General, Quentin Bryce, performed the ceremony at the Government House in Canberra on Thursday afternoon.

Gillard was greeted with a kiss by her partner Tim Mathieson as she entered the room for the swearing in.

Gillard became Australia's first woman Prime Minister on Thursday after Kevin Rudd stepped aside as party leader.