Melbourne and country Victoria are home to many vibrant, multicultural and inclusive groups that can’t wait to welcome and support you, many of which are tailored to specific interests and identities.
Study Melbourne groups and initiatives
Study Melbourne is the proud host of the Empowered Series, which is a suite of free professional development events and programs designed for international students, including the Everyday Heroes program for newly arrived international students.
The Study Melbourne Hub hosts a variety of activities and events for international students, making it a great place to connect with your community. From resume-writing workshops to trivia nights to pizza parties, there are events suited to every interest. Best of all, they are free to attend.
Bookmark our events listing page to see all the events and activities coming up and subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates on what’s on.
View Transcript
[Inspiring music, visuals of Melbourne, followed by montage including student walking through city street, ACMI, Art Gallery, MCG, laneways, library, Flinders Street Station]
[On-screen text: This is Everyday Heroes. A program for new international students]
[On-screen text: Discover the best of Melbourne and Victoria, guided by local experts]
[On-screen text: From exploring museums and markets]
[On-screen text: And iconic sporting arenas]
[On-screen text: To quiz night and workshops]
[On-screen text: You’ll make new friends]
[On-screen text: Settle in faster]
[On-screen text: …and get your student experience off to the best start!]
[On-screen text: Make your new city a home away from home with the help of Study Melbourne]
[On-screen text: Head to the Study Melbourne website for more information. Insider guides.]
[On-screen logo]
Study Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
[End transcript]
Student societies at your institution
Your education provider will likely house a vast range of student societies, teams and clubs. These might include cultural or language societies, sports teams and/or subject-specific groups. Other clubs and societies unite people based on hobbies and interests, such as chess, art or even rock climbing.
Fitness and sports
Joining a fitness club or sports team is an excellent way to immerse yourself in Melbourne’s sport-loving culture, stay active throughout your studies and meet some new friends.
Whether you’re into rock climbing, soccer, cricket, running, basketball or Victoria’s favourite sport, AFL and AFLW, you’ll have no trouble finding local clubs and teams near you to join. Learn more about the sporting facilities and communities in Melbourne.
It’s also worth downloading the Active Melbourne app. When you join the Active Melbourne community, you’ll gain access to hundreds of on-demand fitness classes and workouts. Plus, you can use the app to track your fitness and book visits to the city’s many great pools and fitness classes.
Arts and creativity
Melbourne is renowned across the world for its arts and culture scene, which makes this city the perfect place to explore your artistic side.
If you’re aged 14 to 25, you can’t miss a visit to Signal. This city-based creative studio provides opportunities for young people to collaborate with established artists in a wide variety of creative fields, from writing and visual art to sculpture, film and dance.
The NGV is another excellent resource for the art-loving community. While you can visit the gallery and explore it whenever you’d like, you can go one step further by becoming an NGV member. By joining the gallery’s largest community, you’ll gain access to member-only events and make friends with similar interests.
Culture and religion
As a diverse city with people from over 140 different cultures, Melbourne is a place where everyone can feel at home.
Whether you’re looking for people who share your background and beliefs or just want to feel more connected to your culture, you’ll find it easy to access a range of multicultural services and communities here.
The city is also welcoming of all beliefs and faiths. My Community Directory is an excellent resource for locating churches, religious groups and places of worship near you.
LGBTQIA+
Melbourne, like the rest of Australia, is incredibly accepting of individuals of all gender identities and sexual orientations.
Looking for some support or want to connect with members of the queer community? The Rainbow Network offers a comprehensive directory that you can use to discover meetups, workshops and community groups across Victoria.
In St Kilda, you’ll also find the Victorian Pride Centre, which is a hub for local queer organisations and groups to share ideas. The centre offers a range of multi-use spaces, including meeting rooms, a rooftop terrace and a coworking space.
There are also several events that can help you connect with the queer community in Victoria, such as ChillOut Festival, the Melbourne Queer Film Festival and Midsumma Festival.
View Transcript
[Inspiring music, visuals of speaker waving at camera, followed by highlights from the Midsummer Festival]
Speaker 1: Today we're at Midsumma Carnival, Melbourne's premier Queer Arts and Cultural Festival. At Study Melbourne, we celebrate diversity and inclusion regardless of your sexual orientation, gender identity, or cultural background. From amazing venues and events, education about the Victoria's rich Queer history, and services designed for the LGBTQA+ communities, you'll feel supported while studying in Melbourne.
[On-screen logo]
Study Melbourne
[End transcript]
Disability
Victoria is committed to accessibility, inclusion, and removing barriers that prevent people with disabilities from leading their best, most fulfilling lives. This means you’ll find plenty of help and resources on hand to make the most of your international student experience.
The Brotherhood of St Lawrence is a fantastic place to turn if you’re looking for support. Its Local Area Coordinators can connect you with community and mainstream services. Additionally, the Youth Disability Advocacy Scheme (YDAS) offers a free advocacy service for individuals aged 12 to 25.
Through the YDAS, you can even take part in a Young Leaders Program. The program helps young people with disabilities to gain workplace confidence, grow their leadership skills and access a huge range of opportunities for jobs and volunteer roles.
Discover more groups and communities
The Couch Melbourne
Locatedin the heart of the city, The Couch is the City of Melbourne’s dedicated centre for international students.
Here, you can make new friends, grab a free meal, learn something new or get involved with the community through volunteering opportunities.
My Melbourne
Run by the City of Melbourne, the My Melbourne program is a suite of outings to attractions, events, behind-the-scenes tours, ticket giveaways and more. It’s a fantastic resource for connecting with the international student community in Melbourne.
Discover more about the My Melbourne program and stay up to date on upcoming events for international students.
Neighbourhood houses
Across the city of Melbourne, neighbourhood houses bring people together from all ages, backgrounds and abilities to offer free and affordable events, classes and activities.
Finding your nearest neighbourhood house is a great way to access a supportive community, build your skills and make new friends.
The Lounge Geelong
The city of Geelong also boasts a lively community space dedicated to fostering cultural exchange and connection: the Lounge Geelong
Students can join events, workshops, and initiatives that celebrate diversity, and explore different traditions in a welcoming environment that encourages dialogue.
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