How to Make Friends in Australia

Making friends in Australia can seem daunting.

Leaving your friends and family behind to move to a new country can be daunting. The thought of having to start from scratch in regard to making friends may seem like a lot of work, which can be discouraging. However, making friends in Australia does not have to be a challenging task, as Australians are known for their friendliness. It is up to you to put yourself out there in social situations; but once you are there, making new friends is more than manageable.

Instructions

1. Say "yes" to every invite. It is important to enter into any social experience available to you. Even if you don't think the person who invited you is a potential friend, it is likely that she has friends or friends of friends whom you may get along with.

2. Join friend-finding websites specific to Australia, such as NewFriends4You.com and Friends.com.au (see Resources). These websites allow you to find friends with common interests and are geared especially for friend-finding, rather than dating.

3. Sign up for a sports team or fitness classes where you can meet a variety of people your age. Find a gym close to where you live and join a fitness class or club, such as a yoga class or a running club. If you enjoy a sport, join a recreational sports team. You can search for a recreational team in your area using a search engine or the offices of sport and recreation in various regions of Australia have websites with more information about recreational leagues (see Resources).

References

• Bob in Oz: The Rules of Making New Friends

Resources

• New Friends 4 You: Make New Friends Online Today!
• Friends.com.au: You are special
• Department of Sport and Recreation: Sport and Recreation in Western Australia
• Government of South Australia: Office for Recreation and Sport
• New South Wales Government: Sport and Recreation
• Victoria Department of Planning and Community Development: Sport and Recreation