Practical Tips for Making Local Friends in Australia

"I came on working holiday but only meet Korean people. How do I make local friends?"

One goal of Australian working holiday is improving English and experiencing culture. But staying only in the Korean community means English won't improve and you can't truly experience Australian culture.

This guide is based on 3-year Australian resident team and experiences from 50+ working holidaymakers who made many local friends. Shows you how to naturally make friends without awkwardness.

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1. Understanding Australian People

1.1. Laid-back & Friendly

Australians:

• Friendly and open
• Casual without formality ("Mate" culture)
• Love small talk (light conversation)

Examples:

• At cafe: "How's your day going?"
• In elevator: "Nice weather today!"
• At supermarket: "Have a good one!"

1.2. Value Work-Life Balance

Characteristics:

• Personal time after work important
• Weekends = Family/friends/hobby time
• Activity-focused over drinking (sports, outdoors)

Tips for Making Friends:

• Participate in activities outside work
• Share hobbies
• Weekend BBQ, beach activities

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2. Using Meetup (Most Effective)

2.1. What is Meetup?

Website/App: meetup.com

What is it:

• Groups of people with common interests
• Free or small fee ($5-20)
• Beginners welcome

Examples:

• Language Exchange
• Hiking & Camping
• Board Game Nights
• Photography Walks
• Tech & Coding Meetups

2.2. Recommended Meetup Groups

Sydney:

• Sydney Language Exchange (language exchange, every Thursday)
• Sydney Hiking Club (weekend hiking)
• Sydney Foodies (restaurant exploring)
• Sydney Backpackers Social (working holiday meetup)

Melbourne:

• Melbourne Language Café (language exchange)
• Melbourne Photography Walks (photography)
• Melbourne Board Games (board games)

Brisbane:

• Brisbane International Friends (multinational friends)
• Brisbane Beach Volleyball (beach volleyball)

2.3. Meetup Participation Tips

First Time:

1. Start with small groups (10-20 people)
2. Language exchange recommended (beginner English OK)
3. Going alone is fine

Starting Conversation:

• "Hi, I'm [name]. Is this your first time?"
• "What brings you here?"
• "I'm from Korea, working holiday here!"

Follow-up:

• Exchange contacts (Instagram, WhatsApp)
• "Let's grab coffee sometime!"

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3. Facebook Groups & Events

3.1. Recommended Facebook Groups

Multinational Friends:

• Backpackers in Australia (working holiday only)
• Sydney International Friends
• Melbourne Social Events

Language Exchange:

• Language Exchange Sydney
• Korean-English Language Exchange Melbourne

Hobbies:

• Sydney Hikers
• Melbourne Photographers
• Brisbane Foodies

3.2. Using Facebook Events

How to Find:

• Facebook → Events → "Near You"
• Many free events

Examples:

• Free Yoga in the Park
• Beach Volleyball Sessions
• Pub Quiz Nights
• Art Gallery Tours

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4. Sports & Hobby Clubs

4.1. Sports Clubs

Recommended Sports:

Soccer:

• Social Soccer Leagues
• Beginners welcome
• Cost: $10-15/game

Badminton:

• Indoor Courts
• Korean+local mix
• Cost: $10-20/hour

Beach Volleyball:

• Bondi, Manly, St Kilda
• Free (public courts)

Running Clubs:

• Parkrun (free, every Saturday)
• 5km run
• Beginners OK

Surfing:

• Let's Go Surfing (lessons)
• Cost: $80-120/lesson
• Make friends with instructor+participants

4.2. Hobby Clubs

Book Club:

• Library or cafe
• Improve English

Photography Walks:

• Free
• Weekend mornings

Board Game Nights:

• Pub or cafe
• $5-10

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5. Using Language School

5.1. Language School

Why Recommended:

• Friends from diverse nationalities
• Similar English level
• Natural networking

Cost:

• $200-400/week (part-time)
• 4-12 week courses

Activities:

• Group projects
• After-school activities
• Weekend trips

5.2. TAFE & University

Community Courses:

• Cooking, photography, design
• Cost: $100-500/course
• Many local students

Clubs & Societies:

• University clubs (some allow external participants)
• Free

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6. Making Friends at Work

6.1. Getting Close to Colleagues

Tips:

1. Lunch/Coffee Together

• "Want to grab lunch together?"
• "Coffee break?"

2. After-work Drinks

• Australian work culture: Friday after-work drinks
• "Keen for a drink after work?"

3. Show Interest

• Ask about weekend plans
• Talk about hobbies
• "What did you do this weekend?"

6.2. Participate in Work Events

Examples:

• Christmas Party
• Team Building
• BBQ Lunch

Never skip! Best opportunity to become closer.

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7. Community Centre & Library

7.1. Community Centre

Services Offered:

• Free English classes
• Cooking classes
• Sports activities
• Social events

How to Find:

• Google: "Community Centre near me"
• City/state government website

Examples:

• Sydney: Marrickville Community Centre
• Melbourne: Fitzroy Community Centre
• Brisbane: West End Community Centre

7.2. Library

Free Activities:

• Book Club
• Language Conversation Groups
• Workshops

Recommended:

• State Library of NSW (Sydney)
• State Library of Victoria (Melbourne)

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8. Making Friends in Sharehouse

8.1. Getting Close to Housemates

Tips:

1. Use Common Areas

• Spend time in living room
• Watch TV together
• Cook together

2. Share Food

• Make Korean food for them
• "Want to try Korean food?"
• Kimchi, bulgogi, tteokbokki popular

3. Suggest House Dinner

• "Let's cook dinner together!"
• Each person cooks one dish

8.2. Sharehouse Party

Housewarming:

• When newly moved in
• Invite housemates
• Prepare drinks & snacks

Weekend BBQ:

• If backyard available
• Housemates + friends
• Korean samgyeopsal popular

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9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Can I make local friends even with limited English?

A. Yes! Language Exchange or Sports Clubs are recommended. Activity-focused groups have less pressure than conversation-heavy ones.

Q2. Will making local friends improve my English?

A. Yes, dramatically. You'll learn everyday conversation, slang, and culture. English improves 3-5 times faster than only hanging out with Korean friends.

Q3. Is age difference okay?

A. Australia has almost no age distinction. It's natural for people in their 20s and 40s to hang out together. Shared interests matter more than age.

Q4. What are good conversation topics?

A.

• ✅ Travel, hobbies, sports, food
• ✅ Australia vs Korea cultural differences
• ✅ Weekend plans
• ❌ Politics, religion (avoid initially)

Q5. How long does it take to make friends?

A. With consistent activity for 2-3 months, you can make 3-5 close friends. Being proactive is key.

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10. Final: Making Local Friends Checklist

Getting Started:

• Download Meetup app
• Join 3+ Facebook Groups
• Find nearby Community Centre
• Search sports clubs

Taking Action:

• Attend Meetup 1+ times per week
• Have lunch with work colleagues
• Cook dinner with housemates
• Participate in weekend events

Maintaining Friendships:

• Exchange contacts (Instagram, WhatsApp)
• Send follow-up messages
• Regularly suggest meetups

Making local friends makes Australian life 10 times more enjoyable. Be proactive!

Related Articles:

• Australia English Improvement Tips
• Melbourne Working Holiday Complete Guide
• Sydney Working Holiday Complete Guide

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Was this article helpful? WHRESUME genuinely supports Australian working holidaymakers. Start your successful Australian life with our Free Resume Builder! 🇦🇺✨

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Related Articles

• Australia Culture Tips
• Melbourne Working Holiday Complete Guide
• Sydney Working Holiday Complete Guide

About the Author The WHRESUME team is in their 3rd year living in Melbourne and genuinely supports Australian working holiday makers. This guide is based on feedback from the working holiday community and analysis of official Australian sources.

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