Student communities for Indian students in Australia

American Writer, Neale Donald Walsch said ‘Life begins at the end of your comfort zone’. This could be a good motivational quote to go back to, whenever you feel low about leaving your friends and family – your comfort zone – behind, to pursue your studies abroad. One of the best ways to get around homesickness is to get acquainted with people from your motherland, at your study abroad destination. Most often, by the time you are ready to make the big move, you might have gotten in touch with other fellow students from your same locality/city/state. If you go through a study abroad consultancy like ours, you will also be put in touch with other students by our counsellors.

Wondering why you should pick Australia? Check out the video to find out the top reasons why international students choose Australia as their study destination.

There is no harm in getting to know more people from your cultural background abroad. If your dream university is in Australia, you don’t have to worry a bit about getting in touch with Indian students in Australia.

Here’s why.

• As per the Australian Home Affairs website, 7,21,050 Indian-born people were living in Australia. This is the data from 2020. The numbers would have obviously gone up now. Indians make up the second-largest migrant community in Australia. This means, your chances of meeting Indians are very high.
• Each state in Australia has student communities that are set up to support international students. There are some, specific to Indian students too. It is one of the best ways to get in touch with Indian students.
• Though Diwali and Holi are not official holidays in Australia, they are quite popular and celebrated by the Indian communities and their friends. These holidays have become more significant, thanks to the growing population of Indian immigrants in the country.

So, why don’t you check out the different universities in Australia?

Here are some popular universities in Australia along with their QS World University Rankings 2024

Student communities in Australia

Australia is keen on supporting its international students. The pandemic had resulted in border closures, however, Australia ensured that studies are not stalled. The universities were quick on starting an online mode of course delivery. Students also had the option to defer their enrolment. The hashtag #InThisTogether was coined by the Australian government to promise its support to international students during the reign of COVID-19. Helplines were also set up to ensure the mental well-being of students. The ‘Study Australia’ website and the state versions of it were set up to support international students. This is where you will also be able to find information about student communities, other support systems and more. Let’s learn more about them.

One of the best ways to connect with other fellow international students is to look at the ‘Study Australia’ and related sites. Each Australian state has its version to complement the Study Australia website. We’ll introduce them to you and the services they offer. We’ll also tell you about the student communities in each of these states.

Study Australia

Quoting the Study Australia website, ‘It is the Australian government’s official resource for international students’. The website will become your go-to site for information regarding student support programmes, travel and visa, university rankings, online networking, student communities, internship opportunities, alumni stories and more. There are also state and territory agencies to offer localized support. You can connect with Study Australia through their official Facebook page too: https://facebook.com/studyAUofficial/

Study Perth

If your university is located in Perth, you can try the following different ways to connect with more Indian students than those whom you met at your university.

StudyPerth Student Hub at Wellington Street is one of the places you should definitely check out. It is a hub for international students to interact with other fellow students, make connections, collaborate and have some relaxed time. Some of the services offered at the Student Hub include:

• Study spaces
• Free printing services
• Recreational activities including board games and video games
• Group workstations
• Events

This is where international students hang out and you will perhaps run into Indian students here.  The Hub also has a StudyPerth Student Speaking Club, to support international students with nuances of the English language.

Chat with Student Ambassadors

StudyPerth collaborates with international student ambassadors. Prospective international students have the opportunity to initiate a chat with these ambassadors. We did find Indian ambassadors on the list. So do check out this option to connect with Indian students before you reach Perth.

Facebook Group

Indian Students in Perth is a Facebook community for ‘young Indians living in, or coming to Perth’. The community seems to be dormant currently, but it is definitely worth checking out, to get some contacts.

Study Canberra

Is your university located in Canberra? Canberra receives more than 19,000 international students every year. With China and India being the biggest sources of international students in Australia, you are sure to find Indian students in Canberra.

Events

Get out of your comfort zone, stop embracing solitude and attend events in Canberra if you are looking to meet other Indian international students like you. Canberra boasts of conducting events throughout the year, giving opportunities for students to interact and connect. Some of the events at Canberra include:

• Gallery exhibitions
• Concerts
• Festivals
• Sports events and
• Multicultural Festival

Facebook group

The International Students Canberra group is a private Facebook group with more than 2000 members. It is an active group where international students in Canberra share their experiences of living in Canberra. The group is an opportunity for students to discuss their issues, share opinions and of course, share photos of their life in Canberra.

Study NSW

If your university is located in NSW, you must first go through the Study NSW website. Study NSW is set up to make information accessible for international students coming to the state. You will also get to know about the employment opportunities, industry pathways and educational opportunities in NSW. Most international students will be aware of and participate in the activities organized by Study NSW. Hence it is a good platform to begin looking for Indian students to connect with.

The Virtual Student Hub

The NSW government launched the Virtual Student Hub to create a sense of community and to support all international students. Some of the Hub’s activities include:

Monthly welcome and wellbeing events and the English Conversation Club. The club help students interact with each other in English while also having mentors to support them.

A student from India commented that the Hub ‘makes it easier to connect with other students and build a network’. The hub also makes you feel less lonely.

As a prospective international student, you should also check out the stories shared by other international students and be inspired. While all these hubs and events help you connect with other Indian international students, you should be open to opportunities within the campus too.

Facebook group

The International Students in Sydney Facebook group is a public group with more than 40,000 members. The group intends to support other international students by sharing stories, news updates, job opportunities, accommodation hunting, meeting new friends and more. Hence, this Facebook group might perhaps be the best place to begin looking for Indian students.

Study Northern Territory

Some of the ways you can find Indian students in the Northern Territory are through Student Ambassadors, and through the Facebook community.

Student Ambassadors

Student Ambassadors will have experience in networking with other students. You will find student ambassadors from India who will know better about the Indian student community in the Northern Territory. They will also be able to guide you as you settle in Australia.

Facebook group

The International Students in Darwin is a public Facebook group with close to 3000 members. It is a platform for international students to share news and views, talk about events and activities and make friends along the way.

Study in Queensland

If you are already studying or set to study in Queensland, you must be aware of the Queensland Student Hub network. It is an online support service set up by the Queensland government for international students. They offer features such as the opportunity to talk to a student support officer or to make use of the international student hotline. You can walk into the physical hubs too, to connect with other students.

• The Cairns Student Hub located in the heart of Cairns City is a space for students to connect with each other.
• The Gold Coast Student Hub mainly focuses on study, support and networking.
• There is also a Rainbow Hub that aims to support LGBTQI+ students in Queensland.

Study in Melbourne

If your dream university is in Melbourne, you must have already heard that Melbourne was picked as Australia’s best student city for 2023 as per the QS Best Student Cities rankings. Study Melbourne extends their support to more than 1,75,000 international students in Victoria, Australia. They also have the Study Melbourne Hubs located in different parts of the world to support current, prospective and alumni international students.

Some of the ways in which you can connect with other international students in Melbourne are through:

Facebook

The Study Melbourne Facebook page is followed by more than 5 lakh people. One of the aims of the page is to help international students connect with friends and share information.

The Study Melbourne Student Centre

The Study Melbourne Student Centre conducts several free events for students to meet up. The events and activities will help you connect with other international students like you.

Connect through Student Ambassadors

Study Melbourne has student ambassadors who are committed to sharing their experiences with the international student community and helping make their lives better in a foreign land. You will surely find student ambassadors who are Indians. The last time we checked, Devendra Singh and Megha Baban Bote were the Indians on the list.

Study in Tasmania

Is your university located in Tasmania? Study Tasmania organizes free events and employability webinars for international students.

Events

Student Networking Night is one of the attractive events, where students can get to know other international students and make new connections.

Connect with Student Ambassadors

You can talk to student ambassadors before going to Tasmania. Student Ambassadors are current students who can help you understand more about life in Tasmania as an international student. You can go through the list of student ambassadors to look for Indians and choose to connect with them.

Studying in Adelaide

You can access a similar support system in Adelaide as well. Study Adelaide conducts regular social events and activities for students to connect, and the local Australians and to find new friends. Study Adelaide is active on Instagram, Facebook and WeChat. You can also sign up for their newsletters to be aware of the activities.

Student Ambassadors

Indian student ambassadors will be able to understand the cultural nuances and guide you better. They will also be able to help you find and connect with more Indian international students. They have a new student ambassador team every year.

Federation of Indian Student Associations in Australia

While you are in Australia, you might also want to look for ways to associate with the Federation of Indian Student Associations in Australia. The main purpose of this federation is to unify Indian students in Australia and ease their integration into the Australian community.

Conclusion

You would have understood by now that meeting Indian and other international students while in Australia is not going to be a difficult task. It is always advisable to go by the government-approved facilities and sanctioned communities. Once you become a member of these communities, you can also make your stay in Australia comfortable for students that come after you. Set your worries aside and kick-start your study abroad journey today! If you are looking for some professional guidance, just fill out the form on this page and our expert counsellors will get in touch with you. If you would like to look for the best university and course yourself, you must try out our course Matcher tool. You will be amazed at what the course matcher can do!