Community Events Melbourne

Expressions of the Soul: Creativity and Connection

🌿 Take a gentle pause this month as we connect, reflect and explore: **"Expressions of the Soul: Creativity and Connection"**. **SoulTime** offers a welcoming space for reflection, meaningful conversation and connection in a peaceful setting overlooking nature. Sessions include reading a selection of short quotations from diverse cultures, faiths, philosophies and perspectives, followed by open group discussion around uplifting themes relevant to everyday life. This month, we'll explore the ways creativity and the arts can touch something deeper within us. Do we all have a creative spirit, even if we don't think of ourselves as "creative"? How can music, art, words, movement and other forms of expression help us connect with ourselves, with one another, and with something beyond ourselves? Together, we'll reflect on the ways creativity can open our hearts, help us communicate what words cannot, bring us joy and beauty, and create meaningful connections with others. 🌱 To help make SoulTime accessible for families, we are continuing our **SoulTime Kids** program! This is a parallel session for primary-aged children that runs adjacent to the grown-up discussion, exploring the theme **(this month: creativity)** through their own age-appropriate, creative, reflective and fun activities. The kids' session is facilitated by a qualified primary school teacher or youth worker (with current Working with Children Checks). SoulTime is open to everyone regardless of background, beliefs or life stage. Light refreshments will be served following the group discussion. We hope you can join us! ☕✨

Emotions

Please join us this Sunday to discuss the philosophy of emotion, hosted by Nick. We will meet at the Captain Melville at 2pm for a 2:15pm start sharp Please note the new $5 mandatory donation entry fee (cash or transfer on day) to help with MeetUp subscription costs There is no pre-requisite preparation necessary, nor a philosophical background, all that is required is a curious mind. These discussions are both a Socrates Cafe style discussion and lively metaphysical dojo in the spirit of learning and friendly debate. We welcome your self-reflections, in addition feel free to question assumptions and be prepared to have your own assumptions questioned This event is also posted to the Philosophy Circle group Possible questions: What role do emotions play in (y)our life? How do you deal with your emotions and the emotions of others? How important are emotions in your life? Do you trust your emotions? Do you trust the emotions of others? Do you think emotions help you make decisions or do they get in the way? Are emotions an essential part of being human? and open to any other questions or curiosities about this topic people might have on the day! Hope to see you there

September Book Club

Welcome to our September gathering of Melbourne Women's Big Ideas Book Club! If you love discovering great books and discussing the ideas they spark, we'd love to have you join us. This is a relaxed monthly lunch where every member brings along a book they've recently enjoyed. There are no set reads and no genre restrictions—just thoughtful books and interesting women. Each member has the opportunity to share what they've been reading, what resonated, what challenged them, or what fell short. From there, the conversation naturally evolves as we explore new perspectives, exchange recommendations, and connect through a shared love of reading. Whether you're a regular attendee or joining us for the first time, you'll find a welcoming group of curious, intelligent women who enjoy meaningful conversation and genuine connection. I can't wait to hear what you've been reading this month.

The Hearing Bridge Movement | Melbourne HOH Community Gathering

**Come connect, share and belong. 🌉** Join the Hearing Bridge Movement for a relaxed community gathering for **hard-of-hearing (HOH) people in Melbourne and the metropolitan area**. This is a space to meet others who understand what it's like to navigate the world with hearing loss — without constantly having to explain yourself. **What to expect:** * 🤝 Meet and connect with other hard of hearing people * 💬 Share experiences, stories and everyday challenges * 🌱 Build peer support and a stronger sense of belonging * 🎨 Take part in creative and interactive activities * 💡 Exchange ideas about communication accessibility * 📣 Explore how our collective experiences can help inform politicians, industry and wider society You don't need to prepare anything or have any particular experience. Just come along, meet people, have a chat and contribute as much or as little as feels comfortable. **Who is it for?** Hard-of-hearing people living in Melbourne and metropolitan Melbourne, including people who use hearing aids, cochlear implants or other communication supports, and people with different experiences and identities within the hearing loss community. **Come as you are. Your experience matters, and your voice can help build the bridge. 🌉** *Please let us know if you have any accessibility or communication needs when you RSVP.* **Want to stay connected?** Our WhatsApp group is where community members can continue conversations, share opportunities and stay updated about upcoming gatherings. 👉 **Join the Hearing Bridge Movement WhatsApp Group** https://chat.whatsapp.com/CTf39kn0TXxJzf7EDXbP26

Community Camp (Drouin West VIC | 1.5 Hours from Melbourne CBD)

**Registration is required at below link:** **Tickets: $50** https://events.humanitix.com/oot-and-aboot-community-camp-sep-2026-edition-or-drouin-west-vic-or-1-5-hours-from-melbourne-cbd Oot & Aboot’s Community Camp is a relaxed, low-pressure overnight camping experience designed to bring LGBTQIA+ people and allies together in nature. This is our fifth camping event, and we’re intentionally keeping it simple. There’s no packed schedule or expectations — just space to slow down, connect, and enjoy the outdoors in good company. Across one night, you can look forward to: * A self-paced 1-1.5 hour hike to Mount Cannibal (Saturday morning, optional) * A welcoming and inclusive camp environment * Lawn and board games * Swimming * Plenty of unstructured community time to talk, laugh, and connect * A simple self-serve breakfast on Sunday morning This is an **adults-only (18+)** event with a maximum of **15 participants**, creating an intimate and friendly atmosphere. No prior camping experience is required. New: pre-event WhatsApp group For this event, we're trialling an opt-in WhatsApp group for confirmed ticket holders. It's a relaxed space to say hi, ask questions, or get to know a few faces before the day — especially handy if you're coming solo and want a bit of a heads-up on who else will be there. Joining is completely optional — your phone number may be visible to other members — and the group will be deleted 3 days after the event. The campsite is located in Drouin West, VIC, approximately a 1.5-hour drive from Melbourne CBD. For safety and privacy reasons, the exact location will be provided only to confirmed ticket holders and can be found on the ticket sent via email after payment. Please remember to check your junk or spam folder if you don’t see it in your inbox. Know before you go: * Participants should bring their own camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, air mattress, pillow, etc.), warm clothes, food, cooking stove, utensils and drinks (except breakfast). Please reach out if you don't have any or missing some of the camping gear, we may have a solution for you * Alcohol may be consumed responsibly * As a 100% volunteer-run charity, we are not able to guarantee accommodation of specific dietary or allergy requirements. We encourage you to contact us in advance at [hello@ootandabootoutdoors.org.au](mailto:hello@ootandabootoutdoors.org.au) to discuss whether this event is right for you. Please ensure your own needs are met by bringing food that suits your requirements * Our events take place in outdoor environments across various locations in Victoria, which may involve uneven ground and bush walking. Some venues may not meet all accessibility needs. As a 100% volunteer-run charity, we are not able to guarantee accessibility assistance. We encourage you to contact us in advance at [hello@ootandabootoutdoors.org.au](mailto:hello@ootandabootoutdoors.org.au) to discuss whether a specific event is right for you. If you feel you may need support on the day, we encourage you to bring a carer or support person * Dogs and other pets are not permitted due to our insurance, though registered assistance animals are welcome Park Facilities (shared with other guests): * Powered and grassed/gravelled sites * Water taps throughout the park * Toilets and showers * Campfire is allowed when conditions are suitable Oot & Aboot events are grounded in respect, inclusion, and care. We aim to create spaces where LGBTQIA+ people and allies feel safe, welcome, and supported. If you’re looking for a gentle way to reconnect with nature and community, we’d love to have you join us. ## Know before you go * Who is this event for? This event is for LGBTQIA+ adults and allies (18+). It’s designed to be welcoming, inclusive, and low-pressure. * Do I need camping experience? No. This is a relaxed community camp. If you can set up basic camping gear, you’ll be just fine. * What does my ticket include? Your ticket covers campsite fees, access to facilities, lawn and board games, casual group walks, and a simple shared breakfast on Sunday morning. * What food is provided? A simple self-serve breakfast (bread, spreads, fruit, tea & coffee) is included. Please bring your own food and drinks for all other meals. * Is this event accessible for people with mobility needs? Our events take place in outdoor environments across various locations in Victoria, which may involve uneven ground and bush walking. Some venues may not meet all accessibility needs. As a 100% volunteer-run charity, we are not able to guarantee accessibility assistance. We encourage you to contact us in advance at [hello@ootandabootoutdoors.org.au](mailto:hello@ootandabootoutdoors.org.au) to discuss whether a specific event is right for you. If you feel you may need support on the day, we encourage you to bring a carer or support person. * Can you cater for dietary requirements or allergies? As a 100% volunteer-run charity, we are not able to guarantee accommodation of specific dietary or allergy requirements. We encourage you to contact us in advance at [hello@ootandabootoutdoors.org.au](mailto:hello@ootandabootoutdoors.org.au) to discuss whether this event is right for you. Please ensure your own needs are met by bringing food that suits your requirements." * Can I bring alcohol? Yes — alcohol may be consumed responsibly in line with campsite rules and community expectations. * Are pets allowed? Unfortunately we're unable to accommodate pets, though registered assistance animals are welcome. * Will I get the exact location after booking? Yes. Exact campsite location will be shared with confirmed ticket holders for safety and privacy. * What should I bring? Bring your own camping gear, food, cooking stove, utensil, and drinks, a camp chair, warm layers, and a torch or headlamp. More details will be shared via email closer to the event. Please email or text us if you would like to borrow some camping gear. We might be able to arrange for you.

Social – Welcome to new members & catch up for regulars - City

Never been to one of our meet-ups before? Been a member for a while or just joined? Either way this is the social for you! Once a month we hold a special meet-up to welcome in new members. Regulars are encouraged to attend and help new members have a fun night out! Our monthly “newbie” social is an opportunity to learn about our groups, events held and resources to help members. More importantly it is an opportunity to meet others going through separation & divorce in a safe and friendly environment. We can all learn from each other, but the primary aim of the socials is to enjoy ourselves! Our socials are hosted by members of the Divorce Support & Social Group and the Melbourne Divorce Support Group. We pay for own food and drinks individually. On Wednesday nights the Royal Melbourne has $20 pizza and pasta specials. Great food and great company. We hope to see you!

Community Conversations: Nurturing the Spiritual Being

**Nurturing the Spiritual Being: A Mindful Watercolour Experience** With the demands of everyday life, how often do we pause to nurture the deepest part of ourselves, our spiritual nature? Our thoughts and emotions influence how we feel, the choices we make, and how we respond to stress and anxiety. Yet are they the deepest reality of who we are? Join us for an immersive experience that invites you to slow down, reconnect with your inner self, and explore where lasting happiness comes from. Through the simple practice of mindful watercolour, and meaningful conversation, we'll cultivate a sense of calm and deeper connection with ourselves, others, or the Divine. Community Conversations provides a warm and inclusive space where people from all backgrounds and beliefs are welcome. Each session includes a short presentation, shared conversation and light refreshments. No previous experience with watercolour or mindfulness is needed, just a willingness to pause and reflect. It is a free community event, and all are welcome and encouraged to attend. We hope you can be a part of it!

🍜Asian Background Social: Lounge Asia Melbourne (Easy English) 6pm

Why People Love Lounge Asia 🍜 Asian-focused event 🤝 Many guests come alone 💬 No need for perfect English 🌏 No games or forced introductions — just enjoy the conversation Lounge Asia began within the Asian community, so people from Asia often feel comfortable and at home here. At the same time, everyone is welcome — locals, expats, travellers, students, returnees, digital nomads, and globally minded people. ━━━━━━━━━━ How to Join 1️⃣ Tap "RSVP" on this page 2️⃣ Show your Meetup QR code at reception 3️⃣ Collect your name tag and start meeting people ✅ Early RSVP is free ✅ RSVPs made within 24 hours of the event start time are $5 ✅ Limited capacity — please RSVP early Many people attend alone, so don't worry if it's your first time. ━━━━━━━━━━ How to Find Us 📍 Venue La Di Da 577 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000 ⏰ Start Time — Melbourne Local Time 6:00 pm ⚠️ Important: This is the local time in Melbourne. Meetup may display Brisbane time or another time zone, so please follow the local time shown above. ━━━━━━━━━━ 🍺 Please Support the Venue This event is free or low-cost because the venue supports our community. Please purchase at least one drink during the event. Your support helps us keep organising events at great venues. ━━━━━━━━━━ 💚 Please Be Respectful Lounge Asia is a friendly social event where everyone should feel comfortable and welcome. 🚫 This is NOT a pickup or dating event. Anyone who makes others uncomfortable may be removed immediately. Not allowed: harassment, unwanted attention, MLM / crypto / religious recruitment, or anything that makes others uncomfortable. Organisers reserve the right to refuse entry or ask anyone to leave. 🪪 A valid government-issued photo ID is strictly required for entry. No photo ID, no entry. Driver's licences must be issued by the government of the country where the event is held. 📸 Photos and short videos may be taken for community and promotional purposes. If you prefer not to appear, please let an organiser know when you arrive. ━━━━━━━━━━ Lounge Asia is already growing in Australia and is now expanding across Asia — Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. Our goal is simple: More friendship, more understanding, and more genuine connections across cultures. 📱 Join the Lounge Asia Australia WhatsApp Group Stay connected with the Lounge Asia community after the event. ✅ Hear about upcoming Lounge Asia events ✅ Meet local and international people ✅ Stay connected with people you meet ✅ Receive community news and event updates [👉 Join the WhatsApp group:](https://chat.whatsapp.com/CJV5i6FQMc7DVXezkJUUib) 📱 Instagram: @_lounge_asia [🎥 Watch Event Video:](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNak_cu9CXw) [👉 GET VIP ACCESS:](https://forms.gle/t6GXAjTNFECetVuZ8) ━━━━━━━━━━ 🌏 Come say hi! Hey, come hang out! 来一起玩吧！ 一起來聊天吧！ 気軽に遊びに来てね！ 편하게 놀러 와요! มาเจอกันนะ! Tới chơi nha! Tara, sali ka na! Yuk, gabung! လာပြီး အတူပျော်ကြရအောင်! មកលេងជាមួយគ្នាណា! ມາພົບກັນເດີ້! Хамтдаа цуглацгаая! Komm einfach vorbei! Jom join kita! See you at Lounge Asia!

Linguas Melbourne's Largest Language Exchange

**🌍 Welcome to our Linguas Thursday Social + Language Exchange** 📍 **Asian Beer Café** Level 3, Melbourne Central 🕕 **Every Thursday, 6:00–10:30 PM** ### ⚠️ IMPORTANT — PLEASE GO TO LINGUAS RECEPTION FIRST **Before buying any food or drinks, you MUST visit the Linguas reception table and get your wristband.** Entry is: **🍺 Purchase food or a drink AFTER getting your wristband** **OR** **🎟️ Pay $5 entry** **If you buy food or a drink BEFORE getting your wristband, it does not count towards your Linguas entry and you will still need to pay the $5 entry fee.** Please remember: **1\. Go to Linguas reception first** **2\. Get your wristband** **3\. Then purchase your food or drink** Find updates and event information on Instagram: **@linguas.au** 💬 Find your people (New!) Looking to practice a specific language? Post in the discussion using: * **#LearnSpanish** * **#LearnEnglish** * **#TeachEnglish** * **#LearnJapanese** * etc. 👉 This helps others find you faster and makes it easier to connect. 📲 Join our WhatsApp Community Stay connected before and after the event, meet people, and find language partners: 👉 **Join here:** [https://chat.whatsapp.com/Bi7FlhHP91e0eP7MfdeWcZ](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Bi7FlhHP91e0eP7MfdeWcZ) ⏰ What to expect We consistently have **160–220 attendees** every Thursday (across multiple Meetup groups/Eventbrite/Facebook). People arrive at different times — **best time to come is between 6PM and 9PM.** Come solo or with friends — most people come alone and join conversations naturally. 🌏 Who attends? A mix of: * Native & non-native English speakers * International students * Backpackers & working holiday travellers * Professionals & expats * Local Australians You’ll meet people from: Europe, China, Japan, Korea, Latin America, and more. 🗣️ Why join? 👉 A relaxed, social way to practice English 👉 Meet people from around the world 👉 No pressure, no structure — just conversations 🍕 FREE DRINKS & FOOD FOR FRIENDLY VOLUNTEERS! We’re looking for **friendly volunteers** to help welcome newcomers and keep the vibe social. 👉 You’ll get: * Free drinks (beer/soft drink) * Food (pizza, wedges, etc.) * A fun team to hang out with No experience needed — many of our volunteers are **first-timers too**. Interested? 👉 [www.Linguas.com.au/Volunteer](http://www.linguas.com.au/Volunteer) 📲 **More info:** [https://instagram.com/Linguas.AU](https://instagram.com/Linguas.AU) or **@Linguas.AU**

Indonesian.

Sunday Gamers Meetup & Social by Respawn Gaming

Welcome to Respawn’s Gamers Citadel! 🛡️ Come hang out, meet fellow gamers, and enjoy a chill vibe with great food and drinks. 🥤 Entry is $4 or buy yourself a drink or food. 🍲 At the “Gamers Citadel”, we provide the consoles for you and have two multiplayer (2-4 player) game stations (A, B, C and D). For our board games area you are allowed to BYO! 😯 ♟️ Currently available are: Switch, PS1, PS2, SNES, N64, Cardfight!! Vanguard, Yu-Gi-Oh! and more! If you’re bringing anything, please DM us so we can accommodate. ❤️ Conditions of entry are to either purchase any food or drink of your choice and we will provide you a reusable badge to show that you’re one of us! ✌️ Whether you’re a casual player or a hardcore fan, this is the place to be. Don’t miss out on the fun! 🤩 Our games list is below! 👇 Game Station A - PS4/PS3 - Abaan: 1st Game: ??? 2nd Game: ??? Game Station B - Emulator - Dean: 1st Game: ??? 2nd Game: ??? Game Station C - Retro Console - Michael 1st Game: ??? 2nd Game: ??? Game Station D - TCG + Board Games: Pokémon TCG YU-Gi-OH! TCG UNO JENGA BYO available! You can bring your own board games, controllers, equipment etc. 👍 Follow us on Instagram: @respawn.social 📱 Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/phscMtBqpW 🎧 Find Respawn on Facebook: https://facebook.com/events/s/respawn-gaming-social-club-lau/940165205164472/ 🔗 Visit our website for all info: https://intermingle.au/respawn/ 👩‍💻

Sunday Gamers Meetup by Respawn Gaming Social

Welcome to Respawn’s Gamers Citadel! 🛡️ Come hang out, meet fellow gamers, and enjoy a chill vibe with great food and drinks. 🥤 Entry is $4 or buy yourself a drink or food. 🍲 At the “Gamers Citadel”, we provide the consoles for you and have two multiplayer (2-4 player) game stations (A, B, C and D). For our board games area you are allowed to BYO! 😯 ♟️ Currently available are: Switch, PS1, PS2, SNES, N64, Cardfight!! Vanguard, Yu-Gi-Oh! and more! If you’re bringing anything, please DM us so we can accommodate. ❤️ Conditions of entry are to either purchase any food or drink of your choice and we will provide you a reusable badge to show that you’re one of us! ✌️ Whether you’re a casual player or a hardcore fan, this is the place to be. Don’t miss out on the fun! 🤩 Our games list is below! 👇 Game Station A - PS3/PS4 - Abaan: 1st Game: ??? 2nd Game: ??? Game Station B - Emulator - Dean: 1st Game: ??? 2nd Game: ??? Game Station C - Retro Console - Michael 1st Game: ??? 2nd Game: ??? Game Station D - TCG + Board Games: Pokémon TCG YU-Gi-OH! TCG UNO JENGA BYO available! You can bring your own board games, controllers, equipment etc. 👍 Follow us on Instagram: @respawn.social 📱 Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/phscMtBqpW 🎧 Find Respawn on Facebook: https://facebook.com/events/s/respawn-gaming-social-club-lau/940165205164472/ 🔗 Visit our website for all info: https://intermingle.au/respawn/ 👩‍💻