Hey students in Australia, as exciting as it is to explore a new country and enjoy your independence, it’s normal to miss Malaysia.
After all, it has been your home for most of your life – you’ve already had an established group of friends, have favourite places to hang out, and you used to spend more time with your family.
Luckily for you, there is a vibrant Malaysian community in Australia that you can reach out to.
You can probably tell by the amount of Malaysian restaurants you’ll see as you’re exploring, and the bits of Malay you’ll overhear while shopping.
You’ll most likely run into your fellow countrymen if you’re visiting Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide, as they are especially popular among Malaysians.
You can easily find Malaysian communities online through websites and Facebook groups.
They may consist of different university-based societies or location-based communities. They hold events for students and the general public, such as social gatherings, talks, sports competitions and workshops.
You can even join in celebrating special occasions with them, such as Chinese New Year, Deepavali and Hari Raya Aidilfitri!
Who said you can’t find your own country in another?
So, not only will you ease your feeling of homesickness, you get to build genuine relationships by participating in their activities (or even just interacting with them in Facebook discussions!).
You will also get to keep yourself updated with what’s going on in Malaysia, and be able to ask for valuable tips from those who’ve lived in Australia for some time.
Active communities hold events and activities more regularly.
Take for instance, Malaysians of Melbourne University which has an updated list of events and organises an orientation week to welcome new students, camping trips, beach days and even a fun visit to a trampoline park.
Hot Tip: If you’re travelling to different parts of Australia and in need to save up on accommodation while experiencing a Malaysian community, you can always apply for residence at Malaysian Halls in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Rates per night differ, but can go as low as AUD 6 per day for Undergraduates and AUD 8 for Postgraduates.
We’ve compiled a directory of location-specific Malaysian communities you can easily contact and participate in while you study in Australia.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, and we highly encourage that you proactively seek out a Malaysian community at the university you’ll be studying at.
Malaysian Communities in Australia
New South Wales
Malaysians Student Council of Australia (MASCA NSW)
Australian Capital Territory
MASCA Australian Capital Territory
South Australia
MASCA South Australia
Adelaide University Malaysian Students Association
Malaysian Students Association at ANU
Queensland
UQ Malaysian Students Association
QUT Malaysian Students’ Association
Bond University Malaysia Association
Persatuan Pelajar Malaysia Queensland
Victoria
MASCA Victoria
Malaysians in Melbourne
Malaysian Australian Community in Melbourne
Malaysians of Melbourne University
Malaysian Students Association La Trobe
RMIT University Malaysian Association
Tasmania
University of Tasmania Malaysian Students Society
Western Australia
The Association of Malaysians in Western Australia
Malaysian Cultural Society UWA
Murdoch Malaysian Association