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Finding ‘Home’ when You Study in Australia.
Calling all students in Australia, as exciting as it is to explore a new country and enjoy your independence, it is biasa (normal) to miss Malaysia. After all, it has been your home for most of your life where you have already had an established group of friends, favourite places to hang out, and you used to spend more time with your family. Luckily for you, there are several Malaysian communities in Australia that you can reach out to.
By now, you can probably spot fellow Malaysians, just from the number of Malaysian restaurants you see as you explore the country and the bits of Malay you overhear while shopping. Thus, you will most likely run into your fellow countrymen when you visit
- Perth,
- Melbourne and
- Adelaide, as they are especially popular among Malaysians.
How to study and connect with Malaysians in Australia?
If you are looking to study and connect overseas, then technology is a good comrade to have. With just a quick search on your smartphone, you can easily find Malaysian communities online through websites and Facebook groups. They may consist of different university-based societies or location-based communities. These multicultural groups 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!
So, who said you can’t find your country brethren in another?
Why do we ‘yamcha’ (hangout) with Malaysians in Australia?
Not only will you ease your feeling of homesickness, but you also get to build genuine relationships just by participating in their activities (or even interacting with them in Facebook discussions!). In addition, you will get to keep yourself updated with what’s going on in Malaysia and be able to ask for valuable tips from those who have lived in Australia for some time.
Active communities hold events and activities more regularly. Take the Malaysians of Melbourne University for instance. It has an updated list of events and organises an orientation week to welcome new students, including camping trips, beach days and even a fun visit to a trampoline park.
Hot Tip: If you are travelling to different parts of Australia and 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.
Prep yourself with this article: Departure to Australia: 3 Things to Prepare with Uni Enrol
We have compiled a directory of location-specific Malaysian communities you can easily contact and participate in while you are studying in Australia.
Although this is by no means an exhaustive list, we highly encourage you proactively seek out a Malaysian community at the university you will be heading to. (Don’t say we ‘bojio’!)
‘Jom! ‘ Let’s Study and Connect with these Malaysian Communities in Australia
If you ever find yourself in a pickle and missing home, you can connect with these Malaysian communities to help you through your struggles.
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