Tips for Moving: How to Get to Know Your New Locals

Best tips for discovering your new local area

The people who call your new neighbourhood home will enrich your experience and make you feel like you truly belong. Here are some tips for moving house that also work as tips for moving interstate:

• Attend community events: Keep an eye out for local gatherings, festivals, or community events. These events are a fantastic way to meet people in a relaxed and social atmosphere. Try looking at your local state tourism websites to find these events, such as What’s On Melbourne, or even researching Facebook Events by your suburb!

• Make the effort to wine and dine locally: Everyone loves coffee and good food, so frequent the nearby cafes, restaurants, and bars, and strike up conversations with the staff and regulars. These places often serve as hubs for community interaction, you might even start to see familiar faces if you frequent these local hotspots

• Join clubs or groups: Thankfully, you take your hobbies with you when you move, which means you can look into joining local clubs or activity groups. Whether it's a sports team, book club or art class, these gatherings offer a great chance to meet like-minded people. Community gardens are a recent trend that has seen Aussies coming together to chat and learn together, they also provide spaces where people with little of their own garden space can grow fruit and vegetables.

• Volunteer: Volunteering is a wonderful way to contribute positively to your new neighbourhood and to also build friendships with other volunteers!

• Participate in local classes or workshops: Sign up for classes or workshops like cooking, dancing, or anything else that catches your fancy. Moving is a great time to start something new and meet new people. This is especially helpful if you're moving interstate as a no-fuss way to meet people in your new local area.

• Be approachable: When going for a walk and passing by, it’s common practice all over Australia to smile with a gentle nod as you pass someone. Most communities are open to neighbourly conversations and a drop-in when you first move to introduce yourself. If you’re on the shy side, a little wave can go a long way in establishing a friendly atmosphere.

• Use social media and apps: There are plenty of online neighbourhood forums or social media groups dedicated to local events and discussions, such as neighbourhood watch groups, lost and found pages and pages for local businesses in most areas. You can easily opt-in to join these groups and pages, with most group admins usually asking a few basic questions on your purpose for joining, whether you are part of the local community, as well as asking you to adhere to some standard online etiquette rules. Joining these platforms can be an excellent way to stay updated and get involved.