Making friends

Making friends in a new environment helps us adjust and feel like we belong. It’s important to be in the right frame of mind when thinking about or trying to make new friends. You might find it helpful to read the information about how to make friends on the Victorian State Government’s Better Health website (opens in a new window).

We encourage all students to see university as a place to learn and expand your knowledge about people from other cultures and backgrounds.

Making friends can be as simple as saying ‘hello’ and seeing where the conversation will take you. If you’re not feeling very confident about making new friends, there are a number of different programs and opportunities at UWS that can help you meet people and make friends.

  • MATES @ UWS – a mentoring program that helps new students meet other students and adjust to the university environment. All students are welcome
  • uwsconnect (opens in a new window) – runs events on campus, social events, tours and sporting events
  • Clubs and Societies (opens in a new window) – there are over 70 different groups already running at UWS. These include course based, political, religious, cultural, social interest and sporting interests. You might like to join the clubs that interest you or even start your own club if one doesn’t exist
  • Student Campus Councils (SCC) – each campus has a SCC which works with the UWS wide Student Representative Council (SRC). Each council is there to represent student interests and run social events
  • nUWS – a regular online student newsletter. nUWS (pronounced ‘news’) has stories about UWS students and what’s happening around campus. You might even consider submitting your own story

If you find that making friends is very difficult and you start to feel homesick and depressed, talking to a UWS counsellor can help. Counsellors are sensitive to cultural diversity and will respect your privacy. You can either email a question or concern to eCounselling or organise a phone or face to face appointment with the Counselling Service.