How to stay connected to friends and family at home

Maintain open communication

Between lectures, tutorials, study and everything else, it can be hard to find time to stay in touch with people back home. But keeping up-to-date and reaching out regularly is key to staying connected.

You might want to set weekly, fortnightly or monthly reminders in your calendar so you don’t forget to reach out.

Find a time that works

Depending on where they’re from, some students also find it hard to navigate the time difference between their home country and Australia.

Canberra runs on Australian Eastern Standard Time, which is usually about one to three hours ahead of countries in East and Southeast Asia. Central European countries are usually around eight or nine hours behind, while places in South America might be up to 16 hours behind. That’s a lot of maths!

Luckily, tools like the World Clock Meeting Planner make it easy to find times that work across different zones, so you might want to consider using these while planning your catch-ups. 

Think of other ways to connect

Of course, regular phone calls are a great way to maintain your ties with people back home, but that’s not the only option.

For example, you might want to set up a group chat with your friends, family or both. This makes it easy to share important news, updates or even just some fun conversation while you’re far away.

You could also set up a regular game night via video call. There are lots of online games you can download and play together, or you could set up a game yourself, like trivia or Pictionary. The only limit is your imagination!

Share!

Your family and friends are probably just as excited as you about your big adventure, so make sure you share it with them! You could tell them about life in Australia, discuss interesting and new experiences you’ve had and talk over any challenges or concerns you’re having.

Don’t forget to share important events, like milestones and achievements, too! This will help build family pride and help your connections feel that they’re a part of your international study experience.

Finding community at UC as an international student

Attend UC events

At UC, we know campus life isn’t just about studying. We hold plenty of fun and interesting events throughout the year, which are great places to have fun and meet new people.

From Orientation – also known as O-Week – to mental health workshops, creative classes, trivia nights, board game sessions and more, UC Events have something for everyone.

Start a study group

Shared interests are a wonderful foundation for new friendships. Luckily, you already have something in common with the other students in your classes – you’re studying the same thing!

Getting a group of students together for a study group is a good way to connect with others outside of the classroom. Plus, you might even form some lifelong friendships, too!

Join a club or society

But that’s not the only way you can find people who share your interests, passions and goals! UC has over 50 clubs and societies covering everything from cultural and religious groups to sports teams, hobbies and more.

Get in touch

Moving overseas as an international student is a big change, and we’re here for you if you’re struggling with feelings of isolation or loneliness.

Our Student Wellbeing and Support Team can provide individual support and solutions to help you tackle any challenge, whether you want help managing your studies or need a little extra assistance settling in.