Social Software

**join us at a local cafe, to connect with people who are interested and practice journalling. this event is intended to allow people to connect socially over a coffee or desert and discuss all things journalling and make new friends.** **what is jounralling. it is a reflective practice of writing or typing your experiences. this might be used as a tool to organize your life or to process difficult events.** **come join us by signing up**

**Welcome to our Thursday Social + Language Exchange Meetup 🌍** We meet weekly at **Thursday — Asian Beer Café** **Level 3, Melbourne Central** **211 La Trobe Street, Melbourne VIC 3000** We will be in the are called the Chairmans Lounge. It is roped off. We ask that you **purchase a drink at the bar** or **pay $3 at entry** to support the venue. *** ### 💬 Find your people (New!) Looking to practice a specific language? Post in the discussion using: * **#LearnSpanish** * **#LearnEnglish** * **#TeachEnglish** * **#LearnJapanese** * etc. 👉 This helps others find you faster and makes it easier to connect. *** ### *** ### ⏰ What to expect We consistently have **100–120 attendees** every Thursday (across multiple Meetup groups). People arrive at different times — **best time to come is between 6PM and 9PM.** Come solo or with friends — most people come alone and join conversations naturally. *** ### 🌏 Who attends? A mix of: * Native & non-native English speakers * International students * Backpackers & working holiday travellers * Professionals & expats * Local Australians You’ll meet people from: Europe, China, Japan, Korea, Latin America, and more. *** ### 🗣️ Why join? 👉 A relaxed, social way to practice English 👉 Meet people from around the world 👉 No pressure, no structure — just conversations *** ### 🍕 FREE DRINKS & FOOD FOR FRIENDLY VOLUNTEERS! We’re looking for **friendly volunteers** to help welcome newcomers and keep the vibe social. 👉 You’ll get: * Free drinks (beer/soft drink) * Food (pizza, wedges, etc.) * A fun team to hang out with No experience needed — many of our volunteers are **first-timers too**. Interested? 👉 [www.Linguas.au/Volunteer](www.Linguas.au/Volunteer) *** 📲 **More info:** [https://instagram.com/Linguas.AU](https://instagram.com/Linguas.AU) or **@Linguas.AU**

You've built the POC. Leadership loved it. Now what? The gap between a working AI demo and a production system is where most projects quietly die. This event tackles the hard part, the decisions that come after the proof of concept gets the green light. Hosted by Zendesk! **What we're covering:** 🏗️ Architecture decisions that don't show up in tutorials when to build, when to buy, when to stitch things together 💰 Cost and efficiency trade-offs, what it actually costs to run AI at scale, and how teams are managing it 🔒 Governance and guardrails, who owns the model in production, and what happens when it breaks 🎤 Talks, panel, and Q&A from practitioners who've shipped AI into production, not just theorised about it **Our panel of experts:** * Darragh Kennedy, Director - Software Engineering, Zendesk * Fernando Mourão, Head of Responsible AI, Seek * Brad Ryan, Chief AI Officer, i-screen, Ex AI Lead - AWS * Romina Sharifpour, AI Engineering Lead, CBA **Details:** 📅 Thursday 4 June 2026 🕕 6:00 – 8:30pm 📍 Zendesk Office Level 13/550 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000 **Format:** Talks + Panel + Q&A (6:00–7:30pm) → Networking & drinks (7:30–8:30pm) This event is part of AI Week Melbourne (June 1–7) and is run in partnership with Web Directions / AI Engineer Melbourne. Whether you're an engineer wrestling with inference costs, a leader trying to get your AI strategy past the pilot stage, or just curious about what production AI actually looks like, this one's for you. Spots are limited. RSVP to secure yours.

Welcome to Elixir Melbourne's monthly meetup. Where we go over Elixir ecosystem news, listen to great talks, and socialise with other Elixir developers of all levels. We’re rebooting the meetup after a hiatus with new (and old) organisers, a new venue and emphasis on more time to socialise. There are still speaking spots open. If you want to talk about anything Elixir related, get in touch. **Agenda** * 6:00pm - Arrive, socialise * 6:30pm - Welcome; introduction; “who’s hiring” pitches. * 6:45pm - Josh Price - Ash Framework * 7:15pm - Food, socialise * 7:45pm - Maybe another talk (speaking spot open!) * 8:15pm - Finish up and head to Saving Grace downstairs (32 Church Ln, Melbourne, VIC 3000) **Sponsor** Huge thanks to [SuperAPI](https://superapi.com.au/) for catering and venue.

**Important Note:** the venue requires a guest list in advance. To lock in your spot, please connect with me on LinkedIn and I will send you a private booking link. **Once you've doen both of these, you’re in.** LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewstuckings/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewstuckings/) If you’re building something and wouldn’t mind doing it around other switched-on humans, come join us for a relaxed co-working day at **Edinburgh Villiage Studio.** **Location:** [https://edinburghvillagestudio.com.au/contact/](https://edinburghvillagestudio.com.au/contact/) No formal agenda. No awkward icebreakers. Just good people, decent coffee, and focused work. ☕ **Loose plans on the day** *10:00–11:00am* Coffee, chat, and a quick “what are you working on?” round. After that, everyone settles in and gets on with their own work. *12:30–1:30pm* Optional tag-along lunch nearby if you feel like stretching your legs. **What to expect** • A mix of founders, consultants, marketers, and side-project builders • Light conversation, real work • Space to focus without being isolated You can network as much or as little as you like. **Who this is for** • People actively building something • Those who enjoy thoughtful conversation • Anyone who prefers productive days over scrolling at home Please RSVP only if you genuinely intend to attend. Spots are limited. Bring your laptop, your to-do list, and something meaningful to move forward.

**木曜日・ジャパンナイト 🇯🇵（Hikari Social Melbourne）** 日本文化や日本語に興味のある方のための、カジュアルで楽しい交流イベントです。 新しい友達を作ったり、リラックスしながら会話を楽しみましょう。 お一人での参加も大歓迎です。スタッフがサポートしますので、初めての方でも安心してご参加いただけます。 📍 **Asian Beer Cafe, Melbourne Central** 🕕 **17:45〜22:00** *** ## 🇬🇧 English (for reference / below it) **Thursday Japan Night 🇯🇵 (Hikari Social Melbourne)** A casual and fun social event for anyone interested in Japanese culture and language. Meet new people, make friends, and enjoy relaxed conversations in a friendly environment. Most people come alone, and our hosts will help introduce you so you feel comfortable right away. 📍 **Asian Beer Cafe, Melbourne Central** 🕕 **5:45PM – 10:00PM**

**Welcome to Badminton Social (羽球匯友) Meetup!** Join us for regular badminton, social meetups, and a great time on the court around Caulfield. Let's build a welcoming badminton community and make some amazing memories together! Whether you are a beginner or a pro, this event is perfect for anyone looking to stay active, make new friends, and enjoy some friendly plays. Our group is made up of both local and international members, creating a diverse and welcoming atmosphere for everyone to join in. Not only will you have the chance to improve your Badminton skills and stay fit, but you'll also have the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for healthy living and staying active. Come and be a part of our community in Melbourne, where friendships are made on and off the court. **Details as below:** When: 6 Jun, this Saturday Time: 5pm - 6.30pm Where: Monash Sport Caulfield (1-min walk from Caulfield Station / free parking around the Station) Fee: $12 per head (PayID to the organizer) *#Limited spots - first come first served (RSVP)* *#Please bring your own racket(s); or you can rent it from the Centre (if needed)* ***#Please kindly update your RSVP as soon as possible if you need to cancel, so hopefully others can still get a spot to join. Cancellations within 24 hours or no-shows will be charged the full rate - Many thanks for your understanding and cooperation.*** *#Please let the organizer know after the first play, if you'd like to play regularly with the group ongoing and enjoy exclusive offer - Organizer will add you to our Whatsapp group for the regulars :)* *DISCLAIMER:* *By* *attending any event hosted by this Meetup group, you acknowledge and accept that participation involves inherent risks, including injury or loss of property, and you assume full responsibility for your safety. The organizers are not liable for any damages, injuries, or losses that occur, regardless of cause. You agree to follow any event guidelines, act responsibly, and understand that you are responsible for your own well-being. By attending, you accept these terms. 3*

Take part in our “Strangers to Friends Challenge” a fun and interactive meetup designed to turn new faces into genuine connections. Through a series of light challenges, conversation prompts, and group activities, you’ll get to know others in a natural and engaging way. It’s all about stepping a little outside your comfort zone, sharing a few laughs, and building real connections along the way. Come solo, leave with new friends. **Event photography and videography may take place at this event. Images and footage captured may be used in future BeSocial promotional materials.** **If you do not wish to appear in promotional materials, please notify Nexaro Group Pty Ltd before the event by emailing support@besocialapp.co, or let the event hosts know on the day.**

It's Jugger time! Get on down to Hawthorn for fun, sun, exercise, and silly shenanigans! * ✅ Free to attend * ⚔️ Jugger Equipment is supplied * 🍜 Post-training social lunch - all welcome * ➡️ [Find us on Discord](https://discord.gg/WHnMyk56Cu) Jugger is an exciting, mixed-gender soft combat sport. Two teams use a selection of padded foam spars to tag opponents as they aim to put the jugg (the game ball) into their opponent's goal. **Watch Jugger being played in [this excellent short demo video](https://vimeo.com/28592980).** Jugger Melbourne training sessions include both full games of jugger, as well as a variety of training drills designed to promote **teamwork, communication, exercise, health and fitness, and teach core game skills.** After training we head across to Glenferrie Rd for lunch and socializing, which you are welcome (and encouraged!) to join. **‍🏃‍♀️‍➡️ New Player Info / Who Can Join** New players are always welcome! Our experienced coaches will teach you basics to get you and and swinging in no time Jugger is easy to pickup the basics while deep to master. We have a minimum age policy of 16 years (please note, anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian), but other than that we welcome anyone of all fitness levels. Jugger is a great way to keep active, and a fun way to meet new people in a friendly and inclusive community! **👟 How to Join a Session and What to Bring** Joining is simple - just show up! RSVPing on Meetup or Discord is a big help as it helps us plan around expected numbers. You are also welcome to bring along any interested friends and family. **⚔️ Jugger equipment is supplied.** We have a collection of gear to loan out to new players. Bring a water bottle (there is a tap nearby), sunscreen, and wear comfortable clothes and shoes for running around in - and that you don't mind getting a bit dirty! Recommend but not required items include: sunglasses, football boots, kneepads, and gloves if you have them. You don't need any of these to get started, but you may find you want them if you become a regular. **✅ Are there any costs are involved?** Our training sessions are **free to attend** as often as you like, we are essentially just a group of friends that meet for training and socializing on the weekend. The Australian Jugger League has a voluntary annual membership that helps to support the sport (including maintaining equipment and paying for Meetup), and we encourage people to join once they become a regular attendee or begin attending tournaments. However there's no obligation so spend any money when you're first trying it out or just attending casually. **➡️ External Links** We organise our regular players through our Discord group and their attendance is not often represented in the Meetup attendance numbers (we use Meetup to reach out to new people). Events are also (though less regularly) posted to Facebook, while event photos and videos are shared on our Instagram. * [Join our Discord](https://discord.gg/WHnMyk56Cu) * [Jugger Melbourne on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/groups/JuggerMelbourne) * [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/jugger_melbourne/) * [Australian Jugger League website](https://www.jugger.au/) \*\* See you on Sunday \*\*

Clear skies + easygoing vibes 🌞 Vidula (founder of ***Connect Through Play***) will be guiding an afternoon of drama-inspired, interactive games designed to help you meet new people in a fun, low-pressure way. Think movement, laughter, structured group activities - just show up, play, and connect. A great chance to meet new people and make friends. Meeting point: https://share.google/SikfHR3q9Aks4QrTj We will be meeting outside the building and go in together. Cost: $4 (covers meetup costs) Payment details: Account name - Social Threads BSB - 063106 Account number - 10989323 **Payment confirms your spot.**

We will meet at the starting point and take a round trip within Studley Park. Please feel free to BYO a coffee or grab a coffee from Studley Park Boathouse cafe at the start. Dress for comfort and outdoor walking. Come along & simply say, "Hi, it's my first time joining the group event." or ask the organiser to introduce you. You can take it slow and start from there. If you enjoyed the conversation, you're welcome to continue on afterwards. **\-\-\- Running Late \-\-\-** If you are running late, please message at least 30 mins in advance. We will wait up to 15 mins before heading off. We won't be able to keep track of messages once we start. **\-\-\- RSVP / Change of Plan \-\-\-** Change of plan or decide not to attend is absolutely okay. Please do update your RSVP to "NO", so others can have the opportunity to attend. **\-\-\- Intro \-\-\-** Kudos 2 Friends is a Melbourne based community created for individuals who are looking to expand their social circle and form long term friendship overtime. Join us on a fun journey as we explore cafes, restaurants and bars, including drinks, meals, outings, hiking, sporting, chilling, etc. Above all, we’d like to celebrate the importance of friendships. So if you are looking to expand your social circle and explore new adventures and venues in Melbourne, come join us! **— Download “Heylo" App > Google Store & Apple App Store —** We use Heylo App for more fluid communication, including ideas, interest groups, questions etc. Please download the Heylo app from the App store and let the organizer know if you would like to be added to the Heylo Group at the event. We will send an invite to attendees to the group. (give us some time) **\-\-\- Instagram \-\-\-** Follow us on Instagram @kudos2friends **\-\-\- Rules \-\-\-** Admin will only add members to the group with a clear profile picture. (No hidden behind sunglasses, masks, drawings) **You might be removed from the group in the case of…** * no show * without a clear profile picture * anti-social behaviour (i.e. acts rude / disrespectful regularly) * taking advantage of individuals for personal gain(s) **\-\-\- Privacy \-\-\-** Do not disclose your contact number in this post comment. We will delete your comment/info as soon as we see it to protect your privacy.

TO MAINTAIN A GENDER BALANCE ALL MALES MUST ATTEND WITH A FEMALE FRIEND, NO EXCEPTIONS. All females are welcome to attend alone but encouraged to attend with a female friend too for free drinks and food! MUST TAP “ATTEND” and include all guests. UNLIKE other meetups which are overwhelmingly male dominant, we provide ONLY gender balanced events where females also have a chance to meet other females, not only men. WE ARE COMMITTED TO EQUAL GENDER REPRESENTATION IN THE IT INDUSTRY. 8PM EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY (LAST ENTRY STRICTLY 8.30PM) AT 215 QUEEN’S

QA or the Highway is a one-day, affordable, regional, professional conference featuring real-world experience and thought leadership in the QA and testing industry. This is a ticketed event please register here: https://www.qaorthehwy.com/ Featured Keynote Speakers: **Matthew-Hope Eland** **(Wizard at Leading EDJE)** \- An AI Specialist and Wizard at Leading EDJE who is known to teach software engineering\, AI\, and data science concepts in the most ridiculous ways possible\. Matt has used machine learning to settle debates over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie\, reinforcement learning to drive the behavior of digital squirrels\, data analytics to suggest improvements to his favorite TV show\, and AI agents to play board games and create an AI agent with the personality of a dog\. Matt is the author of "Data Science in \.NET with Polyglot Notebooks" and "Refactoring with C\#" as well as several LinkedIn Learning courses\. Matt helps organize the Central Ohio \.NET Developer Group\, runs several blogs and a YouTube channel\, has a Master’s of Science in Data Analytics\, and is a current Microsoft MVP in AI and \.NET\. **Tatyana Arbouzova** **(CEO at Innovate QA)** \- Tatyana Arbouzova is an engineering and business leader with a strong background in Quality Engineering across multiple industries\, including Big Tech\, Healthcare\, and Entertainment\. She has held leadership roles at world\-class companies such as Microsoft\, VMware\, Disney\, and The Pokémon Company International\, where she focused on building quality\-driven cultures and scaling teams to deliver high\-impact products\. With decades of experience\, Tatyana has helped organizations transform their quality practices so teams can deliver software efficiently\, confidently\, and with measurable business outcomes\. Today\, Tatyana advises software companies on adopting AI to optimize quality practices and improve how software is delivered at scale\. She is also a passionate community builder and the founder of Innovate QA\, a thriving Seattle\-based community and conference for quality professionals\.

**The Behavior Gap: Where Products Win or Lose** Teams today have more data than ever, and yet many still struggle to understand why customers adopt, engage with, or abandon their products. Teams sprint, ship faster, and chase more signals… all while metrics stall and confidence drops. The missing piece isn’t more data. It’s often the behavioral insight between the metrics, explaining why the numbers move in the first place. Dashboards can tell you what customers did, but understanding why they did it (and how to influence what they do next) requires a deeper blend of insights. This session is about closing that gap. Drawing from real-world experience designing and scaling products as [ZoCo Design](https://zocodesign.com/)’s CEO, [Lacey](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/) will share how to cut through the noise and identify the insights that actually change behavior—moving people, and moving metrics. You’ll learn: * Why understanding customer behavior is a quant and qual challenge * How to spot the signals that actually predict behavior change * Where AI accelerates insight, and where it creates distraction * How to get meaningfully closer to customers, without adding more tools This talk reframes how to evaluate performance and identify what levers actually improve it, helping your team to make smarter bets with greater confidence. Every meaningful outcome is driven by behavior change. And when you know how to design for behavior, you stop guessing, and start building things that work. **About Our Speaker** [Lacey Picazo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/) is the Founder and CEO of ZoCo, a healthcare product studio that turns complex, high-stakes ideas into products that drive real-world adoption. She partners with healthcare organizations to uncover critical care delivery insights, focus product strategy through behavior design, and build solutions that patients and providers actually use. Thanks to our 2026 sponsors: [Clarivoy](https://www.clarivoy.com), [What Box Consulting Group](https://www.whatboxconsultinggroup.com), [Conductrics](https://www.conductrics.com), and [Piwik PRO](https://piwik.pro) More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!

🎳 **Summer Fun Starts on the Lanes! 20% off for NEW bowlers!** The 6-week summer social bowling league is here - cold drinks, fun times, and new friends await on the lanes! Whether you're looking to meet new people, unwind after work, or just have a fun weekly outing, this league is for everyone. Social vibes, happy hour energy, and plenty of chances to connect with others. No matter your skill level, this league is all about having fun and meeting awesome people. ;) **🗓 Thursday nights \|📍 AMF Sawmill Lanes \| 💵 $74 *(while Early Bird is active)*** **🚨New to the league?** Use discount code (**MUSU26**) for 20% off - $59.20 *during **Early Bird*** **💻 League Info & Registration**: https://bit.ly/ColumbusBowling **Why Join?** 🎉 It’s only 6 weeks - perfect for a low-commitment social plan 🍻 Great mix of people in their 20s, 30s, & 40s, plus post-game hangs at the bar 🎳 Zero pressure - gutter balls totally welcome! 👕 Free league shirt if you sign up early 🧠 Weekly trivia w/ prizes 💬 Super social - join solo or w/ friends! **Want in?** Join our Meetup team Gutter Dusters 👉 **Click here to join** https://tinyurl.com/2d5y52vq Or start a team of your own with a few friends - we’ll all be hanging out either way! 📅 League Dates (Thursday nights): June 25, July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30 ***(The MeetUp event date is deadline to register for the league.)*** **Cost & What’s Included:** ✔ $74 **Early Bird** registration - **New bowler? Get 20% off w/ code: MUSU26** ✔ 6 weeks of bowling (1–3 games/week) ✔ Shoe rentals & full league setup ✔ Trivia, prizes, and great people 👉 **Sign up now:** 💻League Info & Registration: https://bit.ly/ColumbusBowling 🤑New bowlers use code MUSU26 to save 20% 📸 Follow the fun on Instagram: https://bit.ly/BowlingLeague-IG 📩 Questions? Contact the league: http://bit.ly/2nKHno7 Spots are filling fast – don’t miss out on the fun times!

Topic to be announced. **THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/ **DIRECTIONS** Franklin University Fisher Hall 300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215 Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8 Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map. NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

On Thursday, June 18, 2026, we will meet in the 700N Conference Room at 700 N Hurstbourne Pkwy for a special Louisville .NET Meetup as we host **Microsoft Build //localhost:louisville**. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the presentation will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. TEKsystems will provide food, so please RSVP to help us plan appropriately. The session will also be streamed at **[https://twitch.tv/TaleLearnCode](https://twitch.tv/TaleLearnCode)**. This month, we’ll dive into the most important announcements from **Microsoft Build 2026**. Chad Green will present a curated, developer‑focused walkthrough of the new capabilities across .NET, Azure, AI, developer tooling, and platform updates. We’ll explore what these announcements mean for architects and developers, how they fit into real‑world solutions, and which changes you can start applying immediately in your projects. **Important:** To participate fully, please RSVP in **both** places: * **Louisville .NET Meetup** (this page) * **Microsoft Build //localhost:louisville registration**: [https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/reactor/events/27112/](https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/reactor/events/27112/) After the session, we’ll head to Brick House Tavern to continue the conversation over food and drinks.

Couldn't make Knowledge? Or want to debrief the dancing robots or Autonomous Workforce? Join us for a Knowledge '26 recap, insights sharing, a couple rounds of golf, and fun at Topgolf. As always, drinks and food will be provided. More details to come — mark your calendar, RSVP, and save your spot today!