Community Events Melbourne

Attention as Currency with Professor Katherine Johnson — North Fitzroy Library

Join me for a fascinating free talk on one of the most valuable things we own: our attention. Professor Katherine Johnson draws on developmental neuroscience to explain how attention works, why it's so easily taxed in an information-saturated world, and what we can actually do to protect and restore our focus in everyday life. It's a family-friendly evening talk hosted by Yarra Libraries as part of National Science Week, and it's a lovely low-key way to spend a Thursday evening learning something genuinely useful. We'll meet at the gates of the library at 5:45pm for a quick hello, then head in together for the 6pm start. The talk wraps up around 7:30pm, and anyone who'd like to keep the conversation going is welcome to join us for a casual bite nearby afterwards. Just so it's clear: this is a casual social meetup arranged so we can head along together — it isn't run by, affiliated with, or endorsed by Yarra Libraries or Professor Johnson. Please grab your own free ticket directly through Eventbrite; an RSVP here doesn't include entry. **Who this is for** * Anyone curious about how the brain works, focus, and the science of attention — no background needed. * It's family-friendly, so all ages are welcome. * Coming solo? You'll fit right in — lots of people come along on their own, and meeting at the gates first makes it easy. **Links** * Meetup start point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/iwfhPG14S4D1t6zM8 * Free ticket (book your own): https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/attention-as-currency-with-professor-katherine-johnson-tickets-1992329016721 **Timeline** * 5:45pm – Meet at the gates of the library and say hello * 6:00pm – Talk begins * 7:30pm – Talk wraps up and meetup ends * 7:30pm onwards – Optional casual bite nearby for anyone keen (the meetup officially finishes here) **Tickets / cost** Free, but you'll need to book your own ticket through the Eventbrite link above. These talks can fill up, so it's worth grabbing yours in advance. **Transport** The library is at 182 St Georges Road, North Fitzroy. It's well served by tram along St Georges Road, and there's some street parking around if you're driving — please allow a little extra time to find a spot. **Bring** * Your booked Eventbrite ticket * Your curiosity (and maybe a notebook if you like to jot things down) **Expect** * Vibe: relaxed, friendly, and curious * Pace: an easy evening — sit back and enjoy the talk * Group style: a casual social group heading along together **Important notes** * A Meetup RSVP is not a ticket — please book your free spot on Eventbrite separately. * If your plans change, please update your RSVP so numbers stay clear for everyone.

Create your own vision board! $10 everyone welcome

This month we'll be making vision boards together. The idea is to take a bit of time to think about what you'd like to focus on for the rest of the year, whether that's goals, hobbies, travel, relationships, work, or just things that inspire you. Since it's Virgo season, it felt like a good time for a bit of a reset. This isn't a class, and there's no right or wrong way to do it. You're welcome to come on your own or with a friend. You can chat with people, or just sit and work on your board quietly. I'll have magazines, paper, glue, scissors, and other collage materials available to use. If you'd rather make your vision board digitally, feel free to bring your iPad or tablet. You're also welcome to bring your own photos, magazines, printed images, stickers, or anything else you'd like to include. Secure ticket here: [https://events.humanitix.com/creative-coven-or-vision-boards](Clickhere!)

"Pool -Spa/Sauna, light snack/Latte at the RACV Resort Healesville!"

The Soul & the Ego

🌿 Take a gentle pause this month as we connect, reflect and explore: *"**The Soul and the Ego**".* **SoulTime** offers a welcoming space for reflection, meaningful conversation and connection in a peaceful setting overlooking nature. Sessions include a reading a selection of short quotations from diverse cultures, faiths, philosophies and perspectives, followed by open discussion around uplifting themes relevant to everyday life. This month, we'll explore we'll explore the relationship between the soul and the ego. Which part of us seeks connection, meaning and growth, and which part wants recognition, control or power? How might we recognise the difference between the two, and what happens when we become more aware of the influences shaping our thoughts, choices and actions? Together, we'll reflect on how greater self-awareness, humility and clarity can help us live more fully. 🌱 To help make SoulTime accessible for families, we are continuing our **SoulTime Kids** program! This is a parallel session for primary-aged children that runs while adults attend the main gathering, exploring age-appropriate themes (***this month: humility***) through their own creative, reflective and fun activities. The kids' session is facilitated by a qualified primary school teacher or youth worker (with current Working with Children Checks). **SoulTime** is open to everyone regardless of background, beliefs or life stage. Light refreshments will be served following the group discussion. We hope you can join us! ☕✨

August Book Club

Welcome to our August gathering of Melbourne Women's Big Ideas Book Club! If you love discovering great books and discussing the ideas they spark, we'd love to have you join us. This is a relaxed monthly lunch where every member brings along a book they've recently enjoyed. There are no set reads and no genre restrictions—just thoughtful books and interesting women. Each member has the opportunity to share what they've been reading, what resonated, what challenged them, or what fell short. From there, the conversation naturally evolves as we explore new perspectives, exchange recommendations, and connect through a shared love of reading. Whether you're a regular attendee or joining us for the first time, you'll find a welcoming group of curious, intelligent women who enjoy meaningful conversation and genuine connection. I can't wait to hear what you've been reading this month.

Assertive Communication: 1 Day Session in Melbourne

## Details **Overview** **Assertive Communication: Speak Up with Confidence, Not Conflict"** A hands-on 1-day workshop teaching professionals to communicate assertively, set boundaries, and handle tough conversations calmly." **The Details** **Duration:** 1 Day \| 8 Credits **Delivery:** Classroom / Virtual **Language:** English **Includes:** Course Completion Certificate **Refreshments:** Lunch, snacks, and beverages will be provided during the session *** **You Have the Right Idea. You Just Never Say It Out Loud.** You've sat in the meeting knowing exactly what should be said — and said nothing. You've agreed to something you didn't have time for, again. You've watched someone else take credit for your idea because you delivered it too quietly to claim it. This isn't a confidence problem you can't fix. It's a communication style — and styles can be learned. This one-day, interactive workshop teaches you the difference between staying silent, snapping under pressure, and saying exactly what you mean — clearly, calmly, and without guilt. No personality overhaul required. Just practical tools you can use in your very next difficult conversation. *** **Is This You?** * "I know what I want to say, but I freeze up or soften it until it's meaningless." * "I say yes to things I don't have the time or desire to do." * "I either avoid conflict completely or I lose my composure when it happens." * "I want to be taken seriously without coming across as aggressive." * "I struggle to set boundaries, especially with dominant personalities." If any of that sounds familiar, this workshop was built for you. *** **What You'll Walk Out Knowing How to Do** **Module 1 — Understand Where You Stand** Learn to distinguish assertive, passive, and aggressive behavior, recognize how your tone and style land on others, and pinpoint your own current communication pattern through self-assessment. **Module 2 — Build the Confidence Behind the Words** Understand what's really driving your hesitation, build a steadier inner confidence, and learn to recognize your personal triggers before they take over a conversation. **Module 3 — Say It Clearly, Say It Right** Master "I" statements, tone, timing, and body language — and learn to balance empathy with firmness so you come across as clear, not cold. **Module 4 — Handle the Conversations You've Been Avoiding** Learn to receive criticism and navigate disagreement without losing your composure, give and receive feedback constructively, and stay grounded when things get emotionally charged — practiced live through role play. **Module 5 — Set Boundaries That Actually Hold** Learn to identify and communicate your boundaries, hold your ground with dominant or aggressive personalities, and practice assertive negotiation and refusal techniques. **Module 6 — Bring It Into Your Team** Learn to foster open dialogue and trust, influence colleagues without formal authority, and use assertiveness to strengthen collaboration and leadership. **Module 7 — Leave With a Plan You'll Actually Use** Build a personalized assertiveness action plan, get real peer feedback, and take home a daily checklist to keep the habit alive after the workshop ends. *** **Why This Works** ✔ Practical exercises, role play, and peer feedback — not just theory ✔ A personalized action plan you leave with, not just notes ✔ Techniques you can use in your very next hard conversation ✔ Taught in a single, focused day — no long course to drag through *** **Who Should Attend** * Team Leaders and Supervisors * Managers and Executives * HR and People Managers * Project Coordinators and Client-Facing Professionals * Anyone who struggles to say "no" or express themselves confidently *** **Train Your Whole Team, Not Just One Person** One assertive communicator on a team helps. A whole team that can raise concerns, give feedback, and hold boundaries without conflict dragging on for days — that changes how the team actually works. **Bring this course to your organization, including:** * Content shaped around your team's culture and communication challenges * Scenarios built around your team's real dynamics, not generic examples * Delivery in-house or virtually * Group pricing for teams of any size **📩 Reach out at [corporate@mangates.com](mailto:corporate@mangates.com) to build a session around your team.** **Stop Rehearsing What You Should Have Said** Register now and walk out with the confidence, language, and boundaries to say what you mean — the first time. info@mangates\.com \| \+61 \(0\) 2 80155605 ***

Community Camp (Daylesford VIC | 1.5 Hours from Melbourne CBD)

**Registration required at below link:** **Tickets: $50** https://events.humanitix.com/oot-and-aboot-community-camp-aug-2026-edition-or-daylesford-vic-or-1-5-hours-from-melbourne-cbd/tickets Oot & Aboot’s Community Camp is a relaxed, low-pressure overnight camping experience designed to bring LGBTQIA+ people and allies together in nature. This is our second event, and we’re intentionally keeping it simple. There’s no packed schedule or expectations — just space to slow down, connect, and enjoy the outdoors in good company. Across one night, you can look forward to: * A welcoming and inclusive camp environment * Lawn and board games * Casual group walks in nature * Swimming * Plenty of unstructured community time to talk, laugh, and connect * A simple self-serve breakfast on Sunday morning This is an **adults-only (18+)** event with a maximum of **14 participants**, creating an intimate and friendly atmosphere. No prior camping experience is required. The campsite is located in Daylesford, VIC, approximately a 1.5-hour drive from Melbourne CBD. For safety and privacy reasons, the exact location will be provided only to confirmed ticket holders and can be found on the ticket sent via email after payment. Please remember to check your junk or spam folder if you don’t see it in your inbox. Know before you go: * Participants should bring their own camping gears (tent, sleeping bag, air mattress, pillow, etc.), warm clothes, food, and drinks (except breakfast). Please reach out if you don't have any or missing some of the camping gears, we may a solution for you * Alcohol may be consumed responsibly * As a new, volunteer-run charity, we’re not yet able to cater for specific dietary or allergy requirements — please bring food that meets your needs * Some uneven ground and bush walking may be involved * Dogs and other pets are not permitted due to our insurance Park Facilities (shared with other guests): * Powered and grassed/gravelled sites * Camp Kitchen: Includes microwave, toaster, kettle, fridge and free barbeques * Water taps throughout the park * Toilets and showers * Campfire is allowed when conditions are suitable Oot & Aboot events are grounded in respect, inclusion, and care. We aim to create spaces where LGBTQIA+ people and allies feel safe, welcome, and supported. If you’re looking for a gentle way to reconnect with nature and community, we’d love to have you join us. ## Know before you go * Who is this event for? This event is for LGBTQIA+ adults and allies (18+). It’s designed to be welcoming, inclusive, and low-pressure. * Do I need camping experience? No. This is a relaxed community camp. If you can set up basic camping gear, you’ll be just fine. * What does my ticket include? Your ticket covers campsite fees, access to facilities, lawn and board games, casual group walks, and a simple shared breakfast on Sunday morning. * What food is provided? A simple self-serve breakfast (bread, spreads, fruit, tea & coffee) is included. Please bring your own food and drinks for all other meals. * Can you cater for dietary requirements or allergies? As a new, volunteer-run charity, we’re not yet able to cater for specific dietary or allergy requirements. Please bring food that meets your needs. * Can I bring alcohol? Yes — alcohol may be consumed responsibly in line with campsite rules and community expectations. * Are pets allowed? No. Dogs and other pets are not permitted at this event. * Will I get the exact location after booking? Yes. Exact campsite location will be shared with confirmed ticket holders for safety and privacy. * What should I bring? Bring your own camping gear, food and drinks, a camp chair, warm layers, and a torch or headlamp. More details will be shared via email closer to the event. Please email or text us if you would like to borrow some camping gear. We might be able to arrange for you.

Community Conversations: Education for the Mind and Heart

Education is about more than acquiring knowledge. It is also an opportunity to develop the qualities that help us navigate life with purpose and compassion. Building on a previous program on the theme of education, join us for an evening to explore how a deeper perspective of education, and spiritual development, has the potential to shape lives in lasting ways. The evening will begin with a brief presentation by Andre Pitts, an educator with decades of experience in Melbourne schools, who will share his reflections on the theme. Community Conversations provides a warm and inclusive space for meaningful discussions, and to spark positive initiatives in our neighbourhoods. This will be followed by shared group consultation, where we can explore the ideas together, along with time to connect, socialise, and enjoy light refreshments. This is a free event and all are invited to attend.

Social – Welcome to new members & catch up for regulars - City

Never been to one of our meet-ups before? Been a member for a while or just joined? Either way this is the social for you! Once a month we hold a special meet-up to welcome in new members. Regulars are encouraged to attend and help new members have a fun night out! Our monthly “newbie” social is an opportunity to learn about our groups, events held and resources to help members. More importantly it is an opportunity to meet others going through separation & divorce in a safe and friendly environment. We can all learn from each other, but the primary aim of the socials is to enjoy ourselves! Our socials are hosted by members of the Divorce Support & Social Group and the Melbourne Divorce Support Group. We pay for own food and drinks individually. On Wednesday nights the Royal Melbourne has $20 pizza and pasta specials. Great food and great company. We hope to see you!

🍜Asian Background Social: Lounge Asia Melbourne (Easy English) 6pm

Why People Love Lounge Asia 🍜 **Asian-focused** event 🤝 Many guests come alone 💬 No need for perfect English 🌏 No games or forced introductions — just enjoy the conversation Lounge Asia began within the Asian community, so people from Asia often feel comfortable and at home here. At the same time, everyone is welcome — locals, expats, travellers, students, returnees, digital nomads, and globally minded people. ━━━━━━━━━━ How to Join 1️⃣ Tap "RSVP" on this page 2️⃣ Show your Meetup QR code at reception 3️⃣ Collect your name tag and start meeting people ✅ Early RSVP is free ✅ RSVPs made within 24 hours of the event start time are $5 ✅ Limited capacity — please RSVP early Many people attend alone, so don't worry if it's your first time. ━━━━━━━━━━ How to Find Us 📍 Venue Diesel Bar & Eatery (Upstairs) 202 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000 ⏰ Start Time — Melbourne Local Time 6:00 pm ⚠️ Important: This is the local time in Melbourne. Meetup may display Brisbane time or another time zone, so please follow the local time shown above. 🚶 Getting There Enter via Little Lonsdale Street only. There is no entry from inside Melbourne Central. Rosie and our Lounge Asia organisers will be there to welcome you 😊 ━━━━━━━━━━ 🍺 Please Support the Venue This event is free or low-cost because the venue supports our community. Please purchase at least one drink during the event. Your support helps us keep organising events at great venues. ━━━━━━━━━━ 💚 Please Be Respectful Lounge Asia is a friendly social event where everyone should feel comfortable and welcome. 🚫 This is NOT a pickup or dating event. Anyone who makes others uncomfortable may be removed immediately. Not allowed: harassment, unwanted attention, MLM / crypto / religious recruitment, or anything that makes others uncomfortable. Organisers reserve the right to refuse entry or ask anyone to leave. 🪪 A valid government-issued photo ID is strictly required for entry. No photo ID, no entry. Driver's licences must be issued by the government of the country where the event is held. 📸 Photos and short videos may be taken for community and promotional purposes. If you prefer not to appear, please let an organiser know when you arrive. ━━━━━━━━━━ Lounge Asia is already growing in Australia and is now expanding across Asia — Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. Our goal is simple: More friendship, more understanding, and more genuine connections across cultures. 📱 Join the Lounge Asia Australia WhatsApp Group Stay connected with the Lounge Asia community after the event. ✅ Hear about upcoming Lounge Asia events ✅ Meet local and international people ✅ Stay connected with people you meet ✅ Receive community news and event updates [👉 Join the WhatsApp group:](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EgS1bseR5Lq4eykvjMsEIS) 📱 Instagram: @_lounge_asia [🎥 Watch Event Video:](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNak_cu9CXw) [👉 GET VIP ACCESS:](https://forms.gle/t6GXAjTNFECetVuZ8) ━━━━━━━━━━ 🌏 Come say hi! Hey, come hang out! 来一起玩吧！ 一起來聊天吧！ 気軽に遊びに来てね！ 편하게 놀러 와요! มาเจอกันนะ! Tới chơi nha! Tara, sali ka na! Yuk, gabung! လာပြီး အတူပျော်ကြရအောင်! មកលេងជាមួយគ្នាណា! ມາພົບກັນເດີ້! Хамтдаа цуглацгаая! Komm einfach vorbei! Jom join kita! See you at Lounge Asia!

BeSocial. Brunch and New Friends

Meet new people over good food, easy conversation, and a relaxed weekend brunch. This event is designed for anyone who wants to make new friends in a warm, low-pressure setting. Instead of a loud or overwhelming social event, we’ll keep things simple: a small group, a welcoming table, and friendly conversations that help everyone feel included. You can come alone — most people will. We’ll use a few light BeSocial prompts to make introductions easier and help conversations move beyond the usual “what do you do?” small talk. Whether you’re new to the area, rebuilding your social circle, or just looking for more genuine connection in your week, this is a simple and enjoyable way to meet people who are also open to friendship. The goal is to leave feeling like you shared a good meal, had real conversations, and maybe found someone you’d like to catch up with again. Perfect for: brunch lovers, first-time attendees, people new to the area, young professionals, and anyone wanting an easy weekend way to meet new friends. To help you get the most out of the event, we ask that you download our app before you arrive (or upon arrival). The app will be used throughout the event for prompts, activities, and other interactive content so having it ready will ensure you can fully participate. https://apps.apple.com/au/app/besocial/id6759604739 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appetiser.besocial&hl=en 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.

Improve your Speaking Skills with fun and Support at Waverley Communicators

Speaking in public is not easy for most people, nor is running a workshop, writing a speech, thinking on your feet, or even speaking up amongst friends. At POWERtalk you will learn how to gain the confidence to step up to speak up. We've seen it many times over. We help you with simple techniques to look confident as a speaker even when you feel like crumbling. **You'll be giving presentations before you know it and loving it!!!** **\>\>\>** We believe there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to growing as a person and can tailor a plan to help you grow as an individual. **<<<** **Join us at a meeting soon to learn how to build your confidence as a speaker, effectively communicate, get creative, and have lots of fun doing so.** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- POWERtalk Australia is a not-for-profit organisation training in public speaking and leadership skills. Guests are free of charge for the first 3 meetings. Full membership is surprisingly very affordable. Please ask if you would like more information or become a member. We look forward to meeting you for a night of POWERtalk (1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month) *PS. If you have symptoms of cough, runny nose, fever or are unwell, we wish you a speedy recovery and please ask that you stay away until you are well again. Thanks :)* Come along and enjoy the fun. We look forward to meeting you.