Microsoft

Smashing! Try something new Interactive workshops - Become the charismatic leader Why is Smashing different to other speaking clubs? Passion!!! 1. **Everyone talks** many times during interactive workshops 2. **FAST LEARNING** 3\. Relaxed and fun **IMPORTANT: Be on time, as doors close at start time** Multicultural Hub, 506 Elizabeth St (Opposite Queen Vic Market) Level 1, Purple Room (End of corridor) More to come...

Join us for a tasty lunch at the Rosstown Hotel in the heart of Carnegie. The Rosstown offers modern Australian pub fare with gf and vegetarian options, and also an excellent seniors menu. whether you're new to Radiant Women or one of our regular ladies, this is an opportunity to connect with other like-minded women. I look forward to meeting you there Julie ☕️🌸

We’re hosting the first Functional Programming Melbourne meetup of 2026 at Factor House HQ on Thursday, 29 January. This will be a relaxed, meet-and-greet style event welcoming functional programming practitioners and enthusiasts of all levels, with light talks and community connection. Location: Factor House HQ, Northcote Doors open: 5:30pm (food & drinks provided) Please register via the FP Melbourne Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/fp-melbourne/events/312721035/

**Most people use ChatGPT like a search engine, but it’s actually more like a skilled assistant waiting for clear instructions.** If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by that blinking cursor in an empty chat box, or wondered what all those new buttons and settings actually do, this session is for you. We’ve all heard the AI hype, but few are using it to actually make their daily lives easier. In fact, most people are only using about 10% of what ChatGPT can truly do. It’s time to move beyond the "search box" mentality and start treating AI like the powerful partner it is. For our second January catch-up, I’m taking the training wheels off. At **Aiven Australia (AI Ventures)**, we believe technology should be straightforward and practical. That’s why there will be **no "tech-bro" talk.** Instead, I’ll be sharing my screen to show you exactly how I navigate the 2026 interface to save hours every week. We’ll move from curious to confident by looking at the brand-new **"Go" tier** that just launched in Australia this week, showing you how to get the results you need the first time. We won't be talking about complex theories, we will be looking at how to navigate the 2026 interface to make your daily life and work simpler. This is your step-by-step guide to making ChatGPT your most practical everyday tool. **What we will explore together:** * **A Guided Interface Tour:** A visual map of the settings and features that matter most in 2026. * **Commanding the Tool:** How to use the built-in options to get reliable results the first time. * **Practical Workflows:** Real-world examples of using AI for planning, drafting, and organizing. * **Live Q&A:** Your chance to ask "How do I do this?" in a relaxed environment. **The Takeaway:** To help you put this into practice, everyone who joins the live session will receive the **Aiven Simple AI: ChatGPT Essentials Cheat Sheet**, a one-page PDF guide designed to be your permanent reference. **Logistics:** * **Join the meeting here:** [https://meet.google.com/qho-oepe-tfb](https://meet.google.com/qho-oepe-tfb) * **Register here to receive your calendar invite and the follow-up Cheat Sheet:** [Sign Up Here](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/simple-ai-from-curious-to-confident-a-live-visual-guide-to-chatgpt-tickets-1980854884282?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl) **Simple AI \| Practical Tools \| [aiven.com.au](aiven.com.au)**

We are glad to announce the first edition of FP Melbourne meetup of 2026, which will be hosted at Factor House office(https://factorhouse.io/) on 29th of January. We welcome all functional programming practitioners and enthusiasts across all levels to attend. Since this is the inaugural meeting we expect to have more of a meet-and-greet type of gathering where we get to know each other, focus on fostering the community and maybe have a light tech talk on some of the interesting projects people have been doing. We are honoured to have Factor House as the sponsor of this event. If you are interested in using functional programming for your business then look no further to the wonderful work and great success Factor House has achieved. They are one of the largest industrial user of functional programming in Australia and in particular the adoption and proliferation of Clojure ecosystem. We will have wonder people from Factor House including its Co-founder and CEO Derek to talk about everything related to Clojure. If you would like to submit a FP related tech talk for this meeting, please send us a message and specify the topics, duration and anything else related to the talk. The location is at 13 Robbs Parade Northcote, the easiest way to get here is by taking the Mernda line on metro train and get off at Northcote station, then it's walking distance to Factor House office. Doors open at 5:30pm, refreshments such as pizza, beer, soft drinks etc will be provided for your enjoyment. Hope to see you soon!

Join your fellow LGBTQIA+ folks for a social evening of board games at Marché Board Games Cafe. We have access to the games library at the cafe. If you have a game that you want to share, please feel free to bring it along. We play all sorts of games - card games, party games, strategy games - and we're happy to teach new players. Groups for games usually form between 6:30-6:45, so it's important to try arrive on time to ensure you're allocated to a game/group. Anyone arriving late may have to wait for a game if all groups have started. The cafe has drinks and food available. Check out their menu here: https://mbgcafe.com.au/menu.pdf We only accept payment at the time of booking to reserve your spot. This means you will need to pay the booking amount via PayPal at the time of booking to confirm your spot. If you can't make it to the event, please ensure you get in touch by messaging the event hosts or emailing rainbowbg.melbourne@gmail.com at least one day before the event, and we can reverse your payment via PayPal. The cafe does NOT have a liquor licence. Consuming alcohol on the premises is illegal, and will result in any members being banned from future events. See you on Thursday!

2026 will be a big year for Jugger with the world championships in Germany taking place in September, so it's time to get training! * ✅ Free to attend * 🏏 Jugger Equipment is supplied * 🍜 Post-training social lunch - all welcome * 🏃‍♀️‍➡️ Ages 16 and over * ➡️ [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, 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 🤗**

**Get ready for a heart-warming afternoon of readings in a cool, historic cellar - and guess what? It will cost you less than a cup of coffee (well, almost!)** NOTE: THIS IS A TICKETED EVENT Cost: $25, strictly limited to 25 seats Your ticket includes a $20 food and drinks credit voucher ($5 goes to the venue to support costs). [CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR SEAT](https://MelbournePoets.eventbrite.com.au) Budding poets, writers and lyricists join Melbourne Poets for our monthly Poetry & Prose Meetup! This is a true open mic event (usually without the need for a microphone). There'll be an opportunity to read your work (if you're brave enough) and listen to others over a drink or two. You don't need to be published; you just need to be passionate about your craft. So grab a support buddy and come along to our luxe loungeroom hidden away in the 170-year-old bluestone cellars in East Melbourne's Tribeca precinct. We've got great cocktails, back-vintage wines, craft brews, amazing food, and good vibes in a chilled and supportive safe space. RULES: This is a ticketed event due to limited seating capacity. $20 of your ticket price is offset against any bar drinks and food ordered through the venue on the day. Please ensure each piece is less than 5 minutes for those wanting to read. Depending on attendance and number of readers, there may be multiple opportunities to read. Please no "clicking" or trauma porn, and no self-promotion allowed during the readings but networking after the event is absolutely OK. GETTING THERE: We recommend you use public transport or rideshare. We are on the 12/109 tram line (stop 16, Wellington St), several Bus Routes (302, 303, 304, 305, 309, 318, 350, 905, 906, 907, 908) or a 5-10 minute walk from Jolimont and North Richmond train stations. If you decide to drive and/or have a designated driver, 2-hour paid parking is available around Powlett Reserve, Darling Square, and the Fitzroy Gardens. Extended paid parking is available at Care Park at 162 Albert Street, East Melbourne or the Epworth Freemasons Car Park in Gotch Lane off Grey Street. UNABLE TO ATTEND? Cancellations and Refunds are generally not possible. However, for sudden illness, COVID, or other special circumstances, we may agree to reschedule your session to another day or provide a gift certificate for part or all of your ticket price. Please SMS your request to 0466 045 473. #poetry #readings #poets #writers #prose #lyricists #melbournepoets #melbournepoet #melbournepoetry #melbournewriter #melbournewriters #melbournetodo #poetryandprose #poetrylovers #openmic

Our sister group, The Philosophers Bazaar, is inviting you to their next event in Melbourne. Do you want to address society's biggest issues but not sure where you'd start? Or, perhaps you're idealistic but struggle with concrete planning? Or maybe you just want to make a positive difference with others who also want the same? In this event, our special guest, Usha (with support from Nick) will use her expertise to guide participants in a workshop on how we can use Design Thinking to address an issue in society. Attendees will be stepped through the process and come up with their own plan they could realistically implement to make their communities or the world a better place. After the participants (democratically) decide the social issue they wish to address, Usha will guide participants through the steps of Discovery, Definition, Development and Deployment to create a blueprint for action, prototyping and hopefully motivation to address that issue! There is also potential here for attendees to form a committed group to address the specific social issue, that could be reiterated upon, perfected and implemented to make long-lasting social change. We have allowed 4 hours, but we will still half way for snacks (BYO) and a break.

**"TechWalking" - Networking + Walking** Are you a tech professional looking to network beyond the screen? Look no further than my upcoming #TechWalking event! 💪🏃‍♀️ Join us for a refreshing walk around the scenic Albert Park Lake. It’s the perfect chance to connect with industry peers while getting in some steps! I know many of you have been tuning in to my online events, but we've never had the opportunity to meet in person. Let's change that! Check out the video from the last event: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0kzu8nGhT1E We'll kick things off at **10 am sharp** at the Albert Park Fitness Station. Please, don't be late! We're hitting the trail around the lake as soon as we gather. And trust me, you won't want to miss it – unless you're up for a bit of a sprint to catch up! (we're going anti-clockwise) This event is pet and kid-friendly, as long as your little ones and furry friends can manage a 5 km walk, they're more than welcome to join. Looking forward to meeting you all in real life! *** Join us for a Live Discussion on Wednesdays at 5.30 pm (AEDT) Subscribe to YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ITCareerinAustralia Follow me on LinkedIn for more information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yana-martens/ Just moved to Australia? Grab your FREE guide to land your first tech job! [https://yanamartens.com/first-tech-job-in-australia/](https://yanamartens.com/first-tech-job-in-australia/)

Join LUV for our yearly barbecue! It will be held 31st January at Yarra Bank Reserve. ​Guests are welcome! Come hungry, and feel free to bring food and/or drinks. \-\-\- \*\*​Getting to Bank Yarra Reserve:\*\* ​Public transportation is still free on the 31st! ​Tram: A tram stop is right next the park (line 48 and 75) ​Train: Hawthorn Railway Station is a quick 15 minute walk from the park. ​Car: Free parking right next to the park. \-\-\- [RSVP on Luma](https://luma.com/y0mgcit5) to get updates. It isn't required but helps us to know how much food to buy. ​View this [event on our website](https://linuxvictoria.org/posts/2026-01-31_LUV-BBQ) for more details.

**🍻 The Entrepreneur Club – Last Friday of the Month Drinks** **Not your average knock-off drinks.** Join us for a monthly gathering of entrepreneurs, builders, creatives, and self-starters who believe business is more than just work, it’s a personal growth journey. Whether you're scaling something or just starting out, this is a space to meet others who think like you do. **💬 What to Expect** ✅ Real convos with people building something ✅ A place to bounce ideas, swap challenges, and share wins ✅ Opportunities to give value and get it in return ✅ Chill vibes, no pitches, just smart people in good company You don’t need a title or a polished pitch, just curiosity and the willingness to connect. **🗓 Format** **6:30pm** – Arrive, grab a drink, join a convo **8:30pm** – We wrap, or roll on elsewhere 📍 **The Oxford Scholar** We take over a corner of the bar (Back Bar or Atrium), look for the crew with ideas in one hand and a drink in the other. **🎯 This is for you if** * You want more entrepreneurial people in your life * You’re building something, or want to be * You care about growth, not just small talk Bring a question. Bring a challenge. Bring your curiosity. Last Friday of every month. Let’s make it count.

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 **Abstract** TBD **YouTube Link** TBA

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 **Abstract** TBD **YouTube Link** TBA

I love my job and one of the main things I do is help customers get going with any of the data technologies at Microsoft. Right now there are a lot of my customers asking about Microsoft Fabric. It's hard to weave across all the shiny new options across the Fabric landscape, let alone figure out where it fits into your organization. In this session we'll focus on answering one question - how can I get data into Fabric? We'll talk through the "it depends" options and see some of the options in live demos.

Christians in Tech is a community at the intersection of faith and technology. Our meetups are designed to spark meaningful conversations, promote knowledge sharing, and encourage growth—both in your career and your spiritual walk with God. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your tech journey, CIT welcomes you. Our Website [https://linktr.ee/citcbus](https://linktr.ee/citcbus) Sponsors and Partners * Improving (Venue Sponsor) * Bethel World Prayer Center (Fiscal Sponsor) * Fruits & Roots (Coffee Partner)

Join Neurospicy Columbus at the Stauff's for coffee and then a stroll through the Book Loft nearby! This will be a friendly chat for like minded individuals with Autism and/or ADHD (or somewhere on the Neurodiverse Spectra).

### Tools in your AI's Toolbox : An introduction to MCP Servers The generative AI revolution has unlocked unprecedented capabilities, but the next frontier is agency: empowering models to interact with, query, and act upon the world. The current challenge is the “N x M integration problem,” where every AI model requires a custom, brittle integration for each external tool or data source. This approach simply doesn’t scale. How can we give an AI access to our sales leads, code repositories, or IoT devices in a standardized, secure, and reusable way? This session introduces Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP), the open-source framework designed to solve this challenge and become the universal connector—the USB-C port—for AI. MCP standardizes how AI models discover and use external tools, moving beyond simple function-calling to a robust, client-server architecture. We will dive into how this open protocol is creating a new ecosystem for building powerful, context-aware AI agents. Join this session for a developer-focused introduction where you will learn how to: Understand the core concepts of the open-source Model Context Protocol and its architecture. Utilize pre-built, open-source MCP servers to instantly connect AI to tools like Git, Slack, and databases. Build a custom MCP server to securely expose your own proprietary data and APIs as tools for any compliant AI. Move beyond bespoke integrations and contribute to a standardized, collaborative, and open ecosystem. Stop building one-off connectors and start building intelligent agents. This session will give you the practical knowledge to leverage MCP and create the next generation of AI that doesn’t just talk, but does. Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! [https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/](https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/)

Topic details coming soon. AGENDA: 7:00pm - Opening announcements 7:10pm - Main Topic 7:50pm - Q&A