Welcome to Befriend
Sparking connected, thriving, inclusive communities

Better together
At Befriend, we believe in the transformative power of togetherness. In a world that can feel isolating, we focus on sparking real connections and supporting people who want a greater sense of belonging to bring others together.
Born out of shared experiences of disconnection, Befriend has grown into a vibrant movement of togetherness. From warm conversations to unexpected friendships, every interaction helps build inclusive communities where everyone belongs.
Because when it comes to belonging, we’re better together.





Connecting, learning, belonging - together
Groups & Gatherings
Our groups are friendly, welcoming spaces where people can come together, share stories and enjoy each other’s company. They offer opportunities to make connections, try a new hobby and be part of a community that celebrates everyone.
Workshops & Courses
Our workshops and courses offer a space to explore new ideas, try new skills and learn alongside others. They’re designed to be supportive, inclusive and playful, giving you room to grow and connect with people who share your interests.
Guidance & Mentoring
At Befriend, we know that building community isn’t a solo act. One of the most important ingredients is having people around you who believe in you, care about your unique contributions, and want to help you bring your dreams to life. That’s where we come in!
Discover resources from our community

2025 Social Impact Report
Befriend’s 2025 Social Impact Report captures how grassroots community building is strengthening connection, belonging, and wellbeing across Greater Perth. With…
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Helping Others Feel More Connected
Supporting someone to feel more connected means creating the right conditions for friendships to grow. By focusing on shared interests,…
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Ep 1. The Builder
Alyssa Nixon-Lloyd has always had a keen interest in community. Growing up in a small country town, community-building was second…
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Ep 2. The Sociologist
2020 will always be known as the year we all jumped on online to socialise. But we had a question;…
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Ep 3. The Researcher
We see a lot in the media about the downside of online connections and the superiority of face-to-face friendships. But…
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Ep 4. The Dreamer
Valerie Weyland dreams big. In her early 20’s she moved by herself to Australia, a place where she knew no-one,…
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Ep 5. The Optimist and the Listener
Fee has a happy knack of seeing the best in everyone. As a woman with an intellectual disability and autism,…
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Ep 6. The Empowerer
In this episode, we talk with occupational therapist and disability rights advocate, Dr. Bec Waters. Bec teaches a unit about…
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Ep 7. The Facilitator
Dave Lindner is Befriend’s Community Connector – he’s the guy who helps Befriend members create new communities and connections. In…
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Give the gift of connection this Christmas!
Human connection is the best gift of all. We tend to think of the festive season as a busy time…
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The Swan Repair Cafe
The Swan Repair Café is not just about mending broken items – it’s about people, community, and giving things a…
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"I Like People!"
Tim’s story shows how connection grows through purpose, creativity, and contribution. Living with expressive aphasia and using a wheelchair, he…
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Resilient Together Wanneroo Project
Befriend is building stronger, more resilient communities in Wanneroo and Perth’s northern corridor by nurturing local connections and community-led initiatives.…
View this resourceNew tactics for a new era
Strong social ties determine how communities survive disasters. Research from the Australian bushfires shows connected places recover faster and suffer…
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People Need People
People need people, yet modern life makes community fragile. Even intentional groups struggle to live well together. In rapid, uncertain…
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Garry's Story
Garry is the one of the Hosts of the Burns Beach Sunset Walk and the Neil Hawkins BBQ, alongside his…
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Cav Cafe - "setting the world right in our little way"
“I was sitting in the cafe in January with my husband and grandchildren, when I noticed a little Befriend postcard…
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Nurturing your own community idea to life
Nurturing a new community idea to life can feel like stepping into the unknown – exciting and a little intimidating!
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Sarah-Lee's story
Sarah Lee Parker is no stranger to bringing people together. “To tell you the truth, I’ve always been a community…
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Robyn's story
With so much land development happening across greater Perth, we continue to see the development of new suburbs and new…
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Alice's story
It’s been 9 years since Alice had to finish work, due to a combination of workplace changes and a personal…
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Sandie's Story
Sandie Thorne has been a Host and a friend of Befriend for 6 years. After many months of juggling multiple…
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The Possibility Fellowship Alumni - Journeying with Alysha
When Alysha dashed off stage to grab her guitar from hiding, and told us she had never before performed in…
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The Possibility Fellowship Alumni - Journeying with Samantha
Samantha learned of the The Possibility Fellowship in late 2022 at a Ceremony for Befriend Volunteers in Wellard, where she…
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The Possibility Fellowship Alumni - Journeying with Gonzalo
I always considered myself a curious person, ever since I was a child. It’s just that: how could one not…
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The Possibility Fellowship Alumni - Journeying with Patricia
When Patricia left Colombia for Australia, she embarked on a journey far greater than the physical distance between these two…
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The Possibility Fellowship Alumni - Journeying with Marika
Marika’s curiosity and love of play enticed her to come along to the taster session for the Possibility Fellowship 2023.…
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The Possibility Fellowship Alumni - Journeying with Kim
It was in 2021 that Kim Hutchinson discovered her autistic identity, an important revelation in her ongoing quest for self-discovery,…
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The Possibility Fellowship Alumni - Journeying with Barbara
Barbara began her community work as a 20-year-old at an Italian bakery in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, an iconic district in…
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Sue's Story
This is what I wrote during yet another lonely and frightening night of being unable to sleep, sitting in the…
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The Possibility Fellowship Alumni - Journeying with Dianne
The event kept popping up on her phone screen. She thought of all the reasons why she shouldn’t participate—a 3-month…
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Sharron's Story
Sharron’s journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of community. After a sudden…
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The Empathy Effect: sparking friendships through the art of understanding each other!
Empathy is a powerful way to build connection and friendship, even with strangers. By showing curiosity, listening deeply, and keeping…
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Give it a Go in Swan
Give it a Go is a fun, free travelling community adventure happening across different locations in the City of Swan!…
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Open Communities - coming together in learning
Open Communities invites community builders, volunteers and organisations to co-design a shared learning space for connection and collaboration. Through gatherings,…
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Feeling awkward about meeting new people? It's totally natural!
Do you often find yourself saying “I’d like to go… but I don’t really know anyone and it might be…
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Margarita's Story
Margarita’s story is one we’ve loved to watch unfold: someone who stretched out of their comfort zone to spark connection…
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Elizabeth's story
This is Elizabeth’s story, written by community dreamer, weaver, writer, story-teller and Befriend staff member, Nicola. It’s a story of…
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Nicola's story
Meet Nicola. Nicola has been a Host with Befriend for a little over a year. But the journey that led…
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Supporting Community: A Network Development Project in the City of Kwinana
We are a non-profit social enterprise based in Perth, Western Australia who exist for one single purpose; to foster inclusive,…
View this resourceHow do I make friends in Perth if I’m introverted?
You want to meet people, form friendships and feel less alone, but you think that your introverted nature is an…
View this resourceCreating a friendship that lasts
Do you find that even if you chat with new people while out and about, these interactions don’t lead to…
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Everyday connectors
COVID-19 was a strange time. It was a unique moment in history where we bunkered down safely at home wherever…
View this resourceFrequently asked questions
How do I join Befriend?
Great news! If you’re engaged with Befriend in any way—maybe you come to a gathering now and then, follow us on Facebook, open our newsletter, or just like what we’re about—then you’re already considered a member of the Befriend community! No forms, no fees, no obligations.
If you’re keen to connect more actively, we recommend creating a free Meetup account so you can RSVP to events and stay in the loop. You’re also welcome to sign up to our newsletter, check out our Facebook group, or reach out if you’d like a hand getting started.
How much does a Befriend event cost?
Most gatherings are totally free to attend—hooray! 🎉 Befriend is all about creating accessible, welcoming spaces, so there are no membership fees, no sign-up costs, and no catches.
Every now and then, a Host might ask for a small donation to cover things like room hire or materials (think: a few dollars in a jar), or you might pay for your own coffee or movie ticket if the group’s meeting at a café or cinema. But generally, connecting through Befriend won’t cost you much—just a bit of your time and curiosity.
How do I find an event?
Events are usually listed in the Befriend Social Network on a website called Meetup. It’s easy to use, free to create a profile and simple to look at all the events taking place across Perth! Whilst there isn’t an easy way to see events geographically, Hosts usually list the location of the event in the title.
You can also check out the map above to browse events by location. Click on the red pins to open up the event details and provide a link to RSVP through our Meetup page, where you can also contact the Host directly if you have any questions.
You can also browse our Upcoming Events page on our website, which has links to a few location specific calendars prepared by those local communities. Or reach out to us and we’ll help you find something that suits you.
What do I do if there are no events near me?
All groups taking place across The Befriend Social Network are run by local community members around Perth who have a desire and passion for getting to know people in their local community. We call these wonderful humans Hosts. Our role as an organisation is really about supporting those local people and their groups to thrive.
We aren’t able to control which events take place, when, or where they happen, as it really takes a community member just like you to put their hand up to give hosting a local group a go!
So, if there’s nothing happening in your neighbourhood that takes your fancy, you might need to travel to another suburb to find something, or, hey, maybe it’s time for you to bring The Befriend Social Network to your ‘hood and become a Host so you can put on your own group!
How do I know if an event is accessible?
Most Hosts will describe the accessibility of their event or venue in the description on Meetup. You are also welcome to reach out to the Host or to us to ask about a specific event.
How do I RSVP to an event?
Option 1: RSVP through Meetup (recommended)
- Create a free account at Meetup
- Search for “Befriend Inc” (or click this link) and click “Join”
- Browse events and click “Attend” or “RSVP”
- That’s it! You’ll get updates if anything changes.
Option 2: Ask us to RSVP for you
If Meetup feels tricky, no stress. You can:
- Email us with the name of the event
- Call or text us – we’ll add your RSVP and confirm it for you.
I’m not on Meetup. Can I still attend?
Yes! But we recommend letting the Host know you’re coming—you can RSVP through us —so the Host knows to expect you, and if the event is cancelled or moved, you’ll get a heads-up.
I want to make friends in my suburb
That’s awesome to hear you are looking to meet new people. Whilst it can be a bit tough to know where to start, once you get started and find something you enjoy attending regularly, that’s when relationships can really start forming!
Here are some ideas we like to share with people who are looking to meet new people:
- The Befriend Social Network has a variety of local gatherings happening across parts of Perth. These are hosted by friendly locals we call Hosts, who also want to meet new people and share something they enjoy doing. Anyone over 18 is welcome to attend or host, and most gatherings are free or low cost. Use the map on our website or our Meetup page to explore what’s on near you.
- Visit local spaces like community centres, libraries, gyms, or gardens, where people regularly gather for shared interests.
- Connect online. Facebook has local interest groups, Buy Nothing or gifting groups, and even niche communities like Dungeons and Dragons Perth or WA Community Gardens Network. Our own Connecting Us Perth Facebook group is a great digital space to chat and share ideas.
- Volunteer for something you care about. It’s a meaningful way to meet like-minded people. Volunteering WA is a great place to start, and you might also enjoy this article about lasting friendship.
If you’d like to explore these options with a friendly human, send us a message, or give us a ring on 9520 8574 or 0404 831 201—we’d love to chat more about what could work for you!
See what’s on near you
Use our interactive map to explore local connections. Search by postcode or use the distance-from-location filter to find events near you.