When Jess Renee launched a Perth social group designed to help women make new friends, her first event sold out in 90 seconds.
She now has more than 150 people waiting to attend an event run by The Social Chapter Perth – and about 70 per cent of those who do attend arrive alone.
The demand reflects a broader challenge facing Australians looking for connection.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows 53 per cent of Australians had weekly face-to-face contact with family or friends outside their household in 2025, down from 68 per cent in 2019.
Renee said changing circumstances can make maintaining social connections increasingly difficult.
“Those seasons of life dynamics change, families split, people have their own children, drift from old friendship groups, career promotions,” she said.
“These life changing seasons we go through directly impact our social networks and people we connect with.”
Renee said the popularity of The Social Chapter suggests some people are increasingly willing to actively seek out new friendships rather than wait for them to develop naturally.
For UK exchange student Jai Doherty, moving to Perth brought the challenge of building a social network thousands of kilometres from home.
“Moving so far away, in my opinion, was so exciting,” Doherty said.
But despite university providing opportunities to meet people, she found breaking into already-established friendship groups difficult.
“Perth has so many unique groups of people and a whole different way of living I have never experienced before,” she said.
“That makes it quite tricky getting into those groups because you don’t really have any idea what’s going on.”
Doherty said being thousands of kilometres away from home has made the importance of connection even more noticeable.
“The worst part for me has been the time zone,” she said.
“I am seven hours ahead of all my family and friends, so it feels very lonely waking up without them and going to sleep when everyone is awake.”
Even everyday activities felt unfamiliar after arriving in Perth.
“Moving to a whole new place with a new culture is very intimidating, “Doherty said. “Even little things like going for a walk or going to the supermarket is a brand-new thing.”
But she has found that making friends does not always need to be a complicated plan.
Doherty said going to cafes, attending university and simple talking to people has helped build connections.
Renee similarly encourages people to stop waiting for friendships to happen naturally and instead put themselves in places where they can meet others.
Doherty’s advice is simpler.
“I would just talk to people,” she said.
“You’ve just got to be brave, and it will be fine.”
