Settling in to NSW

Discover resources tailored for international students in NSW to settle into the community and enhance your experience.

holi festival

NSW is one of the most culturally diverse states in the world

In NSW, more than 2.3 million people (29% of the population) were born overseas. NSW has a range of community networks, events, and places to celebrate people of all walks of life. 

Community networks

Joining networks of other international students can be a great way to settle into a new country and meet people locally.  Most universities will have a club or society you can join to meet students with similar interests or experiences to you. Explore your educational institution’s website and social media to learn more. When you first arrive in NSW, check out any upcoming events. A great place to start is the City of Sydney Lord Mayor WelcomeExternal Link  or City of Newcastle Lord Mayor’s Welcome. If you’re looking for more ways to get involved with the community once you’ve arrived, consider volunteering opportunities. 

Cultural Events

To promote intercultural understanding, cultural diversity, community harmony and social inclusion, Multicultural NSWExternal Link  has compiled the Days of Religious Significance 2025 calendar. Download File 

Developed in consultation with the Religious Communities Forum, the calendar helps meet the needs of international students and their education providers.

Please note it is not a comprehensive list of every day of religious observance. There may also be different religious interpretations relating to some dates. 

Students at Careers Fair

Faith in NSW

In 2021, the main religious affiliation in NSW was Christianity (47.6%). This proportion has decreased over time as people reporting non-Christian religions and no religious affiliation have increased. In 2016, Christian affiliation was 55.2%, and in 1971 it was 88.4%.

In 2021, 12.1% of people in NSW were affiliated with a non-Christian religion. The most common were Islam (4.3%), Hinduism (3.4%) and Buddhism (2.8%).

The percentage of people who identified as having no religious affiliation was 33.2% in 2021.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 CensusExternal Link