One of the challenges of working in tech outside Melbourne is finding your people. The coffee chats, after-work drinks, and casual knowledge sharing that happen naturally in the city require more effort when you’re in Ballarat or Bendigo.

But regional tech communities do exist, and they’re worth seeking out. Here’s my guide to meetups and events across regional Victoria.

Geelong

Geelong Tech Meetup The most established regular tech meetup in regional Victoria. Monthly events cover various topics—development, design, startups, career advice. Attendance usually ranges from 30-60 people.

Held at various venues around central Geelong, usually weekday evenings. Check their Meetup page for schedules.

Startup Grind Geelong Part of the global Startup Grind network. Events feature local founder stories and networking. Good for anyone interested in entrepreneurship.

Deakin SPARK Based at Deakin University but open to community. Events focus on innovation and entrepreneurship with a strong student contingent.

Ballarat

Ballarat Tech Meetup Smaller but committed community. Monthly gatherings at various venues. Topics vary based on member interests—recent events have covered web development, data analytics, and remote work strategies.

The group has grown significantly since COVID as more tech workers have relocated to Ballarat.

Ballarat Hackerspace For the more hands-on tech enthusiasts. If you’re into electronics, 3D printing, or making things, this is your crew. They have a dedicated space with equipment members can use.

Women in Tech Ballarat Informal network that organises occasional events. Valuable for women in tech roles who want to connect with others in similar situations.

Bendigo

Bendigo Tech Meetup Regular gatherings covering various technology topics. The community has strong connections to the local creative industries—digital agencies, media production, and design.

Bendigo Coders More focused on software development. Good for developers wanting peer feedback and learning opportunities.

Bendigo Entrepreneurs Not strictly tech but significant overlap. Regular events featuring local business owners and startup founders.

Other Regional Areas

Shepparton Digital Collective Smaller but active community in the Goulburn Valley. Events are less frequent but well-attended.

Warrnambool Tech Coffee Informal monthly catch-up for tech workers in the south-west. Lower key than formal meetups but valuable for connection.

Wodonga-Albury Cross-border community with occasional events. Check LinkedIn for “Tech Albury-Wodonga” group.

Online Communities

Sometimes geography makes in-person attendance difficult. These online communities connect regional Victorian tech people:

Regional Tech Victoria (Slack) Active workspace with channels for different interests and regions. Search for the invite link or ask around at meetups.

LinkedIn Groups Various regional tech groups exist. Quality varies but worth joining relevant ones for your area.

Discord Servers Several Australian tech Discord servers have channels for regional members. More casual than professional, but good for day-to-day chat.

Making the Most of Meetups

If you’re new to tech meetups, some advice:

Just show up. Everyone feels awkward at first. Regular attendees are usually welcoming to newcomers.

Don’t worry about being technical enough. Most meetups welcome all levels. Ask questions—people generally enjoy helping.

Give it a few events. One meetup might not click. Try attending three before deciding if it’s for you.

Volunteer to speak. Once you’re comfortable, offer to present. You don’t need to be an expert—sharing something you’ve learned is valuable.

Follow up. If you have a good conversation, connect on LinkedIn or exchange details. One-off meetings rarely lead anywhere without follow-up.

Starting Something New

If there’s no meetup in your area, consider starting one. It’s easier than you might think:

1. Create a Meetup.com group (free for basic features)
2. Find a venue (libraries, cafes, and coworking spaces often host for free)
3. Set a regular date (consistency matters)
4. Start with informal networking—no need for fancy programs
5. Promote through local business networks and social media

Several of Victoria’s current tech meetups started with one person deciding to make it happen.

The Value of Showing Up

After years of attending and sometimes organising regional tech events, I can say: the connections matter.

Jobs come through networks. Collaborations emerge from conversations. Business advice from someone who understands regional challenges is worth far more than generic content.

Make the effort to find your people. We’re out here.

ABC News occasionally covers regional tech community events, and Business Victoria maintains a directory of business networking opportunities across the state.