Finding Your Village: How Mums Are Building Meaningful Connections

Every stage of motherhood is different. But one thing remains constant throughout all of them — the need for friendship, support and a community of women who truly understand what you're going through.

Whether you're navigating the early haze of new motherhood, raising school-aged kids, managing teenagers, or watching your children grow into adults of their own — the desire for genuine human connection never goes away. And yet for so many women, it quietly slips down the priority list.

Between work, school drop-offs, family responsibilities and the endless demands of modern life, days become weeks, weeks become months, and before long many women realise they haven't made a new friend in years.

The fundamental need for human connection remains. Yet for many women, finding new friendships as an adult can feel surprisingly difficult.

A Growing Movement Across Australia

Across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Melbourne, a growing network of local women is helping to change that.

Through Social Mums Club communities, local club leaders are creating welcoming spaces where connection, friendship and belonging can flourish. More than 47,000 mums have connected through the network, with thousands of events and meet-ups held, alongside hundreds of thousands of interactions through Social Mums Club's community channels.

How It All Began

The movement began in 2020 when Social Mums Club Founder Kirsty Foster moved from New Zealand to Brisbane with her family.

"Even though I had family nearby, I didn't have any local friends. I wanted that village around me — people who understood motherhood, friendship and connection. Then COVID arrived and suddenly it became even harder to meet people."

What started as Kirsty's own search for friendship quickly revealed a much bigger need — one shared by women right across the country.

Today, Social Mums Club communities span Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and Melbourne, bringing together mums of all ages and stages. From women in the thick of the early years through to mums of teenagers, adult children and even grandchildren, the need for connection remains constant no matter where you are in your motherhood journey. While the challenges change over time, the importance of friendship, belonging and having people around you who understand your experience never disappears.

Events Designed for Real Life

At a time when human connection is increasingly being recognised as an important contributor to health and wellbeing, creating opportunities for meaningful relationships has never been more important.

From dinners and walks to book clubs, brunches, trivia nights, pickleball and over-50s lunches, events are designed to cater to a wide range of interests and life stages. More than 95% of events are free to attend, and membership is completely free.

But according to Kirsty, the activities themselves are only part of the story.

"The hardest part isn't finding an event. The hardest part is actually turning up."

That's why Social Mums Club places such a strong focus on helping women feel comfortable, welcome and included from the moment they arrive. Every event is hosted, newcomers are introduced, and the emphasis is on creating genuine belonging rather than simply organising activities.

Stories That Stay With You

Over the years, hosts across the communities have heard countless stories from women who almost didn't attend their first event, only to discover friendships and support networks that transformed their lives. Some members have described the community as life-changing, and in more than one instance, women have told hosts that Social Mums Club changed — or even saved — their life.

One story that recently stood out to Kirsty was attending the 50th birthday celebration of a woman who had joined Social Mums Club shortly after it launched.

"The number of people there from Social Mums Club was incredible. She spoke about the friendships she had built through the community, how she'd rediscovered her love of running and developed an incredible support network. It was a beautiful reminder of what's possible when people find their village."

For many women — particularly those navigating the challenges of raising children, caring for ageing parents, career pressures, relationship changes or simply the realities of midlife — having a trusted local support network can make an enormous difference.

Stronger Communities, Together

And the impact extends beyond the mums themselves.

Social Mums Club works alongside local businesses that genuinely care about supporting women and families. From free workshops and information events to community initiatives and local resources, these partnerships create even more opportunities for mums to connect, learn and thrive — helping to strengthen both the social and economic fabric of local communities.

At its heart, Social Mums Club exists to improve the lives of mums by creating human connection through social community. Currently bringing together mums across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and Melbourne, the vision is simple: to help women all over Australia find their people.

Because every stage of motherhood is easier when you have a village around you.

And sometimes, finding your people begins with a single conversation, a coffee catch-up, or simply having the courage to walk through the door.