Melbourne is home to one of Australia’s largest and fastest-growing Nepali communities. Behind the festivals, the language classes, the football tournaments and the Dashain–Tihar gatherings is a quiet network of volunteer-run community organisations working to keep Nepali culture, language and connection alive far from home.
Whether you’ve just landed as a student, you’re raising kids here, or you’ve called Melbourne home for years — these are the groups worth knowing. Here’s who they are and what they do. 💛
New to Melbourne? A good first step is to follow NAV (the statewide peak body) and your local area association (like NASEM in the south-east) on Facebook — that’s where event announcements, support, and volunteering calls usually appear first.
Peak & Umbrella Bodies
The big statewide & national organisations
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Nepalese Association of Victoria
NAV · नेपाली संघ भिक्टोरिया
Est. 1997
The oldest and largest not-for-profit representing the Nepali community in Victoria. NAV is the umbrella organisation that works with and supports the many smaller “sister” associations across the state. It represents and protects the community’s interests, preserves Nepali culture and heritage, and builds goodwill between Australia and Nepal — running major cultural events, advocacy, and community programs (including digital-literacy and senior support initiatives).
Umbrella bodyCulture & advocacyStatewide
🔗 nav.org.au →
🌏
Non-Resident Nepali Association — Australia
NRNA NCC Australia
Global: 2003
The Australian National Coordination Council of the global NRNA — the worldwide body that unites the Nepali diaspora “under one umbrella.” In Australia it focuses on connecting Nepalis, emergency and welfare support, skill and knowledge transfer back to Nepal, and representing diaspora interests both here and in Nepal.
Diaspora networkWelfareNational
🔗 nrn.org.au →
🤝
Federation of Nepalese Community Associations of Australia
FeNCAA
National
An apolitical, non-discriminatory national federation that brings together Nepalese community associations from across Australia — helping member organisations (including Victorian ones) coordinate, share resources and speak with a united voice on community matters.
FederationCoordinationNational
🔗 Find FeNCAA on Facebook →
Local & Regional Associations
Groups serving specific areas of Melbourne
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Nepalese Association of South East Melbourne
NASEM
Est. 2017
Promotes Nepali culture and tradition across south-east Melbourne through cultural, social and educational programs, working hand in hand with other Nepali organisations. NASEM also runs Nav Balchautari SEM, the Nepali language school where children learn the alphabet, reading, writing, songs and culture every week. (This is the very school featured in our Melbourne Serophero series!)
South-East MelbourneLanguage schoolCulture
🔗 nasem.org.au →
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Nepalese Neighbourhood Community
NNC
Est. 2019
A locally registered community organisation built around the motto “Building a Stronger Community Together.” NNC focuses on grassroots neighbourhood connection — bringing Nepali families together for support, social events and community-building at the local level.
NeighbourhoodFamily supportSocial
🔗 nnci.org.au →
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Far Western Nepalese Society of Victoria
FWNSV
Est. 2017
Brings together people who migrated from the Far-Western region of Nepal, fostering networking, friendship and mutual support among the Sudurpaschim community in Victoria — and keeping the distinct culture, dialects and traditions (like Deuda) of the far west alive in Melbourne.
Far-Western NepalNetworkingRegional culture
🔗 fwnsv.org.au →
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Australian Nepalese Multicultural Centre
ANMC
A community organisation working to establish a dedicated community centre — a permanent home and gathering space for Nepalis in Melbourne. ANMC focuses on bringing the community together across generations, supporting multicultural participation, and providing a venue for cultural, social and welfare activities.
Community centreMulticulturalWelfare
🔗 Find ANMC on Facebook →
Faith, Heritage & Culture
Keeping traditions and worship alive
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Astha Nepali Hindu Society of Victoria
Shree Pashupatinath Temple, Melbourne
A faith-based society of the Nepali community, building a home for Nepali Hindu worship in Victoria around a Shree Pashupatinath temple. It provides a space for puja, festivals, life-cycle rituals and religious gatherings for Nepali families in Melbourne.
Hindu faithTempleFestivals & puja
🔗 Find them on Facebook →
🎭
Guthi Australia
Newar cultural heritage
A community-based, volunteer-driven, non-profit organisation that raises awareness of and preserves Newar cultural heritage — the language, festivals (like Yomari Punhi and Mha Puja), music and traditions of the Newar people — for the diaspora in Australia.
Newar heritageVolunteer-runCulture
🔗 Learn more →
Students & Youth
For new students arriving in Melbourne
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University Nepali Students’ Societies
e.g. MUNSS — Melbourne University Nepali Students’ Society
Most major Melbourne universities have a Nepali students’ society (Melbourne Uni’s MUNSS, plus societies at Monash, RMIT, Deakin, La Trobe, Victoria University and others). They welcome new students, help with settling in, host cultural nights and socials, and are often the first community a young Nepali finds after arriving in Australia.
StudentsSettling inSocials
🔗 Example: MUNSS →
Ethnic & Regional Samaj
Communities within the community
Beyond the broad associations, Melbourne is home to many ethnic and regional samaj that celebrate the distinct languages, dress, music and festivals of Nepal’s diverse peoples. Depending on your roots, you may find a local group such as a Tamu (Gurung) Samaj, Tamang Society, Magar Association, Newah Guthi, Kirat Rai/Limbu society, Chhetri or Thakali samaj, and town/district associations (e.g. far-western, eastern or Pokhara networks). These groups organise their own cultural days — Lhosar, Sakela, Tamu Lhosar and more — and are a wonderful way to connect with your specific heritage.
ℹ️ A note on this list: Melbourne’s Nepali community is large and ever-growing, so this guide is a starting point, not a complete directory. New groups form often, and details like office-bearers, addresses and contacts change year to year — always check each organisation’s official Facebook page or website for the latest. If we’ve missed your organisation or something needs updating, we’d love to hear from you so we can keep this guide accurate. 🙏
Know an organisation we should add? 💛
Help us keep this guide useful for every Nepali arriving in Melbourne. Tell us about your community group, and explore more Melbourne Nepali stories on our channel.
