Australians Living in Germany: Communities, Groups and Support Networks

A practical guide to the Australian expat community in Germany — Facebook groups, Reddit communities, Australian clubs, the Australian embassy and where to find other Australians in Berlin, Munich and Hamburg.

The Australian Community in Germany

Germany is home to a significant and growing Australian expatriate community. Exact numbers are difficult to pin down — the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates around 100,000 Australians live in Europe at any given time, with Germany a popular destination particularly for professionals, students and those on working holidays. In cities like Berlin, Munich and Hamburg, Australians are a noticeable and well-connected expat community.

Finding other Australians in Germany is easier than it used to be, thanks to social media and dedicated expat platforms. The Australian community in Germany is generally welcoming to new arrivals — many Australian expats remember their own first weeks in Germany clearly and are happy to share knowledge and connections.

Facebook Groups for Australians in Germany

Facebook remains the most active platform for Australian expat community organisation in Germany. The following groups are the most active and useful:

City-Specific Groups

• Australians in Berlin — The largest Australian-specific Facebook group in Germany. Active community with regular meetups, job postings, accommodation questions and cultural exchange. Search "Australians in Berlin" on Facebook.
• Australians in Munich — Smaller but active, particularly strong around Oktoberfest season when Australian working holiday makers arrive. Also covers broader Bavaria.
• Australians in Hamburg — A smaller group serving the Hamburg Australian community. More professional in character given Hamburg's business focus.
• Australians in Germany — National group covering all of Germany. Particularly useful for those in smaller cities without city-specific groups, or for questions that apply across Germany (visa advice, tax questions, finding Australian products).

Broader Expat Groups Worth Joining

• Expats in Berlin / Expats in Munich / Expats in Hamburg — Larger English-speaking expat groups with thousands of members. More international than Australian-specific, but the community overlaps significantly and the groups are highly active for advice on daily life, accommodation, job hunting and social events.
• Working Holiday Germany — Specifically for Australian and New Zealand working holiday visa holders. Very active during peak arrival seasons (late autumn when many Australians head to Europe). Questions about visas, jobs and practical setup are answered quickly by experienced members.
• Internations Germany — A more professional networking platform for international residents. Less casual than Facebook but good for professional connections and formal expat events.

Reddit Communities

Reddit has active communities for both Germany specifically and expat life generally:

• r/germany — The largest English-language Germany subreddit. Extensively searchable — most questions Australians arriving in Germany have been asked and answered in detail. Read the wiki before posting. Particularly good for bureaucratic questions (Anmeldung, tax ID, health insurance, bank accounts).
• r/berlin, r/munich, r/hamburg — City-specific subreddits. More varied content than r/germany — local events, accommodation, restaurant recommendations and community discussion alongside expat questions.
• r/germanyexpats — Specifically for expats in Germany. More newcomer-friendly than r/germany and less likely to direct you to the wiki for basic questions.
• r/AustraliaExpats — Not Germany-specific but covers Australians abroad globally. Good for Australia-specific questions (superannuation while overseas, Australian tax obligations, Medicare) that do not fit German subreddits.

The Australian Embassy in Germany

The Australian Embassy in Germany is located in Berlin and provides consular services for Australian citizens throughout Germany and in some neighbouring countries.

Contact Details

• Address: Wallstraße 76–79, 10179 Berlin
• Phone: +49 (0)30 8800 880
• Website: germany.embassy.gov.au
• Emergency consular assistance (24 hours): +61 2 6261 3305 (call collect from Germany)

What the Australian Embassy Can Help With

• Emergency passport replacement
• Notarial services (certified copies, statutory declarations)
• Assistance if you are arrested, detained or have been a victim of crime
• Welfare checks for Australians in distress
• Death overseas — repatriation assistance for families
• Voting in Australian elections (compulsory even when overseas)

What the Australian Embassy Cannot Help With

• Legal advice or recommending lawyers
• Paying your bills or debts
• Intervening in private disputes or commercial matters
• Getting you out of prison for committing a crime
• Providing accommodation or financial assistance (except in extreme emergency)

Register with the Embassy: All Australians living in or visiting Germany for more than two weeks are encouraged to register their presence at smartraveller.gov.au. This takes five minutes and means the Australian government can contact you in an emergency — natural disaster, political instability, evacuation.

Australian Clubs and Organisations in Germany

Australian Business in Germany (AustCham Germany)

The Australian Chamber of Commerce in Germany (AustCham) connects Australian and German businesses and professionals. Based in Frankfurt and with connections across Germany. Membership provides access to networking events, business directories and commercial connections between Australia and Germany. Most relevant for Australian professionals in finance, trade and business.

Australian Football Clubs

Australian Rules Football has a surprisingly active community in Germany:

• Berlin Crocodiles — One of Europe's longest-established Australian football clubs. Trains regularly in Berlin and welcomes new players of all experience levels. A genuine community for Australians in Berlin.
• Munich Kangaroos — Active AFL club based in Munich with a large Australian membership.
• Hamburg Dockers — Hamburg's Australian football club, part of the German Australian Football League (GAFL).
• Other German cities: Frankfurt, Cologne, Stuttgart and several other German cities have active AFL clubs. Check the GAFL website for the complete list.

AFL clubs in Germany are not just sport — they are genuine social hubs for the Australian community, with post-match socialising, barbecues and a strong Australian cultural identity. Many Australians who play no AFL at home join the local club in Germany purely for the social community.

Australian Schools and Education

There are no specifically Australian schools in Germany. Australian children in Germany attend international schools (IB curriculum) or German state schools. The most common choice for Australian expat families is an English-language international school — available in Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt and Hamburg. These schools typically follow the IB (International Baccalaureate) curriculum which is recognised by Australian universities.

Practical Resources for New Australian Arrivals

Toytown Germany

Toytown Germany (toytownGermany.com) is an English-language forum and community for English speakers in Germany. Predating Facebook by many years, Toytown has an extensive searchable archive of questions and answers about every aspect of life in Germany — visas, bureaucracy, banking, accommodation, healthcare and cultural adjustment. The search function is invaluable for navigating German bureaucracy.

Make It in Germany

The German government's official portal for skilled international workers (make-it-in-germany.com) provides English-language guidance on visas, qualification recognition, job searching and settling in Germany. More official and less conversational than Facebook groups but reliable for government-sanctioned information.

Australian Tax When Living in Germany

Australians living in Germany have ongoing Australian tax obligations even while overseas. The key issues:

• Australian residents for tax purposes must file Australian tax returns regardless of where they live
• Determining whether you are an Australian or German tax resident depends on your specific situation and has significant financial implications
• Australia and Germany have a double taxation treaty preventing income being taxed twice
• Superannuation continues in your existing fund while you are overseas — contributions are not required but existing funds continue growing

For Australian tax questions specific to overseas residents, the ATO's website (ato.gov.au) has guidance for international residents, and specialist Australian expatriate tax advisors are findable through Australian expat Facebook groups.

Expat Community FAQs for Australians in Germany

Is there an Australian community in smaller German cities?

Yes, though smaller. Cities like Frankfurt, Cologne, Stuttgart and Düsseldorf have active English-speaking expat communities that include Australians. Frankfurt in particular has a large international financial community. The broader "Expats in [City]" Facebook groups are the most accessible entry point in smaller cities where Australian-specific groups may not exist.

How do I meet Germans rather than just other expats?

Language exchange events (Sprachentausch or Tandem) are the most reliable way to meet Germans interested in connecting with international residents. Meetup.com (meetup.com/de) lists language exchange and international friendship events in most German cities. Sports clubs and hobby associations (Vereine) are another excellent integration path — Germans are highly club-oriented and joining a local sports club, choir or hobby group puts you in contact with Germans in a structured social setting.

How long does it take Australians to feel settled in Germany?

Most Australian expats report that the first three months are the hardest — dealing with bureaucracy, language barriers and cultural adjustment simultaneously. By six months, most have found a social network, established routines and feel meaningfully settled. At 12 months, Germany begins to feel genuinely familiar. The process is faster for those who invest in German language learning from day one.

Related Guides

• Working in Germany — Australian Guide
• German Visas for Australians
• German Etiquette for Australians
• Start Learning German