While living and studying in Perth, it’s important to connect with a like-minded faith community for support and wellbeing.
Perth is a city with growing cultural and religious diversity, and data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows more than 51% of the people who live there are religious.
Christianity in Perth
Christianity represents the largest religious group in Perth, with more than 40% of those living in the capital following one denomination or the other.
The city has many significant churches and cathedrals such as:
- St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, 41 Victoria Square, Perth
- St George’s Anglican Cathedral, 38 St Georges Terrace, Perth
- Wesley Uniting Church, 75 William Street, Perth
There are also numerous other churches throughout the city and surrounding suburbs that offer community events, celebrations and volunteering opportunities.
Plus, there are organisations based in Perth working to serve the community, such as:
St Vincent de Paul Society WA: Known as “Vinnies” in Australia, this organisation supports people experiencing poverty and homelessness. Volunteers help with programs like food and clothing drives, home visitation programs and charity shops.
The Salvation Army Western Australia: A well-known Christian organisation with a mission to provide essential services for people in need. If you volunteer, you can help in areas such as food distribution, homeless shelters and fundraising.
Uniting Church WA: An inclusive, Australia-wide organisation, the Uniting Church provides a range of services to the local community such as youth groups, community outreach and fundraising activities.
Islam in Perth
Islam represents the second-largest religion globally, and international students studying abroad in Perth can find many Muslim communities throughout the city.
Some important places of worship for the Muslim community include:
- Perth Mosque, 427 William Street, Northbridge
- Masjid Ibrahim Perth – Southern River Mosque, 1526 Leslie Street, Southern River
- Masjid Al-Taqwa Mirrabooka, 135 Boyare Avenue, Mirrabooka
In addition to mosques, Perth is also home to other Muslim communities and organisations, offering a variety of classes, events and services like:
Islamic Council of Western Australia: Represents the Muslim community in Western Australia and promotes the interests of Muslims through advocacy, interfaith dialogue and community engagement.
Muslim Women’s Support Centre WA: Aims to serve Muslim women through authentic leadership based on our Islamic principles. They provide family and food support to those in need and community development.
Thanks to the growing Muslim community in Perth, there’s a wide variety of halal restaurants and cafes in the city.
Read more: A Halal guide to Perth
Hinduism in Perth
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows Hinduism has been one of the fastest-growing religions in Perth since 2016, and there are many significant temples in the city:
- Bala Murugan Temple, 12 Mandogalup Road, Mandogalup
- Shree Swaminarayan Temple, 211 Marshall Road, Bennett Springs
In addition to places of worship, you will find many organisations and communities around the city including:
Hindu Council of Australia (Western Australia): Represents Hindus in Australia and takes their issues to various levels of government. They also run hundreds of initiatives and projects aimed at helping society in times of natural crisis as well as to address civil issues.
Sewa International Australia: A humanitarian organisation inspired by Hindu values of selfless service. The Western Australian chapter of Sewa International focuses on disaster relief, community service and social welfare programs.
Buddhism in Perth
For those seeking Buddhist community and worship in Perth, there are many prominent temples and organisations within and around the city:
- Bodhinyana Monastery, 216 Kingsbury Drive, Serpentine
- Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple, 280 Guildford Road, Maylands
Buddhists in Perth will also find a range of organisations focussed on community and spiritual guidance such as:
Buddhist Society of Western Australia: Offers a range of activities including meditation classes, dhamma talks and retreats for the community in and around Perth.
The Tibetan Buddhist Society Perth: Situated on a 12-acre property 40 minutes outside the city, the Tibetan Buddhist Society hosts retreats and classes in a Tibetan temple.
Judaism in Perth
Perth is also home to a vibrant Jewish community with several important synagogues:
- The Perth Hebrew Congregation, 28 Freedman Road, Menora
- Temple David Progressive Synagogue, 34 Clifton Crescent, Mount Lawley
Prominent organisations include:
Jewish Community Council of Western Australia (JCCWA): This council organises various community activities like cultural and educational programs. The council also assists new migrants and engages in interfaith dialogue.
Maccabi Sports Club: Part of the global Maccabi sports movement, the club offers various sports and social events for Jewish youth and adults in Perth, fostering community connections through shared sporting interests.
Other faiths
There are other, smaller faith communities in Perth such as the Sikh and Bahá’í communities. Both have established places of worship that serve as spiritual and community centres.
- Sikh Gurdwara Perth, 10 Cheltenham Street, Bennett Springs
- Bahá’í Centre of Learning for WA, 455 Marmion Street, Perth
