Other communication tools
In addition to your formal meetings with your supervisor, you may also want to join a discussion group consisting of other students in your research topic area. This will give you and others in your research area to contribute to and benefit from new ideas. You may also have the opportunity to form informal study groups, using any of the tools listed below.
Please note that various graduate programs may utilise specific tools as part of their program so it is best to check which ones are being utilised before setting up your own streams of communication.

Google Hangouts
Google Hangouts is a communication platform that includes instant messaging, video chat, SMS and VOIP features. It brings one-on-one and group conversations to life with photos, emoji, and video calls for free. Connect with friends across computers, Android and Apple devices.

Skype
Skype is an online service that aims to bring people together by connecting them via text, voice and video using the web. It offers various packages via its subscription and pay-as-you-go services.

Yammer
Yammer is a premium enterprise social networking service used for private communication within organizations.Yammer is Monash’s official social media application and the recommended option to create and join discussion groups. It is similar to Facebook, except it is used mostly by professionals. Yammer will enable you to connect with classmates in various groups across the entire Monash community, on all things related to research (or not!).

Facebook is a social networking service that aims to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected. People use facebook to stay connected with friends and family, to discover what is going on in the world, and to express what matters to them.

Meetup
Meetup is an online social networking portal that facilitates offline group meetings in various localities around the world. You can use it to organise informal study group meetings (in person) with people in your local area.