TIRED OF DATING APPS? THIS SYDNEY MUM IS MATCHMAKING WITHOUT THE SWIPING
- Bella Star
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
For anyone who has ever spent an evening swiping through dating profiles only to wonder why finding someone you actually like feels like applying for a job, a Sydney mum has come up with another option: put the phone down.
Laura-Jane Hawkins, a former war reporter and PR professional, founded Unwritten in 2024 after seeing growing frustration with dating apps and what she describes as a craving for more genuine connection.
Rather than another dating platform, Unwritten brings singles together in real life through curated events and experiences, from wine tastings and supper clubs to golf, fitness, walks and bookshop gatherings.
Now Hawkins has been named a finalist in the 2026 AusMumpreneur Awards in the Events & Experiences category, recognising her work creating an alternative approach to dating centred on meeting people face-to-face.
Unwritten has hosted more than 85 singles events and helped hundreds of people connect since launching.
Dating without the pressure
The idea behind Unwritten is fairly simple. Instead of walking into a room knowing everyone is there to find a partner, singles are given something else to focus on.
It might be dinner, a wine tasting, a round of golf or a walk. The hope is that conversation and attraction can happen naturally, rather than everyone standing around mentally assessing who might be their next relationship.
“I started Unwritten because I could see how tired people were of dating apps and how much people were craving genuine connection,” Hawkins says.
“I wanted to create experiences where meeting someone could feel exciting and natural again, rather than another exhausting process of swiping and messaging.”
And there is no requirement to leave with a phone number, let alone a future spouse.
“We don't want people walking into a room feeling like they have to find their future partner that night,” Hawkins says. “We want them to have a great experience, meet interesting people and feel comfortable being themselves. If a relationship comes from that, that's the bonus.”
Some people leave with friendships and new social connections instead, which Hawkins sees as part of the point.
From war reporting to matchmaking
Hawkins' route into matchmaking isn't exactly conventional.
Before launching Unwritten, she worked as a war reporter and in PR, careers that might seem a long way removed from organising singles events. But she says both have given her a fascination with people and an understanding of the importance of listening.
“I've always been fascinated by people and what makes them tick. Whether you're reporting on someone's story or helping someone navigate their search for a relationship, listening is everything.”
That approach also carries into Unwritten's matchmaking service, where Hawkins looks beyond
photographs and dating profiles to understand a person's personality, values, interests and lifestyle.
It's a particularly old-fashioned concept in an industry that has become heavily reliant on algorithms.
Could real life beat the algorithm?
Dating apps have undoubtedly made it easier to meet people. The problem, Hawkins argues, is that easier access hasn't necessarily translated into better connections.
“Technology has made it easier to meet people, but it hasn't necessarily made it easier to connect,” she says.
“People still want to sit across from someone, have a conversation, laugh together and see if there's a spark.”
It's a sentiment that may resonate with anyone who has spent far too long messaging someone online, only to discover there is absolutely no chemistry when they finally meet.
Unwritten's next step is to expand beyond Sydney into other major Australian cities, combining personalised matchmaking with a national calendar of singles experiences.
Maybe it's time to put the phone down
There is something almost rebellious about the idea of dating without an app these days.
No carefully selected six photographs. No agonising over a bio. No wondering why someone who seemed perfectly charming has suddenly disappeared after three weeks of messages.
Instead, there is simply a room full of people, an experience to share and the possibility that someone interesting might be sitting across from you.
“I want people to write their next chapter without the apps,” Hawkins says. “Sometimes the person you're looking for isn't behind a screen. They might just be sitting across the room.”
