Welcome!

International Student Guide Welcome

Welcome to – The guide contains lots of officially known as the world’s information to help you discover most liveable city. Melbourne – and provides advice on the best way to travel around Our population of nearly 100,000 our great city. includes people from more than 200 cultural backgrounds. While If you need help with services or some are recent arrivals, others – advice, the City of Melbourne is such as the Chinese who arrived here for you. If you can’t find during Melbourne’s 1850s gold what you need in this booklet, rush – helped shape Melbourne's visit melbourne.vic.gov.au/whatson history and contributed significantly to the city's identity. On behalf of the City of Melbourne, we sincerely hope you enjoy your We are very proud of what our time in our city. cosmopolitan city offers. Students play a big role in creating a buzz in our city and we want you to feel safe, valued and supported. Robert Doyle Cr Jennifer Kanis Lord Mayor Future Melbourne (People and Creative City) Committee Chair Getting around town

It’s easy to find your way around Melbourne, as the main streets are laid out in a grid. Some of the laneways weave, turn or become dead ends, so you might want to carry a map if you’re being adventurous. We recommend public transport, bikes and walking as the best ways to get around the city. All three keep you close to the action and you’ll get more out of every visit.

Public transport • Not sure how to get from A to B? Trams, buses and trains are a cheap The Journey Planner can and easy way to get into and around help: www.metlinkmelbourne. the city. com.au, phone 131 638 or go to the TheMet Shop: Melbourne or ? Town Hall, 120 Swanston Street, • You’ll hear people talk about Melbourne. Also check out the a ‘myki card’ – it’s a reusable Sunday Saver five-trip Metcard plastic smart card that pays for weekend travel savings. your fare on public transport. You can buy the card online – • Always validate your ticket after www.myki.com.au – or at the you get on the tram – authorised MetShop at the Melbourne officers check tickets regularly. Town Hall. You risk a hefty fine if you don’t have a ticket. • Until December 2012, you can also travel with a Metcard; but if you • Wondering how to get home after haven’t bought a ticket before a big night out on the week-ends? you travel on a tram, remember Metlink provides the ‘NightRider’ the machines are coin-only. bus from the City Square after The Metcard is due to be phased midnight on Saturdays and out at the end of 2012. See Sundays. You can use your myki www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au or Metcard and the driver will stop for the latest information. where you request along the route to your outer suburb. More info on www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au Getting around town

Free tram and bus tours Bikes The City Circle tram travels around Melbourne is one of the best cities the edges of the central city, in the world to ride a bike around. providing an audio commentary The city is mostly flat, with fairly explaining what’s located near each wide streets and plenty of bike lanes. stop. The City Circle is free and a But it is compulsory to wear a good way to find your bearings. helmet in Victoria – and you get a Every 10 minutes between 10am and $146 fine for not wearing one. 6pm, from Sunday to Wednesday, and extended hours, 10am to 9pm, Even if you don’t have your own bike, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. bring your helmet into the city, and keep an eye out for the racks of blue The Melbourne City tourist shuttle bicycles stationed in key locations. takes passengers to many different Swipe your credit or debit card and city attractions – no fare required. you’re set for wheels for a couple of The shuttle also offers an audio hours or a full day. You can also buy commentary. It operates most weekly or annual subscriptions, with days of the year, running every fees calculated according to how 30 minutes between 9.30am and long you ride and charged directly 4.30pm. from your credit card. Visit melbourne.vic.gov.au/whatson for details and changes to these Bike pod – City Square Car Park, services. 202 Flinders Lane, Lower Ground Floor. You will see many locals riding to work as there’s a free bike pod at the City Square with showers, and changing facilities. Bike parking is also available. For more information about cycling around the city, visit Bicycle Victoria on www.bv.com.au Walking Safe City taxi ranks Self-guided walking tour maps Safe City taxi ranks operate on are available at the Melbourne Friday and Saturday between 11pm Visitor Centre at Federation and 5am. These ranks are staffed Square – or via our website, by security officers and are located melbourne.vic.gov.au/whatson within the central city. Safe City taxi ranks are located at: Alternatively, many tour companies offer themed walking tours 55 King Street (shopping, chocolate, history and 8 King Street bars) if you have a particular passion. Flinders Street Station Fees apply for these tours. 50 Bourke Street 131 Queens Street 200 Queens Street

Call a taxi 13CABS 13 CABS (or 13 2227) Arrow Taxi Services 13 22 11 Embassy Taxis 13 17 55 Black Cabs 13 22 27 North Suburban Taxis 13 11 19 Yellow Cabs 13 19 24 Silver Service 13 31 00 Wheelchair Accessible Taxis 03 9277 3877 Silver Top 13 10 08 Food and groceries

ALDI, 8 Franklin Street Halal food There are many restaurants, cafes Safeway, QV, lower ground level; and retail shops around the Merchant Street, Docklands city offering halal food. We Coles, Melbourne Central, lower recommend you phone before you ground level; corner Elizabeth and go to make sure, but last we checked Flinders streets all the below were halal: Costco, 381 Footscray Road Gaylord Indian Restaurant, Docklands (membership required, 4 Tattersalls Lane, 03 9663 3980 products generally sold in bulk.) Little Malaysia, 26 Liverpool Street, Champion's SUPA IGA Foundry, 03 9662 1678 399 Bourke Street Norsiah’s Kitchen, Queen Victoria Market, http://www.theage.com.au/news/ Corner Victoria and Elizabeth streets, restaurant-reviews/norsiahs-kitch open Tuesday to Sunday (closed en/2007/07/03/1183351172977.html Mondays and Wednesdays). A night Nelayan Indonesian Restaurant, market operates on Wednesday 265-267 Swanston Street, evenings during summer. 03 9663 5886

Laguna Oriental Supermarket, Sawasdee Thai Restaurant, (QV, 221 Little Lonsdale Street) a Level 1, 139 Little Bourke Street, huge store with a great range of 03 9663 4300 Asian grocery products – including Indonesian specialties. Abla’s Lebanese Restaurant, 109 Elgin Street, Carlton, Great Eastern Asian Groceries, 03 9347 0006 (183 to 189 Russell Street) is a busy store carrying all your basic Asian sauces, Jakarta Seafood Restaurant, noodles, vegetables and vegetarian 118 Elgin Street, Carlton, 03 9349 3118 packaged and frozen goods. Excel Food Mart, (140 Peel Street North Melbourne) is an Indian grocery and spice store carrying ingredients for Indian, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi and Pakistani cooking. ON A BUDGET

Beer DeLuxe Corner Flinders and Crossways 123 Swanston Street Swanston streets, Federation (Upstairs on first floor), 9650 2939 Square, 9663 0166 Situated in the heart of Melbourne, From the relaxed, Beer Salon, on Swanston Street, Crossways Beer Garden, and Espresso Café, provides wholesome hearty to the cool Hamburger Grill or the sanctified vegetarian lunches with more casual Hamburger Bar in the discounts for students, the elderly outdoor square, Beer DeLuxe is and other concession card holders. the perfect place to chill out with Many come for the friendly warm friends. ambiance. Café Vue 430 Little Collins Street, Don Don Japanese takeaway 9691 3899 321 Swanston Street, 9662 3377 The menu is wonderfully diverse Affordable Japanese meals serving the very best coffee and a and super fast service, eat in or daily, changing menu of breakfast takeaway. and lunch treats with a French flair. Gopal’s 139 Swanston Street, Camy Shanghai Dumpling 9650 1578 & Noodle Restaurant 23 Tattersalls Lane, 9663 8555 Tasty vegetarian meals for the health conscious, served buffet Fast and affordable authentic style. For a reasonable amount, eat Chinese dumplings. as much as you like from the large selection of dishes. Mekong 241 Swanston Street, 9663 3288 Excellent bargain-priced Vietnamese food from handmade spring rolls to pho (rice-noodle soup). ON A BUDGET

Red Pepper Indian Restaurant Old Town Kopitiam Mamak 14 Bourke Street, 9654 5714 Level 2, Shop 11, QV Square, QV Building, 9654 2682 Sister restaurant to Green Pepper. Cheap Indian cuisine with daily http://www.oldtownkopitiam.com. specials. au/contact Nam Loong 223 Russell St, Stalactites 177–183 Lonsdale Street 9663 4089 (Corner Russell Street), 9663 3316 http://www.melhotornot.com/ Open seven days a week, hot-nam-loong-223-russell-st- traditional Greek cuisine, it is a melbourne/ virtual institution for dinner, early breakfasts and late night eating. Other useful things www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/whatson

Melbourne Day Directory assistance: On Monday 30 August 1835, the first 1223 (free call) European settlers landed on the north bank of the Yarra River and a International directory assistance: modern city was born. Melbourne 1225 (free call) Day celebrates the founding of Reverse charge calls the city and acknowledges its 12 550 importance as a meeting place for traditional Aboriginal owners: Banks the Kulin nation, including the The majority of bank branches Wurundjeri, Boonerwrung, open weekdays from 9.30am. Some Aaungurong, Djajawarrung and central city branches open late and Wathaurung people. on weekends. Cash machines (or ATMs) are everywhere. EFTPOS To find out more about these and (pay by debit or credit card at the other free events in the city, visit checkout) is widely available. melbourne.vic.gov.au/whatson Post offices Public telephones All city post offices are run by Yes, in this age of the mobile Australia Post. Most are open from phone, public telephones still exist. 9am to 5pm on weekdays, and are Local calls from public telephones closed on weekends. Some suburban in Australia cost a flat rate of branches open on Saturdays – visit 50 cents per call. Calls to interstate, www.auspost.com.au for details. You international and mobile numbers can pay many bills over the counter are charged per minute or second. at Australia Post shops. Most public telephones accept coins, or you can purchase a phone card for $5, $10 or $20. Some phones also accept credit cards. Other useful things

State Library of Victoria Joining is easy: log on to The La Trobe Reading Room in this melbournelibraryservice.com.au with historic Melbourne landmark, is a your details, then drop by one of the popular study spot and features libraries with some identification to a majestic domed ceiling. With collect your membership card. more than two million books, plus newspaper archives, and loads of City Library 253 Flinders Lane audio visual and digital material, you Melbourne 03 9658 9500 won’t run short of source material. Features a large English learning collection, study spaces and free melbourne.vic.gov.au/ Wi-Fi. You need your library card to MelbourneLibraryService access Wi-Fi. 328 Swanston Street, 03 8664 7000. East Melbourne Library Melbourne Library Service libraries 122 George Street East Melbourne The City of Melbourne operates 03 9658 9600 three public lending libraries, plus A modern, environmentally an access point, collectively known sustainable building with quiet as the Melbourne Library Service. study areas and free Wi-Fi. Membership is free to all residents You need your library card to of Victoria, including local and access Wi-Fi. international students. North Melbourne Library Libraries are located in the central city, 66 Errol Street North Melbourne East Melbourne and North Melbourne. 03 9658 9700 The access point is at Docklands. Features meeting and study spaces The Melbourne Library Service has free Wi-Fi. You need your library one of the largest English learning card to access Wi-Fi. collections in Australia, as well The Hub @ Docklands (library as collections in Chinese, Arabic, access point) 80 Harbour Vietnamese, Indonesian, Hindi, Esplanade, Docklands Korean and Japanese. Members and visitors can also use a great range of 03 8662 4822 online resources, internet access and Pick up and return your Melbourne study spaces, all of which are free. Library Service materials, access free Wi-Fi. Melbourne Multicultural Hub The Couch – International 506 Elizabeth Street (opposite Student Lounge the Queen Victoria Market), Salvation Army 69 Bourke Street, 03 9092 1500 www.salvationarmy.org.au/thecouch www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/multihub A lounge for international students The City of Melbourne’s Multicultural offering computers, free internet Hub is a friendly place, where access, meals, free hot drinks and people from Melbourne’s many information about the city and its different cultures can get together services. Come by and see who’s to work, share and learn in a safe visiting, take a seat on a couch and and supportive environment. chill with fellow students. Open on Multipurpose meeting rooms are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and available for hire for study groups Thursday from 5pm to 9pm. and cultural activities. Priority is Culture Card for international given to multicultural groups. students Melbourne Visitor Centre at www.culturecardvictoria.com.au Federation Square Make sure you register for your Federation Square, Culture Card. It’s new and available 9am to 6pm daily for free to international students At the Melbourne Visitor Centre, living in Victoria. The card will help you’ll be welcomed with a smile and you get a better understanding helped to find all the information of Victoria’s culture, including our you need, with brochures, maps, obsession with sport and food, and hints and tips and more. our interests in zoos, parks and gardens. Safety first

Emergency phone number you via a security camera and triple zero (000) for police, organise police assistance if you fire or ambulance services in life need it. threatening or emergency situations. 5. Be aware of what is going on Calls to triple zero (000) are free and around you, especially at night can be made from mobile, home and and remember your headphones, work telephones and pay phones. mobile phone or too much 10 tips to help you travel safely alcohol can distract you from your around Melbourne surroundings. 1. Plan your trip ahead of time. Carry a public transport timetable 6. Walk confidently and with purpose. and know the time of your last Walk with other people. And after train/tram/bus. Got an iPhone? dark, stick to well-lit paths where Both Metlink and have you are visible to passing traffic. free iPhone apps. Download the 7. If you feel at risk or uncomfortable Metlink app for train and when walking along the street, bus timetables and a journey cross the street or change direction. planner or call 131 638 or go to Enter a shop or business where metlinkmelbourne.com.au for you can wait until you feel safe. information on timetables, routes and ticketing. 8. In an emergency, call triple zero – 000 – for police, fire and 2. Stand behind the yellow line until ambulance. It is a free call from all your train or tram arrives when public, mobile and landline phones. waiting for public transport. Program triple zero (000) into your Stand in well-lit areas and be mobile – just in case! aware of the location of the 54 security cameras strategically 9. If you require advice or information, placed throughout the city. visit your local police station. The local police station in the 3. Where possible travel with friends. central city is 226 Flinders Lane If you are on your own, consider near Swanston Street and is open travelling in the front carriage of 24 hours a day. The phone the train, near the driver’s cabin. number is (03) 96371100 4. Be aware of the red emergency 10. If you witness or have knowledge button located near the exits on about a crime, incident or the train. If you press this button, offence you can also report it the train driver will be able to see anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. More information

There are numerous services in the • The International Student city that provide information and Care Service (ISCS) provides assistance in relation to the law, friendly and professional advice, consumer rights, health, youth issues information, support and referral and accommodation including: to local services and community resources. ISCS provides crisis • Victoria Police for information intervention and support in regarding Victoria Police, emergency situations, information including a location map of about accommodation and housing nearby stations go to: providers. It also provides legal www.police.vic.gov.au and advocacy advice. • for Consumer Affairs Victoria International Student Care Service advice and assistance on matters Level 1, 19-21 Argyle Place of renting and accommodation, South Carlton 3053 estate agents, building, shopping, credit and trading go to: www.multicultural.vic.gov.au/iscs www.consumer.vic.gov.au 1800 056 449 free call within Australia (except from mobiles)If • Tenants Union of Victoria provides calling from overseas dial advice and assistance regarding +61 3 8383 6401 Interpreters accommodation and tenancy available on request. rights. Visit www.tuv.gov.au • The Council of International • International Student Legal Students Australia (CISA) Advice Clinic (ISLAC) provides is the national peak student free legal advice, referral and representative body for casework services to international international students studying at students. From 2011, ISLAC will the postgraduate, undergraduate, be available at ‘The Couch – private college, TAFE, ELICOS International Student Centre’ at and foundation level. 69 Bourke St, Melbourne. Visit: http://cisa.edu.au/ For further information, contact Western Suburbs Legal Service 9391 2244 [email protected] More information

• The Australian Federation of • Lifeline provides a 24-hour free International Students (AFIS) telephone counselling service helps international students and an online searchable get the best out of living and database of community and studying in Australia. Visit health services. Call 13 11 14 or www.internationalstudents.org.au visit www.lifeline.org.au • Meld Magazine is a free online • The Action Centre provides publication offering news, sexual health services for young lifestyle and entertainment people aged up to 25 years in for international students in the city. Call 1800 013 952 or Melbourne. The organisation also visit: www.fpv.org.au provides work experience for • Youth Advisory Council of media and marketing students. Victoria is the peak body and Visit www.meldmagazine.com.au leading policy advocate on • WIRE Women's Information young people’s issues in Victoria, provides free information, support Australia. www.yacvic.org.au and referrals to women across • Youthlaw is a community legal Victoria. Women contact WIRE centre that provides free legal to talk things through with a advice and assistance for young sensitive, supportive and skilled people aged up to 25 years. woman. www.wire.org.au Call 9611 2412 or visit • Nurse-On-Call is a free phone www.youthlaw.asn.au service that provides health • Frontyard Youth Service advice from a registered nurse provides accommodation, health, 24 hours a day, seven days a legal and employment services week. Call 1300 6060 24 to young people aged up to • Gambler’s Help provides free 25 years. Call 1800 800 531 or and confidential support 24 hours visit www.frontyard.org a day, seven days per week. • Traveller’s Aid Emergency 1800 858 858 Relief Fund assists travellers • Gambling Help Online link who are vulnerable or distressed www.gamblinghelponline.org.au through the provision of travel- related emergency relief. www.travellersaid.org.au Travellers Aid City Village • Victorian Immigrant and on Bourke Street Refugee Women’s Coalition Level 3, 225 Bourke Street works closely with refugee and Telephone: 03 9654 2600 migrant women’s organisations. Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm www.virwc.org.au • ARIES (Advice, Referral, Southern Cross Station Information and Educational Main Concourse Support) – an integrated Southern Cross Station service for women who have 99 Spencer Street no permanent residency status, Docklands VIC 3000 including international students. Telephone 03 9670 2072 This service is facilitated by the Seven days a week, 7am to 10pm Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Coalition (IRWC). Flinders Street Station www.virwc.org.au Main Concourse Flinders Street Station • Volunteering Australia provides Corner Flinders Street and information on volunteering Swanston Street opportunities. Go to: Telephone 03 9610 2030 www.volunteeringvictoria.org.au Fax 03 9614 1249 Sunday to Thursday, 8am to 8pm Friday and Saturday, 8am to 10pm for more information about the city

For more information about what the city has to offer: • Head to the Melbourne Visitor • Visit www.metlinkmelbourne.com. Centre at Federation Square, au for information about public located on the corner of Swanston transport including timetables. and Flinders Streets or the • For discounted entertainment Melbourne Visitor Booth in the tickets, head to Half-Tix at Bourke Street Mall. the Melbourne Town Hall, • Ask a City of Melbourne Swanston Street. Ambassador for directions, or for ideas on what to see or do. Ambassadors wear red uniforms and walk around the city providing information to visitors.

For information on what the City of Melbourne has to offer students, how you can get involved and to register for a mailing list, visit melbourne.vic.gov.au/internationalstudents