Moving to Melbourne
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia is well serviced with a range of publications that provide extensive information about what to do and see and how to settle here.
I am pleased to be able to say that the majority of information that has been published is of good quality, particularly government resources.
However, I would hasten to add that it is important to collect your information from a variety of sources – as some information is published with a particular agenda in mind (for instance, to encourage you to migrate here). Be prudent in your approach and confirm the reliability of information before making any final decisions.
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1. Moving to Melbourne Victoria websites and publications
The Australian Government’s Welcome to Victoria Kit is an online booklet of information for settling in Victoria (also available in other languages).
Invest Victoria has produced a complimentary downloadable Melbourne Relocation Guide, worth downloading and the City of Melbourne provides more information in their Welcome to Melbourne section.
Study Melbourne is specifically for international students but with a lot of general lifestyle information produced by the Victorian Government. Study in Australia is an Australian Government website for international students.
Live in Victoria is a website designed for people considering migrating to Victoria.
Make it happen in Provincial Victoria is a website designed for people thinking about moving to regional or country Victoria.
Your Sea Change (or Tree Change) is an interesting website offering various information on moving to a regional area of Australia with some useful articles on the decision making process of moving.
Charles Sturt University has a Guide to Australia and the Wikipedia Online Directory of Melbourne is also very informative.
2. Local information
To find local information, when you type in a search query into your internet search engine, include the words
- Victoria or Australian or Melbourne
- Association or Institute or Group or Body or Society
Universities in Australia specialise in different fields of knowledge and you may be able to approach a particular department for some local information. You can find a list of all Australian universities at The Good Guides.
There are many international associations, chambers of commerce, business groups/networks that are ‘country specific.’ Have a look at the White PagesTelephone Book (printed directory in all residences and also available from your local Australia Post Office) and look for the name of the country that you are interested in – for instance British / Britain / United Kingdom as well as the same country name after the word ‘Australia’ or ‘Australian.’
So for instance, you can find the ‘Australian British Chamber of Commerce’ and contact them direct. These groups are most likely to be able to refer you to other social/expatriate/ethnic/migrant type groups that can provide further information and advice specific to other newcomers like you.
The other categories you may like to research in the Yellow Pages Telephone Book or True Local are:
- ethnic clubs – or social/general clubs
- societies – general
- newspapers – look for specialist publications, for instance the ‘Chinese Newspaper’
- magazines and periodicals – contact relevant publishers and find out where you can purchase a copy
- associations and organisations
- relocation service providers (charge a fee but may save you time and money)
3. Government information
Make sure you find the relevant Federal (Australian) Government Department related to your areas of interest – connect to these via a key word search at theAustralian Government Directory or the General Australian Government Portal.
The Culture and Recreation Portal has a ‘Bluey Search’ to help you find specific cultural information and the National Library of Australia, the State Library of Victoria and Vicnet are also very useful websites.
You can also source information from the Victorian State Government Department related to your areas of interest or use the telephone advice service provided byInformation Victoria – a purpose built resource to help you access State Government information.
You need to source information in your local community via the relevant Local Government Council related to where you are living (and you can also do this for the area where you are working) through the Municipal Association of Victoria.
This website allows you to search for the local council using your suburb name or postcode. You can contact them for a ‘New Residents Kit’ and/or their local ‘Community Information Booklet.’ If you are planning to start a business, there are many resources and networks they can connect you to. Make a time to visit your local council too – you pay for this resource through either council rates or rental payments on the property you live or work in.
4. Ask questions
When you have spent enough time in front of your computer, the other option is to ask questions – talk to your neighbours, work colleagues and people that you meet and ask them where they find information. They may also be able to help you directly with an answer to your questions. In Australia, it is perfectly acceptable to ask questions and seek information.
You may also like to consider paying for some professional advice – like a home buyer’s agent or a relocation service provider, just as you would for any other activity that could be improved with expert advice (like an accountant, doctor or dentist). Some people save cents and waste dollars (and a lot of time) by thinking they can do everything themselves.
5. Radio, Television, Print and Online Broadcasters
For general information, you may find it useful to listen to the radio, watch television and read daily or weekly newspapers. You can source details of these resources in the Yellow Pages Telephone Book or True Local website. In particular, if you speak a language other than English, find out what programs and publications are available in your first language.
Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) has many ethno-specific radio and television programs and information. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is an essential site to visit – you can spend days looking at relevant information.
The Major Victoria Daily Newspapers include The Age (broadsheet newspaper), the Herald Sun (tabloid newspaper) and mX (weekday commuter afternoon paper).
The Major Australian Daily Newspapers are The Australian (general news) and The Financial Review (financial newspaper with a good section AFR Boss). Business Review Weekly (BRW) and Smart Company are print and online business publications.
Free local community newspapers delivered to your letterbox include the Fairfax Community Network Newspapers and News Limited’s Leader Community Newspapers.
6. Tourism and general information
Visit Melbourne (state government tourist information)
Visit Victoria (state government tourist information)
Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau (helps bring large events and conventions to Melbourne)
Destination Melbourne (producers of local tourist visitor guides and a resource of regional links)
Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) (employer group with resources for businesses)
Walking Melbourne (database of architecture, skyscrapers and buildings, past and present from the city of Melbourne)
Only Melbourne (Melbourne guide with a range of different sections)
Melbourne City Life (Another resource with a lot of links, event listings etc)
The White Hat Guide to Melbourne (Comprehensive list of links, mostly events and tourism focus)
Ray’s Cam (a weekly photographic journal that you can subscribe to free of charge and compiled by Ray Theron, a migrant from South Africa)
Melbournism and Melbology are written by Leigh Price and share information provided by locals