Editing Melbourne (section)

== '''Moving to Melbourne''' ==
The following information is useful Australia-wide, also see the CS Australia wiki [http://couchwiki.org/en/Australia#Working.2C_Studying_and_Volunteering Studying & Volunteering] information.

=== ''' Finding Work ''' ===

* Join the '''[http://www.couchsurfing.org/group.html?gid=12130 Melbourne Job Board] group'''.
* Finding work (loads of great information), your rights and general information about working in Melbourne and Australia is on the [http://couchwiki.org/en/Job_Surfer Job Surfer] wiki page.
* Volunteer farm work: see [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=707&post=6572358 this thread] for an enlightening range of comments and experiences. Also check out [http://www.traveljobs.com.au Travel Jobs], [http://www.freespirit.com.au/ Free Spirit] or [http://www.gnconnections.com.au/ GN Connections].
* Use employment search sites: [http://seek.com Seek], [http://www.mycareer.com.au My Career], [http://wwwcareersonline.com.au Careers Online], [http://www.jobsearch.gov.au JobSearch], [http://www.careerone.com.au Career One]
* Register for these major [http://couchwiki.org/en/Job_Surfer#Job_Search_Web-Sites recruitment agencies] or do a search for your specific industry.
* Print out your cv and walk around doing a ''cv drop'' where you introduce yourself to business and apply directly - usually specific to retail or hospitality work.
* Contact some of these agencies directly:
     [http://www.adecco.com Adecco]: multiple industries, multiple locations around Victoria & Australia
     [http://www.candle.com.au Candle ICT]: IT
     [http://www.crewesharp.com.au/CSGroup/nex4nav.nsf/childdocs/-3DD67FF7DAA19279CA2574790029E15C?open Crewe Sharp]: Medical
     [http://www.dfp.com.au/ DFP Recruitment Services]
     [http://dixonappointments.com.au/ Dixon Appointments]
     [http://drakeintl.com/au Drake]: multiple industries
     [http://www.ebr.com.au/ EBR - Ever Better Recruitment]: GIS, IT, Spatial
     [http://www.ecareer.com.au/ecareer/ Ecareer Employment Services]: IT
     [http://ethoscorporation.com.au/ Ethos Corporation]: Executive
     [http://www.etx.com.au/ ETX Consultants]: IT, Accounting, Engineering, Administrative, Customer/Call Centre Support
     [https://www.experis.com.au/ Experis Manpower Group (Australia)]: Engineering - mechanical, electrical, structural, industrial, aerospace and other related technical markets. 
     [http://hays.com.au/ Hays]: multiple industries
     [http://www.www.hotelstaff.com.au/ Hotel Staff]: Hospitality
     [http://hudson.com/ Hudson]: multiple industries
     [http://www.interpro.com.au/ Interpro]: Software Development, Project Services, CRM / ERP, IT Infrastructure, Telecommunications, RDBMS / Data Warehouse/Business Intelligence
     [http://www.javit.com.au/ JAV IT Group]: IT
     [http://rossjuliaross.com/ Julia Ross]: multiple industries
     [http://kellyservices.com.au/ Kelly Services]: multiple industries
     [https://www.manpowergroup.com.au/ Manpower Group]: multiple industries
     [http://www.mcarthur.com.au/ McArthur]: multiple industries
     [http://www.michaelpage.com.au/ Michael Page International Australia]: multiple industries
     [http://morganconsulting.com.au/ Morgan Consulting]: Accounting, Business Support, Contact Centre, Financial Services, Healthcare & Medical, Human Resources
     [http://www.mosaicrecruitment.com.au/ Mosaic Recruitment]: IT, Government and business support
     [http://murrayrecruitment.com.au Murray Recruitment & Consulting]: Executive, Senior professional and Technical staff
     [http://www.octopus.jobs/ Octopus]: Hospitality, Events
     [http://officeteam.com.au/ OfficeTeam]: Business support, Administration
     [http://www.paragonrec.com.au/ Paragon Recruitment Services]: IT
     [http://performrecruitment.com.au/ Perform Recruitment]: multiple industries
     [http://www.pinnaclepeople.com.au/ Pinnacle Hospitality People]: Hospitality
     [http://www.pmcau.com/ PMC Recruitment & Consulting]: Engineering, Construction, and Operations, Nursing.
     [http://www.primex.com.au/index.php Primex Solutions]: IT
     [http://www.qpl.com.au QPL Limited]: multiple industries
     [http://robertwalters.com.au/ Robert Walters Pty Ltd]: multiple industries
     [http://www.rowben.com.au/ Rowben Consulting]: IT, Insurance, Superannuation, Administration, Business support
     [http://www.rusherrogers.com.au/ Rusher Rogers Recruiting]: IT, Administration, Not-for-profit, Legal
     [http://www.shk.com.au/ SHK]: Senior Management, Executive
     [http://www.skilled.com.au/ SKILLED Group]: multiple industries, multiple locations around Victoria & Australia
     [http://www.staffaid.com.au/ Staff Aid Services]: Technical, IT
     [http://staffing.com.au/LP/MX_Generic/ Staffing]: mX newspaper distribution     
     [http://superiorpeople.com.au/ Superior People]: Business support, Administration
     [http://www.totalstaff.com.au/-1188/ TSS Westaff]: Manufacturing, Government, Contact Centre, Business Services, Aviation, Banking and Financial Services, Office & Commercial, Engineering & Technical, Industrial
     [http://www.wellsgray.com.au WellsGray Recruitment]: Business support, Administration
     [http://www.xpand.com.au/ Xpand Group]: Technology, Media and Communications

'''Choosing a Superannuation Fund'''
The Australian Securities & Investments Commission has a website called Money Smart which offers a [https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/superannuation-and-retirement/how-super-works/choosing-a-super-fund comparison tool] that you might find useful in choosing the right superannuation company. You can also read this [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=707&post=12693209 thread] for more advice.

=== ''' Finding a home ''' ===

You can find others to share a home through the '''[http://www.couchsurfing.org/group.html?gid=9766 Looking for a housemate in Melbourne] group'''. There is quite a lot of talk about where the best suburb in Melbourne to live is. This [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=707&post=13183333 thread] discusses the pro's & con's of many inner & outer suburbs to help your choices. Also the [http://www.cityhobo.com/cities/melbourne CityHobo] website will give you a more formal overview. Also, to see a breakdown of crime rates throughout Melbourne, check the 2011/2012 figures [http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=782 here].

Other places to find housemates are: 
* [http://melbourne.gumtree.com.au/f-Unit-House-Real-Estate-W0QQCatIdZ9296 Gumtree]
* [http://www.flatmatefinders.com.au/ Flatmate Finders] (they charge a $20 fee if you successfully find a flat through them, which CouchSurfers have been successful doing)
* [http://flatmates.com.au Flatmates]
* [http://flatmate.com Flatmate.com]
* [http://www.housemates.com.au Housemates]
* [http://www.easyroommate.com EasyRoommate]
* [http://www.ozflatmates.com Oz Flatmates]
* The window of [http://www.readings.com.au/carlton Readings Bookstore] on Lygon Street in Carlton
* at the coffeeshop at [http://www.ceres.org.au/ CERES] in East Brunswick

Renting a new property, search:
* [http://www.domain.com.au/ Domain]
* [http://www.realestate.com.au/rent RealEstate.com]
* [http://www.rentfind.com.au/ Rent Find]
* [http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-real-estate/melbourne/c9296l3001317 Gumtree]
* Additionally, you can search the real estate agents directly, but there's usually no point since they list on the search sites.
* And if you want to be extra careful I'd recommend getting [http://www.aami.com.au/home-insurance/renters-insurance renter's insurance].

Here is one CSer's advice for renting an empty/ new property:

''If you want to rent a new property, you should go for an inspection first, which is most of the time once per week for 15 minutes, and then fill a detailed form about you, your job, income, pets, friends, and habits, all supported with photocopied passport, driving licence, work badge, the more the better. Afterward you just wait another week or so for response from agency, because agency has to provide an ranking list of possible tenants to the property owner. If you are lucky (a strong candidate with excellent references) you will get the a call from agency that you are eligible for renting and you can go to sign the tenancy agreement. You might be thinking it is over, but it is not, commencement date may be in a week or 3 days or tomorrow, so you should wait until that time. And don't forget that you will need to pay a bond to the [http://www.rentalbonds.vic.gov.au/ Rental Tenant's Bond Authority (RTBA)], which is a full month's rent to secure the property against damage, paid to the real estate at the time you sign the lease and pay the first month's rent.''

You may also check out [http://www.tuv.org.au/our+services/phone+advice Tenants' Union Victoria] and [http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/CA256EB5000644CE/page/Renting?OpenDocument&1=910-Renting~&2=~&3=~ Consumer Affairs Victoria] for help with tenants' rights in case of a landlord dispute.

=== '''Buy, Sell or Exchange''' ===
* If you want or need something, your first stop should be the [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group.html?gid=37552 Melbourne 2nd hand Buy/ Sell/ Exchange] CS group.
* Check out [http://www.gumtree.com.au/ Gumtree] for stuff to sell/ buy (be wary of the spammers, freeloaders, and people who enjoy wasting your time!)
* The [http://searchenginez.com.au/freecycle.html Melbourne Freecycle Group] is also a great way to find (or get rid of) stuff.
* The [http://www.bsl.org.au/About-the-Brotherhood/Brotherhood-businesses/Community-stores/Community-store-locations-and-opening-times.aspx Brotherhood of St. Laurence in Brunswick] (entrance from Barkly St) has a secondhand computer/ notebook room. All are quite cheap, and already fixed by their IT people, so "guaranteed."
* Every now and again, the CS Melbourne group hosts a clothing exchange event so be sure to look for that on the forum, or post the activity yourself.

=== ''' Studying in Australia ''' ===

''' Universities '''

* [http://www.deakin.edu.au/?inst=19 Deakin University]
* [http://www.monash.edu.au/?inst=1 Monash University]
* [http://www.rmit.edu.au/?inst=2 RMIT University]
* [http://www.swin.edu.au/?inst=29 Swinburne University of Technology]
* [http://www.ballarat.edu.au/?inst=30 University of Ballarat]
* [http://www.unimelb.edu.au/?inst=4 University of Melbourne]
* [http://www.latrobe.edu.au/?inst=5 La Trobe University]
* [http://www.vu.edu.au/?inst=107 Victoria University]
* [http://www.acu.edu.au/?inst=13 Australian Catholic University (ACU)]

''' TAFE '''

[http://www.tafe.vic.gov.au/TAFECourses/ TAFE's] offer certificate and diploma level courses that often lead into tertiary study or stronger employment opportunities.

''' Studying English '''
* [http://www.englishaustralia.com.au/ English Australia]
* [http://www.cae.edu.au/web/?infosection=esl CAE English]
* [http://www.deakin.edu.au/future-students/international/dueli/ Deakin University English Language Institute]
* [http://www.swinburne.edu.au/college/english-language-courses/ Swinburne University English courses]
* [http://www.vu.edu.au/international-students/english-language-studies Victoria University]
* [http://www.rmitenglishworldwide.com/ RMIT English Worldwide]
* [http://www.monashcollege.edu.au/courses/english-language/english-courses/english-foundation-year.html Monash College English for the Foundation Year]
* [http://www.hawthornenglish.com/ Hawthorn English]
* [http://www.hales.edu.au Hales]
* [http://www.carrickeducation.edu.au/ Carrick]
* [http://www.ance.vic.edu.au/ ANCE]
* [http://www.holmes.edu.au/index2.htm Holmes]
* [http://www.kangan.edu.au Kangan Institute of TAFE] offers a good range of courses, also check other TAFE's with the link above.
* [http://www.lyceumenglish.com/ Lyceum English]
* [https://www.einsteincollege.vic.edu.au/ English College Melbourne]
* Also check out the awesome [http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/MelbourneLibraryService/learning/Pages/RoadtoIELTS.aspx Road to IELTS] program at the City Library.
''And there are many many many more!!!''

=== '''Choosing Bank Accounts''' ===
These are comments made by four CouchSurfers in September 2010. Terms and conditions may have be inaccurate or have altered.

* Are you a student? If so, ALL major banks will let you open up a student account, which is free of fees and charges. Some banks will require proof of study (i.e. current student card), but some will just take your word for it.
* [http://ingdirect.com.au/index.htm ING Direct] (it's an online bank) as they have NO FEES and they pay YOU to have an account but I think you have to be an Australian resident for tax purposes.
* ANZ & Commonwealth are all pretty on par. Keep in mind that you will need to provide an address from your home country, as well as an address in Australia. For most accounts, proof of address is not required. If you are applying for a credit card, a verified address and employment history is required (be prepared to be denied). When you are applying to open your account, you will need 2 forms of identification, unless you have entered the country less than 6 weeks before, so get onto it quick! You will be required to give a photocopy of your passport along with the immigration stamp confirming your arrival date. Opening banks in new countries is never fun..
* The BEST BANK isn't a bank, it's the credit unions. They have much better service usually.
* As of 2011, NAB accounts have no monthly fees.
* For the best interest rates (as of Feb. 2012), check out [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=707&post=11391354 this thread] in the Melbourne group.

=== '''Mobile Phones''' ===

The following is compiled from a discussion CSers had in Feb. '12:

* There are three major phone companies in Australia. The best coverage is Telstra, but is often a bit more expensive, and in the middle is Optus, with Vodaphone being the worst.
* There are small companies like TPG, which are cheap, but again, poor coverage. The cheaper companies just use another companies network, usually Optus or Vodafone, so their coverage will depend on which they use. (TPG use Optus, so their coverage should be the same as Optus. I've heard only bad things about TPG's customer service though.)
* Regarding the plan you choose to go on you need to sign up for a year or two, which doesn't suit most backpackers. Most travellers go with pre-paid mobiles and buy credit as needed. If you intend to travel in remote places go with Telstra, if you intend to stay within cities go with Optus. Avoid Vodaphone like you'd avoid that guy on the dance floor that looks hot from a distance but makes you gasp in horror when near! [https://www.optus.com.au/shop/prepaidmobile/rechargeoptions/ Optus pre-paid info] and [http://telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/prepaid-mobiles/prepaid-offers/index.htm Telstra pre-paid info].
* There are a number of pay-as-you-go options. Amaysim (also uses the Optus network) is the best I've found, given that I want to be able to use my mobile overseas and most of the super cheapies don't allow that. Also check out [http://www.savvytel.com.au/prepaid/savvyLite_readMore Savvytel Lite](pre-paid).
* For international calls only, the cheapest is the [https://www.optus.com.au/shop/mobilephones/internationalcallingrates/calls4less Optus International Connect for Less] prepaid sim. Others look cheaper but have a higher flagfall.

=== '''What is the weather like?''' ===
[[File:IMG_0994.jpg|thumb|right|Beautiful Yarra River ...]]

The climate in Melbourne is totally unpredictable, which is unsurprising in a flat place subject to southerly antarctic influences and northerly dry and hot desert winds. Temperatures can vary between 10 degrees celcius and the low 40's on the same day but usually the weather is mild and fresh, never humid, though often cloudy. Check [http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDV10450.shtml current weather forecast] on the Bureau of Meteorology's website or [http://www.we-love-melbourne.net/weather-melbourne.html We Love Melbourne].

Newcomers either learn to love it, or never love it - Melburnians seem to deny the existence of weather totally. Large numbers of homes do not have central heating and a surprisingly large number of people continue to dress as if it were summer when it's the middle of winter! You will see a wide range of clothing on any single day; from flip-flops to Ugg boots, from singlets to scarves and from shorts to long-johns. So the choice is yours but the decision is never easy. 

=== '''Internet / Wi-fi''' ===

'''Free Internet/ WiFi locations'''
[[File:Adel_202.jpg|thumb|right|Melbourne Museum ...]]
The [http://www.melbournelibraryservice.com.au/ City Library] and the [http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/ State Library of Victoria] allow free internet access - once you are a library member. This is easy to become if you have a letter confirming your address and another form of ID, such as a passport. The City Library allows an hour of free usage per day (more if you are a student), while the State Library has free 15-minute sessions, which you can join together providing there are not many other patrons waiting in line. 

* Check out the City of Melbourne's [http://www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/Gettingaroundthecity/Internet/Pages/InternetAccess.aspx free wifi] list
* There is free wi-fi in restaurants listed on [http://www.urbanspoon.com/t/71/14/Victoria/Free-Wi-Fi-restaurants Urbanspoon] 
* Check the [http://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/melbourne_details.php?id=10425 Wifi Hotspots] from OnlyMelbourne
* ANZ-sponsored free wi-fi at various cafes, [http://www.anz.com/Documents/AU/BrandNew/ANZSponsoredFreeWi-Fi.pdf Cafescreen Cafes]
* [http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/sunday-heraldsun/wifi-hotspots-in-melbourne/story-e6frf92f-1225821231115 Hotspots List] from the Herald Sun newspaper
* CouchSurfers have found that [http://www.magnation.com/index.php?do=storeLocation Mag Nation] on Elizabeth Street has free wifi, and are happy to have people stay there all day without buying anything.
* Another recommendation is [http://www.bigmouthstkilda.com.au Big Mouth Cafe] in St Kilda. Upstairs during the day it's pretty quiet (well it used to be, I'm assuming it still is). Then you can cross Acland St. to La Rouge and get cheap drinks when you're done studying :-)

'''Prepaid USB/ Post-paid Connections'''

Like mobile phones the three main Internet providers are Telstra, Optus & Vodafone. Telstra has the greatest range of services because they're the primary provider around Australia but they're also the most expensive. In cities Optus is quite fine, and Vodafone is just ok but both are often unreliable in the suburbs where they tend to over subscribe their service (too many users per tower). 

There is a thread [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=707&post=13219337 here] that will offer more insight.

=== '''Books about Oz''' ===

* Bill Bryson's ''Down Under'' (2000) is probably the most widely read book on modern-day Australia, being a blend of wit, folk and sharp observations. That said, the American writer did not spend long in the country and it has the shallow feel of a pre-Olympics quickie.
* Robert Hughes' landmark history ''The Fatal Shore'' is superb and particularly good on brutal colonial treatment of Aboriginals. So, too, is Donald Horne's caustic polemic, ''The Lucky Country'' (1964). This is arguably post-war Australia's most influential work of non-fiction. It is also the most misappropriated title of any Australian book. He coined "lucky country" ironic and caustic epithet. The full sentence reads, ''Australia is a lucky country, run by second-rate people who share its luck.'' Meaning Australia showed less enterprise than almost any other prosperous industrial society and simply based its prosperity on raw material extraction. So no change there.
* Paul Sheehan's 1998 book ''Among the Barbarians'' is a critique of Australia - from the stultifying conservatism of the post-war years to the rise of Pauline Hanson, a blue collar Sarah Palin, and the creation of a cruel gulag of Detention Centers. Despite what most travelers think, Australia is a deeply conservative and religious nation and can be quite racist, which this book helps to explain why.
* On the fiction front, there is Tim Winton's much-loved ''Cloudstreet'', Murray Bail's ''Eucalyptus'', and Peter Carey's Booker prize-winning ''True History of the Kelly Gang''. John Birmingham's ''He Died with a Felafel in his Hand'' is a firm favourite for all those in share houses ''(by the way who has my copy?)''.
* Clive James's ''Unreliable Memoirs'' series falls somewhere between fiction and non-fiction - although some of James' best writing about his homeland is in his essays.
* Geoffrey Blainey's ''A Shorter History of Australia'' is a useful primer. Given the importance of Gallipoli, the country's oft-quoted foundation story, there is Les Carlyon's stunning history.
* One of the best recent histories is ''Unknown Nation: Australia after Empire'' by James Curran and Stuart Ward. For a social history of Australia in the 60s and 70s, look for books by the journalist Craig McGregor.
* Bruce Chatwin's ''The Songlines'' is a cult favourite that helped re-enchant Australia and, incidentally, changed the way modern travel writing is being written.

Patrick White was awarded the 1973 Nobel Prize for literature. He greeted the news that he had received the award for Australian of the Year in 1973 with, ''Something terrible happened to me last week. There is an organisation which chooses an Australian of the Year who has to appear at an official lunch in Melbourne Town Hall on Australia Day. This year I was picked on as they had run through all the swimmers, tennis players, yachtsmen.'' He was right, as he is largely forgotten today. Sport though? Everywhere.

The BBC discuss Australia's cultural heritage with the prize-winning authors Thomas Keneally and Kate Grenville, and the Aboriginal opera singer and composer Deborah Cheetham. Listen to it [http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b016w7zr here].