Ten things you must do if you're an international student new to Melbourne

If your visa permits you to work while you’re in Australia it’s vital that you apply for a TFN – a Tax File Number – as soon as possible, as you will not be able to join a payroll without one. This can be done simply online via the Australian Taxation Office website. Medicare is another entitlement of visa holders that you’ll need to apply for. This will allow you to claim a rebate on visits to the doctor and to access certain prescriptions and services without breaking the bank. If you’d prefer to speak to a real life person rather than braving an online application, you can book or get a walk-in appointment at a Medicare Service Centre, Monday to Friday.

You'll need to make the bank one of your first stops. Setting up a bank account will make it easier to pay rent, tax and other bills. Banks like Westpac have branches and ATMs (or cashpoints) all over Australia, so you can pop in and speak to someone as well. In Melbourne, almost all restaurants, bars, gyms and any store you visit will accept debit cards, so you'll never need to worry about figuring out the different kinds of bills and coins. 

Melburnians treat coffee like communion; it is their holy chalice. Thanks to the influx of Italian and Greek immigrants over half a century ago, the city has been touted as the “coffee capital of the world”, producing some of the world’s best beans and baristas, and so when it comes to café culture, the city is unrivalled. Impress your new friends by taking them for a cup of joe at one of Melbourne’s best cafés.

When trying to find your feet in Melbourne, locking in a place to live – and housemates – is one of the most important stepping stones. So whether you are after something close to the hubbub of the CBD or after something more affordable in hipster hotspots like Brunswick, you’ll find options of all shapes and sizes on sites like flatmates.com.au, flatmatefinders.com.au, and on the Facebook group Fairy Floss. 

Typically most rooms come unfurnished, but it’s easy to be savvy when scouring local markets and Facebook Marketplace – and then, of course, there is always, always IKEA.

When Melbourne band Crowded House released their single ‘Four Seasons in One Day’ in reference to the city’s weather, they weren’t fooling around. Come rain or shine, be ready to master the art of layering and pack a Mary Poppins-style bag with a jacket, umbrella, vest and sunglasses so you are armed and ready to battle the inconstant weather – one season at a time.

A Myki is your golden ticket to travelling on trains, trams and buses in Melbourne and many parts of regional Victoria. You can buy a Myki and top it up at a huge range of shops (including all 7-Eleven stores), Myki machines and station ticket offices. If you’re wondering how much will get you around Melbourne, Public Transport Victoria (PTV) advises that $10 on your card is enough to get you around for the day. 

It’s also worth noting that the central city has a free tram zone which extends from Queen Victoria Market to Docklands, Spring Street, Flinders Street Station and Federation Square. Anywhere outside of this zone and you’ll need to scan your Myki or risk facing the wrath of a ticket inspector – and a hefty fine. 

Ready to have some fun? Paint the town red with a bar crawl around the buzzing neighbourhood of Fitzroy. Streets like Smith, Victoria and Nicholson are paved with watering holes, and you’ll find everything from wine to whisky bars, disco diners to hole-in-the-wall taquerias, and old-fashioned pubs to cocktail bars. And always drink responsibly.

Channel your inner Wednesday Addams and chuck out anything bright and colourful, because in Melbourne, black is the fashion go-to. According to fashion commentator Janice Breen Burns, the city’s love affair with black comes down to three things: climate, the city and the early 1990s recession. So forget dressing like all the colours of the rainbow, and instead don a black coat, black shirt and black boots, and you’ll blend right in.

Melbourne prides itself on being the sports capital of Australia, with its brag-worthy precinct of stadiums, pools, tracks and fields – is it any surprise? When it comes to the Australian Football League (AFL) season, the city springs to life. The game was invented in Melbourne around 1858 and is now a national obsession. So pick a team, get an appropriate matching beanie and scarf and join in the football fever, which starts in March and finishes in October with the grand final – a final so grand it even has its own public holiday.

One of the things you may notice about Melburnians is that they can speak fast and prefer to abbreviate rather than enunciate. While there are many lengthy A-Z guides on Aussie slang online, here are a few key terms and phrases to help you walk – and talk – like a local: 

Example 1: “Let’s grab a ‘sanga’ (sandwich) and a ‘bevvie’ (drink) from the ‘bottle-o’ (liquor store) to have this ‘arvo’ (afternoon) at the ‘barbie’ (barbecue).”

Example 2: “Bring your ‘bathers’ (swimsuit) and your ‘thongs’ (flip-flops) because we’re going for a swim then grabbing a feed at ‘Maccas’ (McDonald’s).”

Example 3: “'Mate!' (fellow human) I’m feeling ‘crook’ (unwell) – maybe a ‘parma’ (chicken parmigiana) and a ‘cold one’ (a beer) would sort me out." 

(Things you should know: This information is general in nature and has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information to your own circumstances and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.)