Help does not end at enrolment
Below are free services an international student in Victoria can use directly. None of them are mine — all are government or not-for-profit. Worth knowing before you arrive, not once something has gone wrong.
Study Melbourne Hub
- 17 Hardware Lane, Melbourne
- Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm, except public holidays
A free place to study in the city centre: desks, Wi-Fi, tea and coffee. Staff help with housing, work, questions about your institution, and refer you to legal services. They also run events where students meet each other.
Free legal advice
Independent and confidential help with work and housing: unpaid wages, below-minimum pay, unfair treatment, ABN arrangements, rental bonds, rent increases, disputes with landlords, and minimum rental standards.
Travel concession
A 50% travel discount under the International Student Travel Pass. Not available to everyone: only eligible full-time undergraduate students at participating institutions. Options run for 90, 180 and 365 days — check the conditions before buying.
Verified against an official sourceStudy Melbourne, International Student Travel Passchecked 23.08.2026Rights at work
International students are covered by Australian workplace law like everyone else: minimum pay, penalty rates, no unlawful deductions. The Fair Work Ombudsman is the government body to contact when something goes wrong.
Renting
Consumer Affairs Victoria explains renters' rights: what belongs in the agreement, how the bond works, what a condition report is, and what to do about a rent increase. This is the primary source on renting in Victoria.
Checked on 23.08.2026 against these services' own websites. Conditions and hours change — check the link before you go.