Our Australian base is a vibrant, multicultural city that offers an abundance of cultural festivities, international sporting events, cafés and restaurants with cuisines from around the world, beautiful parks and beaches, and an eclectic mix of music and arts. You couldn’t pick a better place to live.
We're also one of the world's most culturally diverse nations. In the Australian state of Victoria, 45 per cent of people were either born overseas or have a parent who was born overseas. In Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria, you will hear people speak more than 150 different languages.
Melbourne is renowned as a welcoming environment for international students, providing a home away from home. It is safe, well-designed and easy to get around. The city boasts:
Arts and culture
Melbourne hosts a number of international cultural events and festivals each year. The Melbourne International Arts Festival and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival are favourites. Federation Square, in the heart of Melbourne, often holds free special events that celebrate the multicultural nature of the city.
Sport
Melbourne is home to major sporting events, including the Australian Open (tennis), the Boxing Day Test (cricket) and the Spring Racing Carnival (horse racing). In winter, Melburnians flock to the Australian Football League (the AFL, or just 'the footy') – pick a team and join in.
Cafes and restaurants
Melbourne is famous for its coffee, thanks in large part to the influx of southern European migrants that came here in the 1950s. We also love food, enjoy a variety of ethnic cuisines, and celebrate a food and wine festival each March. The city has a lively and unique laneway culture with many restaurants tucked away.
Shopping
As a bustling capital Melbourne features large department stores, international designer shops and fashion outlets. Our thriving laneway culture has helped foster a unique community of boutique designers and local artists. Surrounded on all sides by farmland and the coast, Melbourne also hosts a large number of outdoor markets, offering fresh food to shoppers daily. The Queen Victoria market, a local landmark, is the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere.
Entertainment
Melbourne is home to amusement parks, recreation precincts, zoos, parks and gardens. Venture out of Melbourne to visit wineries, go bushwalking, or go on a balloon flight.
Nightlife
At night, the streets and laneways light up with a variety of theatres, bars, nightclubs, night markets, restaurants and concerts.
