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Health and Safety

Melbourne and Victoria are renowned across the globe for their healthy and safe living environments.

Melbourne skyline with sun setting at dusk

Health

Melbourne achieves top marks for its excellent healthcare, clean natural environment and low levels of pollution in the annual Global Liveability Survey . Melbourne also ranked highly in CNN's Top 10 Healthiest Cities report in 2021 , where it was ranked 5th healthiest city worldwide, stating that it’s a ‘beautiful and healthful place to live’.

CNN scored Melbourne highly for the following reasons:

  • high-quality health care and health prevention initiatives
  • low levels of pollution
  • access to parks and clean open spaces
  • nutritious food and safe agricultural networks and practices
  • extensive public transport (trains, trams, buses) and bicycle sharing system
  • community engagement and events.

To learn more about what it’s like to live in Victoria see Lifestyle.

Safety

Melbourne and Victoria are renowned across the globe for their safe living environments.

Victoria’s stable political system, low crime rates, welcoming communities and harmonious multicultural community ensure that students can learn effectively and enjoy their study experience in safety.

Our homestay families are carefully selected and rigorously monitored by schools to ensure that students are provided with the best care and support in friendly, safe and secure environments. To learn more about our homestay families, see: Accommodation and homestay.

Our schools are safe and secure places to learn. Each school has an International Student Coordinator who is a dedicated staff member responsible for the wellbeing of international students. Your International Student Coordinator can be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the event of a critical incident or emergency.

Police assistance is also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is easy to access. Students travelling on public transport benefit from the security offered by Protective Services Officers who are based at train stations across Melbourne’s suburbs to ensure that train passengers are kept safe, including after dark.

Students at university level also benefit from the Study Melbourne Hub that provides friendly advice about all sorts of issues and support, see: Study Melbourne Hub.

Tips on staying safe in Australia

Bush fires

Australia is well known for its hot climate. Therefore, you will need to stay informed during the bush fire season. Bush fires are most prevalent if you live around bush land or near a forest. Once you have arrived in Victoria, one of the best ways to start planning is understanding where you live and your surroundings. To help you plan, see: Country Fire Authority plan and prepare.

Water safety

Spending time by the water is the Australian way of life. It's a great way to spend time with friends, read a book or cool down in the water but its important that you remain cautious and aware of your own safety. To find out how to stay safe and keep up-to-date on important life saving updates, see: Beachsafe.

Travel safety

There are many things to see and do when you study in Victoria. Your family or your homestay family might want to go on a road trip and see some popular tourist attractions. In Australia, there are strict rules and guidelines when it comes to driving, being a passenger and road safety. While you are in the car, we want you and your family to have a safe and memorable experience. To find information about safe vehicle travel, see: Travel safely in Australia.

Cycling and pedestrian safety

Navigating the streets in a new country can be an exciting adventure. But it's essential to prioritise your safety, especially when walking or cycling. Here are some simple tips to keep you safe on the roads:

Pedestrians

Make sure to look both ways, the traffic may be coming from a different direction than you are used to. Always walk at designated crossings. Follow the pedestrian lights when available, remember the green symbol means go, red means stop! And lastly, avoid distractions. It’s best not to use your phone and headphones while walking. It's very important to be aware of your surroundings and to hear if any cars are coming.

Cycling

It is a law here in Australia to wear a helmet when cycling. Use bike lanes where possible, follow traffic rules and ride in the same direction as the traffic flows.

Whether you choose to cycle or to walk, it is recommended to learn the new traffic rules to help you navigate the new area safely. When possible, travel with a friend, having someone with you can make the experience more enjoyable and can be an extra layer of safety.

If you are unsure about the rules or need assistance, contact your International Student Coordinator, homestay family or see: Bicycle road rules .

Internet safety

Your school will provide you with information about safe internet and phone use. Be aware of cybercrimes and scams. Sometimes scammers pretend to be government officials, retailers, couriers or even police officers online or on the phone. Contact your International Student Coordinator, homestay family or parents if you think you have received a fake call, SMS, text or email. Look out for phone calls, SMS, texts or emails demanding that you:

  • click on links
  • pay money
  • provide your bank or other personal details
  • enter usernames or passwords.

For more information, see: Student scams.

Emergencies or urgent help

Your school has a number of physical, mental health and wellbeing services that you should use. Using these services is free and won’t cause any trouble.

In an emergency or urgent situation, you can also contact the below services.

For all emergencies, life-threatening situations or serious injuries

Who to contact:

  • Dial: 000
  • Dial: 112 (from mobile, even if you have no signal or network connection)
  • Dial: 106 (from TDD text phones. Do not text or SMS the number – you must dial the number)

Action:

The 000 operator will ask if you need police, fire or ambulance. You must say which of these services you need.

You can also ask for an interpreter. The operator will ask you what language you need. Tell them the name of your language in English.

You will then be connected to either the police, fire or ambulance service.

The operator will ask you a range of questions in order to help you. For example, what your situation is, your phone number and your location.

You will need to stay calm to tell the operator where you are so the services can come and help you. Make sure you give them the exact address or location. If you are close to a street corner, make sure you tell the operator the streets at the closest intersection if you know them.

Do not hang up the phone until the operator tells you to do so. In most instances, the operator will stay on the line to give you instructions and help you until the emergency service arrives.

Hospital emergency departments

Who to contact:

  • Dial: 000 in an emergency to be taken in an ambulance
  • In non-emergencies, call your International Student Coordinator or homestay parent so that they can take you. This is because not all hospitals have an emergency department. Your International Student Coordinator or homestay parent will be able to take you to the right hospital.

Action:

Staff at emergency departments are trained and will speak with you to assess your situation. You may be required to wait until other patients are seen first.

Remember to take your Overseas Student Healthcare Cover (OSHC) card with you.

Poisons information centre

Who to contact:

  • Dial: 13 11 26

Action:

The poisons information centre help line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call the helpline if you or someone near you has been poisoned, has overdosed, has made a mistake with medicines. You should also call the helpline for help if someone has been bitten or stung by marine animals (such as jellyfish), snakes, spiders or insects (such as bees or wasps).

Mental health emergencies

Who to contact:

  • Dial: 13 11 14

Action:

The Lifeline mental health phone help line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you or someone you know needs mental health support, lifeline will provide you with someone who will listen and give you help at any time.

Dental emergencies

Who to contact:

  • Dial: 9341 1000

Action:

If you have a dental emergency, call the Royal Dental Hospital​ in Carlton. The dental hospital is open until 9.15pm each night. You can also ask the hospital to refer you to a clinic closer to where you live.

Nurse-On-Call phone service

Who to contact:

  • Dial: 1300 606 024

Action:

Nurse-On-Call puts you directly in touch with a registered nurse for caring, professional health advice around the clock. You can contact Nurse-on-Call if:

  • you or a friend or family member is feeling unwell
  • you are not sure if you should seek medical help
  • you’re away from home or situated a long way from medical help
  • you simply want advice or information about health services in your area.

Sometimes if you call Nurse-on-Call, the nurse may tell you to go to your nearest hospital emergency department.

Your local doctor or GP

Who to contact:

  • Dial: Your local doctor

Action:

You can also contact your local doctor or General Practitioner (GP). If your doctor is closed, they will most likely have the number of an after-hours medical clinic on their phone answering service.

Your OSHC healthcare cover will also have a list of approved after-hours doctors who can visit you at home.

Your local pharmacy

Who to contact:

  • Dial: Your local pharmacy

Action:

You can also contact your local pharmacy or chemist. Some pharmacies are open 24 hours a day and most are open until about 7pm or 9pm at night. The pharmacist will be able to help you with many health concerns.

Non-urgent services

Who to contact:

  • Dial: your International Student Coordinator or homestay parent

Action:

Your International Student Coordinator is available 24 hours, 7 days a week to help you when you need them. Your International Student Coordinator can help you if you have homestay issues, health or medical concerns, you feel unhappy or unsafe. It is their job to help you so don’t feel that you can’t ask for their help.

It’s important to contact your International Student Coordinator even if you are lost or you have caught the wrong bus. This way we can help you get home safely.

You can also contact your homestay parents and ask for their help.

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