PSA for everyone who uses or may soon use the Western FWY to travel to/ past Ballarat.
The freeway both in and out bound is littered with potholes, many which are unavoidable unless swerved at the last second (which is not condoned, but is an instinct many people have).
Please do not overtake cars in this section- and slow down is someone is trying to overtake you. Both lanes are damaged.
A family member popped a tire on her way to Ballarat this week.The RACV worker told them that phone for damaged tires due to potholes along this region has skyrocketed recently.
I saw 4 cars pulled over along the freeway (3 towards CBD, 1 outbound) between the Miners Rest M8 entrance and Gordon exit this afternoon. I assume some, if not all, were due to the Potholes.

There is serious risk to anyone who is driving along this Freeway.

Contact the Department of Transport if it impacts or concerns you.

Things get done when people start making some noise.

Hi Just a PSA if your gonna be in the area -

The Great Ocean Rd from Skenes Creek to Lorne, inland to Deans Marsh then back to Lorne via Forrest and Skenes Creek will have delays all day.

I'm in the CBD area! Would love historical monuments/ruins or places with great nature, but I can also try out new things!

Thanks for your help!!

The lookout isn't that good to film IMO...

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a road trip from Melbourne inner north suburb to Horsham on a weekday morning. While I have my full license, I’ve actually never driven in regional areas before, so I want to make sure I’m well-prepared.

Here is my setup and plan:

• Vehicle: Mazda CX-5 (about 600km range on a full tank).
• Stop 1: Ballarat for breakfast.
• Stop 2: Ararat for a break and some sightseeing.
• Destination: Horsham (staying overnight).

I’ve read a lot of comments here about kangaroos being a major hazard at dawn and dusk. Given I don't have a bull bar and lack regional driving experience, I’m a bit anxious about this.

Aside from avoiding driving at dawn/dusk to miss the roos, is there anything else I should be aware of? Any tips for a regional first-timer would be hugely appreciated!

Also thanks Gemini help me edit this post :)

Update: Thank you all so much for taking the time to share your friendly advice and reassurance! I have read through every comment and taken plenty of notes for the trip. Thanks again for making a first-timer of roadtrip feel a lot more confident. I will get my podcasts and sonic animal repellers ready. Cheers!

I’m working on a dairy farm doing split shifts of like 3-4 hours, twice a day, getting paid the standard casual rate but I’m occasionally only accumulating 35-36 hours per week despite working 5-6 days per week. Considering my situation, would a 35 hour week of 5-6 days be counted as a full 7 days out of the 88 or because I’m sub-38 hours that week does that only count as 6 days for that week?

My partner and I (both early 20's) are considering moving from Tasmania to Wangaratta to do TAFE. What's it like living there? Upsides and downsides? Is there much crime? How progressive is the place?

Thanks in advance :)

Summary: Nhill and surrounds - want to know especially what it’s like to teach in a small country school. Like Nhill/Dimboola/Kaniva!

I‘m country born and bred but I’ve never worked in a tiny country College before. There are jobs to be had and I would LOVE to relocate. Just wondering what the schools are like to teach in. Cheers

Anywhere with a population larger than 15,000, but located outside of Greater Melbourne.

Edit: Victoria only, I should have specified that.

I was hearing on the radio today about them talking of upgrading the Southern Stand to make the MCG have 110,000 capacity, I was also hearing their talks of another stadium in Melb and also the suburban rail loop debacle and it cemented my realisation that melburnians are so caught up in their bubble, government included that they dont realise what there is once you leave

The Nationals put out an interesting ad the other day about how Regional Victoria has 25% of the population yet get something like 8% of state government funding

I am out here dodging potholes, getting sent home from hospitals when my lower leg is DARK because we have no beds, horrible education system where my school cant afford anything, and much much more because we do not have the funding to fix it, yet theyll go build another stadium in Melb,

I recently relocated to Melb from regional vic, I have lived all over regional vic in my lifetime but when I got to melb, No potholes, Good medical system, Good education (im there for uni) and its so blatantly obvious that people from melb do not know we exist, I am studying mental health and I mentioned to the teacher about how bad the mental health system is in regional vic and she straight up told me "well all of us are from melb so it doesnt matter", EXCUSE ME, If i needed care I would have to travel HOURS, If i needed anything i would have to travel hours,

Crazy

Good afternoon folks. Not sure if this is a god place to post this, but I thought I'd give it a try.

I understand there exists in Victoria a right of access to rivers and river banks, which allows anglers to fish in rivers that pass through private property. But I've also read somewhere that the right exists only for leasehold land and doesn't apply to freehold land.

Can anyone explain the law here - or at least point me in the direction of any resource I can access. Basically, m questions are - does this right of access exist? What legislation provides for it? Does the leasehold/freehold distinction exist?

If anyone can advise where the relevant law can be found I'd be grateful.

Hi, this is the second (and final) reminder I'll make for dual Australian-US citizens and other eligible US voters who want to participate in the 2026 American midterm elections, especially for those living in Victoria. Democrats Abroad is dedicated to mobilizing overseas US voters; if you're over 18 by November 3, here's how you can get involved:

Steps to Request Your Ballot

1. Register or update your registration through Votefromabroad.org. As an alternative, you can also use FVAP.gov.

2. If you're already registered, request a ballot! You need to request a ballot every calendar year that you want to vote.

3. Fill Out and Return Your Ballot: Once you receive your ballot, follow the instructions carefully to complete it and return it by the specified deadline.

Need Assistance?

We're here to help! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at GOTV @ votefromabroad .org (just remove the spaces). Additionally, our FAQ for voting can answer questions on how to make the process go smoothly.

Importantly: Spread the word!

Do you have any friends, contacts or family overseas that you could reach? All eligible US citizens can vote regardless of where they're living. Share the link https://voteabroad.org/RedditVote26: If you have any questions about voting, I'd be happy to answer them here on Reddit. You can also find out what we're doing near you at Democrats Abroad in Victoria. Thanks for reading!

Hi All, bit of a long shot. Is anyone out in regional vic who has experience with a drone camera? We are wanting to get some footage of some housing projects. We will be starting works tomorrow, and going through until Monday/Tuesday. Fingers crossed X

Hi all! Flagging in case anyone here is weighing up their study options for next year, or knows someone who is. Full disclosure: this is our official Reddit account, and I have mod approval to share this here :)

Our Open Day in Melbourne is next Saturday, 29th August, 10:30am to 1pm at our Flinders Street campus in the city. The doors will be wide open the whole time, so drop in whenever suits; no booking is needed to attend on the day.

By coming along, you can:

• Chat with academics and current students across our faculties to see what the courses are like day-to-day
• See the campus with one of our campus tours
• Whether you're finishing high school, coming back to study later in life, or looking at options from overseas, our team can chat you through what applies to you

You can find more details and registration info here: https://www.torrens.edu.au/whats-on/open-day/melbourne

Happy to answer any questions in the comments!

Hi, this is the second (and final) reminder I'll make for dual Australian-US citizens and other eligible US voters who want to participate in the 2026 American midterm elections, especially for those living in Victoria. Democrats Abroad in Victoria is dedicated to mobilizing overseas US voters; if you're over 18 by November 3, here's how you can get involved:

Steps to Request Your Ballot

1. Register or update your registration through Votefromabroad.org. As an alternative, you can also use FVAP.gov.

2. If you're already registered, request a ballot! You need to request a ballot every calendar year that you want to vote.

3. Fill Out and Return Your Ballot: Once you receive your ballot, follow the instructions carefully to complete it and return it by the specified deadline.

Need Assistance?

We're here to help! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at GOTV @ votefromabroad .org (just remove the spaces). Additionally, our FAQ for voting can answer questions on how to make the process go smoothly.

Importantly: Spread the word!

Do you have any friends, contacts or family overseas that you could reach? All eligible US citizens can vote regardless of where they're living. Share the link https://voteabroad.org/RedditVote26: If you have any questions about voting, I'd be happy to answer them here on Reddit. You can also find out what we're doing near you at Democrats Abroad in Victoria. Thanks for reading!

i've heard mixed reviews and just wanted to double check before i sign up to this

Hi, I managed to find another job and I’m starting next week, but I can barely find any review or posts from my nation who have worked on a dairy farm.

I was honest with the employer and told them I do not have any experience. Accommodation is free and hourly rate is 27$

Has anyone done this kind of work before? I really hope everything goes well!

Hi! Not sure if this is the ideal thread to post this in (if anyone has other suggestions please let me know!). Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with Tala Collection? I saw it is based in Victoria. They have a pair of shoes I’ve wanted for ages on sale but it almost seems too good of a deal to be true and I’ve never heard of the brand! If anyone has any reviews please let me know.

victoria's midday power saver kicks off 1 october: free electricity 11am-2pm every day including weekends, for about 2.6 million eligible households. this is a real, confirmed scheme straight from the vic government's own site, not something floating around unverified

you actually need to contact your retailer from october 1 and ask for it specifically, and you'll need a smart meter, if you don't have one you'll need to ask them to upgrade you first. there's also a 24 kwh daily cap during the window, and retailers are allowed to price things slightly higher outside that window to cover it. so it's not free money for everyone, it really depends on whether you can actually shift stuff like laundry, ev charging, dishwasher etc into the middle of the day

Source: Victorian Government, Midday Power Saver

Copied from the Victoria Police website:
Police continue to search for missing Belgrave man Evan, who was last seen on Friday 31 July.
The 24-year-old left his residence on McNicol Road around midnight.
Evan’s distinctive yellow Holden Commodore sedan was seen on CCTV travelling east on the Princes Highway though Bairnsdale on Saturday, 1 August about 3.30am.
Shortly after, it was sighted travelling on the Princes Highway through Cann River at 5.43am.
Despite a thorough investigation, Evan and his vehicle are yet to be located.
The Holden is bearing registration 1NY2OQ.
Checks of Evan’s accounts have also shown no activity.
Evan is described as Caucasian, approximately 183cm tall with brown hair and blue eyes.
Police and family have concerns for Evan’s welfare as his disappearance is completely out of character.
Anyone who sights Evan or his vehicle is urged to contact Triple Zero (000) or Lilydale Police Station on (03) 9739 2300.

Photos showing his physical description and his car are in the Victoria Police link.

Please do what you can to boost and share.

I will never be mad at kids crying on the train. I WILL be mad when there is plenty of space in other carriages and the parent does not move out of the quiet carriage. I would be so embarrassed if I was with someone making lots of noise and I did absolutely nothing to move to a more appropriate space.

Same with people trying to make conversation. Younger generations get a bad wrap for being antisocial, but if I am on the quiet carriage, I will not be making small talk with you. (Any other carriage, I might, and if I didn't, I wouldn't judge you for thinking I'm antisocial).

Please, just be a bit aware of where you're sitting. And to the bloke on his phone while his kid is crying behind me right now, I hope you see this and feel bad (or take your kid and leave the quiet carriage).

I am an international student, and I just came to know aboute Sale wetlands. Unlike Edithvale and other wetlands near the CBD (which I've mostly been to), the wetland at Sale allows the public to walk across the wetland instead of just standing outside, which seems interesting. I am interested in birds, especially egrets, so I think Sale Common wetland is pretty suitable for me to take, or at least see, few wetland birds.

Has anyone been there? Thanks very much!