Ever pictured yourself as Demi Moore in 'Ghost' with the Potter's Wheel, Patrick Swayze's ghost…read morelingering behind you... Yeah, neither have i but at Carlton Arts you can pick up some skills on using the Pottwer's Wheel. At Carlton Arts, they have classes for Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced individuals so get out there and give it a go, it's actually a lot of fun. I attended some classes and have to say i was over joyed with the experienced (i giggled a lot). At first it's hard to pick up the method of sculpting, but as your mum always said; "Practice makes perfect".

I think it was the movie Ghost which made working with clay so popular. If you have an interest in…read morepottery, then the Carlton Arts Centre provides friendly, relaxed classes that'll teach you the art of wheeling or hand sculpturing your very own ceramics. There's even an annual exhibition where you'll get the chance to display your work and hopefully even make a sale or two.

Life changing ceramics store... Say what? Guild of Objects is an emporium of handmade homewares and…read morefor an avid tea drinker like myself, finding the right tea mug can change your life. I like to call it a 'hug mug' - it has to be the perfect circumference, texture, colour and height. Not an easy mission. I found an abundance of spirit mugs here! Melbourne is creative and proud of it - and this quaint ceramics shop celebrates local makers by exclusively selling Victorian goods. And good they are! Incredible actually. I fell in love with so many pieces that I bought 10 of them that I am prepared to cart home back to Perth. Turbulence, please be kind to my new ceramic friends. Located in North Melbourne, they also offer beginners workshops and community drop in days. Next door is a sunny cafe called Beatrix that looked to be brimming with delicious homemade cakes. Take one home as a perfect accompaniment for your first cup of tea in your spirit mug discovery.

Fitzroy Learning Network is located right opposite the Fitzroy Town Hall and provides support and…read moreeducation with a focus on those in poverty or facing social exclusion. FLN offers courses in arts, immersion programs, literacy, maths, CALD and much more. I had the opportunity to volunteer here through a program at work and am so glad I did! I helped from 8:45-1:30pm for a day - Frank (teacher) taught a class of about 10 that day and volunteers helped with reading, writing, and math skills. Don't be scared if you don't have a Masters in English or mathematics! This place is friendly and students come from all sorts of background and hardship. Ever try learning and living in a new country where you don't speak much of the preferred language or have not had the opportunity to learn about how to save or buy items at the grocery store? These are the things we helped out with and I would love to go back here again in the future as I met lovely people that communicated with their eyes, hands, and smiles. No matter what backgrounds students came from, everyone put in hard work and helped each other out though hardly anyone spoke the same language!

GA provides a real platform for never-ending learning…read more I first encountered GA in Sydney when I wanted to learn more about recent developments in technology and innovation. Initially I attended night classes, which later saw me turning to a full-time immersive course in user experience design. The course helped me transition into a new career as well as meet lots of new friends during this exciting journey. Melbourne GA has a group of organised and active producers who are well-involved in the community. I regularly attend their panels & workshops and my personal education has been all the better for it.

I was lucky enough to attend a Yelp event at General Assembly last night -Intro to the Melbourne…read morestart up community- it was awesome :) I loved the space, it is a very Silicon Valley-esque educational eco system. Our presenter Bart was great at conveying a massive slab of information into something that was both funny and engaging (a rare skill). I think that the majority of the attendees gave Bart their email address to receive the PowerPoint presentation which is a reflection of how much they enjoyed themselves. Our Community manager Mel P. Was also there to give a brief overview of the history of Yelp, another great public speaker. Go Mel :) I hope that Yelp partners with GA (that's what the cool kids call it) again :) :)

Box Hill High School was one of the first schools in Melbourne to offer the Accelerated Learning…read moreProgram, where gifted students can go and take advanced classes in the subjects they want to further themselves in. It is a school that has grown upward, because it is stuck between two main roads, the train tracks, and a football reserve. So it is built up to three levels, but there is no disability access because the buildings date back to 1930. The school began as a boy's school, and eventually went co-ed. It is a public school, but because of the unique nature of the Accelerated course, it has a high reputation. The science and music programs are top range, and the teachers are willing to help where they can. The school is right on the train line, so students come literally from everywhere just to go to this school and learn.

MCIE is a registered training organisation that offers courses such as hospitality, childcare, aged…read morecare and business located between the famous Victoria Market and Errol Street. Well known for industry connections, the trainers that I have spoken to here are patient and helpful. A few cool things about MCIE: -Diverse group of trainers with a whole range of worldwide experience -Commercial Kitchen -Early childhood and education simulation room -Aged care simulation room The campus has a computer lab, and 2 lunchrooms. You can often see staff sharing a lunch room with students which seems to really build the friendship. This is a great place to meet local and international friends and study something you are interested in.

I am absolutely in love with this place. Free and affordable classes to be part of the local…read morecommunity ranging from computers, art classes, adult education, kids classes, etc., and even bellydancing. They also offer free counseling. This is something unheard of in the USA -- no wonder people are much happier here in Australia! This is a non-profit center organized by the Uniting Church but you don't have to have any specific religion to take part in the activities and events here. It is located below the YMCA and near the Endeavour Hills library. Yearly fee is only $10 and even cheaper if you are concession (student discount). The only thing I dislike is the office hours are very limited. However, the centre is still open in the evenings for various classes. The woman at the front is extremely helpful, going the extra mile to help me with my questions. Definitely don't take a place like this for granted!

I loved my time as a Star student so it is has been so incredible to see so many of my friends…read moredaughters attend the school and love it as much as I did. The school moto "facta non verba" is at the heart of encourage the students to be action orientated, to follow their passions and work towards achieving their own personal goals. I would highly recommend Star of the Sea to any parent seeking a supportive and encouraging environment for their daughters secondary education.

I used to go to school here when Mrs Jones was the principal. Great school with a great reputation…read moreif I still lived in Melbourne and had a daughter I'd definitely send her here. It's an all girls catholic private school by the way.