Hi Jarryd
As a bit of a newbie myself I have to say that Stellarium helps me no end. I use it to give me an idea of what to look for, where and when. I also use it to learn the constellations, although nothing beats looking at the real thing. Once you have a few constellations and know the names of some of the brighter stars you'll soon find it easier to move around the night sky.
The planisphere is also a great tool.
Good Luck and clear skies
