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Sorry I couldn't have been of help Helix, maybe try the local observatory or ask around at some astro clubs?
Astrogeek, I too am at Melbourne Uni, have you looked at the course structure, theres no real 'majoring in astronomy and astrophysics' as such (in physics at least). There is a 3rd year unit that does do astrophysics, but I think thats about it, the facualty focuses alot on quantum mech.
That said, there is alot of astro stuff going on, with lecturers from Electrodynamics and Relativity doing quite a lot of astro stuff. I'm not quite sure how you would go about it being a first year student, because there are alot of first year's doing physics (engineering students, general science students, medical students etc etc) and I feel the lecturers probably don't pay too much attention to them.
The best bet would be to put your hand up when they ask for someone to be on the staff-student-liason-committee (SSLC) and/or be an active member of the Melbourne Uni Physics Students Society. Those will get you 'in' I guess. The staff are however much much more helpful to 3rd and 2nd year students, I guess because those students are usually the ones that are definately doing a physics major.
Hope that helps!!
-Justin
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