G'day Sparkly welcome to PA jump on the Earth Resources website and buy yourself and anyone with you (18 & over) a Victorian Miner's Right it's valid for 10 years. Also check the EXEMPT rivers /tributaries list obviously being Exempt means No go zones after that bit of homework your good to go.
If your here for a while it'd be worth your while investing in a PMAV (Prospectors and Miner's Association of Victoria) membership and hooking up with their field trips for info and new places of interest. Best of luck with your ventures get up 10 post's and the members section will open up then you can join in the meet ups there good fun and give you new areas of interest.