OUR taxes are helping to finance an online campaign that tells the world Melbourne is a dangerous city.

While selling it as one of the world's most liveable cities, a new campaign born in Melbourne is telling international students it's unsafe to walk out the door alone.

An online cartoon portraying Australia as violent and dangerous for foreign students was launched globally by Victoria Police.

The $170,000 "think before" initiative was financed by the Federal and State Governments and educational authorities across the country.

The Victorian Government chipped in $23,000.

The thinkbefore.com website warns students to avoid travelling alone and to run to a stranger's house and ask for help if feeling threatened at night.

The warnings are among seven "safety messages" available online in 13 languages.

A spokesman for Police Minister Bob Cameron said it was money well spent.

"We're proud Victoria has driven a national campaign to promote the safety of international students, because we know those students recognise Melbourne as a popular destination due to our city's liveability," he said.

But the minute-long cartoon, which features a character named George being stalked by a ninja and street punks while going home on public transport, was criticised after yesterday's launch in Melbourne.

Federation of Indian Students spokesman Gautam Gupta said he was dismayed.

"I think it's insulting. They are so much out of touch with reality. It just astonishes me," he said. "This is more of a public relations exercise than a safety exercise."

Mr Gupta said the video appeared to be aimed at children, not tertiary students.

"The character is good for my 15-month-old daughter, not a 25-year-old post-graduate international student," he said.

The Victoria Police initiative went national after interest from the international education community.

Insp Ian Geddes, one of the campaign's architects, defended the initiative.

"This was developed with the students," he said.

The information was valid for all Victorians, not just students. "It aims to reach a wide audience. I don't think it does portray Melbourne as a scary place," he said.

VECCI spokesman Chris James said the initiative addressed some key issues, but more work needed to be done.

"There is no substitute for proper policing, including adequate numbers of police and public transport security staff, adequate stop and search powers and proper sentencing of offenders," he said.