Auto Find/Change

[Graeme]

Hi All. I am very new to word, and I am hoping that it may be able to
peform an automatic find/change for many choices.
I know I can go in and peform each find/change one at a time, but is
there a way that I can set up and 'run' a find/change that will find
and then change as many words, phrases or text situations as I want?

ie. I want to abbreviate to save space in a business directory, so I
locate and change all the suburb, towns or locations to the
abbreviation of that place name.
Currently, I have to do this one at a time, find then change, then
find/change etc. etc. (very tiresome).
Is there a way to save all place names and peform a multi find/change
for all place names that appear?

I am not typing this text in, I am being supplied all of the text,
hence from what I gather, auto correct won't help me... (I think)

Like I said, I am very very new to word so please hold my hand gently
with your answers.

Thanks in advance.
Graeme.