Used to need at least 1000 hours and some wet season experience back in the day.
That is true. Twenty years ago I waited until I ticked over 1000hours before daring to head to Darwin ( civilisation) and presenting myself for consideration. It worked though, I was out in a community with a 206 within about a month and on a Baron-58 a year later.
I would be looking for the least desirable place possible that has an air operation and camping out there for a couple of months. Not saying it’s right or easy, that’s just the way it was twenty years ago.