Spotty
Mate, you would probably have been treated right at the big 4 in Cairns, and the Victorian operator up there as well.
As I have posted before, Cairns is NOT where you start, it's where you cap off your GA Career before going to the big fella's.
You need to go North west or North, Kunnunurra, Wyndham, Broome, Darwin, Arnhemland, Qld Northwest and Gulf, build your hours to get to work for the big 4 in the Torres Straits ( The Cairns Big 4).
The Straits will give you some of the best flying you can get in Oz, and Cairns, without any doubt what so ever will be the best possible place in Australia to live and work in GA.
Great flying, Great companies,
( yes, they all pay the award or above)
and Cairns not only has Macka 's, KFC and Pizza Hut, but Myer and everything else the big cities have, and for the southerners, cheap Qantas or Virgin fares home coz its a tourist destination.
However, as the nice man probably told you, you need 2,000hrs total and 500 / 750 multi to be considered for a start in Cairns, your last GA job and your best.
Dont give up, go fly the Bungles, or Numbulwar, or Elcho Island, or for Kakadu Bob, get your hours, then make a serious try for Cairns when you meet the minimums.
And tell the school that sold you the dream how it really works, NO Multi anywhere till you have 1,000 hrs, and no Cairns till you have 2,000 hrs and 500 multi, because they dont tell you that, they just want to clean out your bank account and B/S you about your prospects.
It's a tough game, but it's worth it if you get lucky, make the effort, be professional and put up with some poverty , tough times and great times.
Just Don't give up.
Visualise the dream and make it happen.
Keep smiling, keep trying and good luck, you'll get there !