It's easy to look at the guaranteed hours per month and then multiply it by first year wages . In reality that's not how it works. We get paid more than that because we usually fly more.
Irrespective of if the pay is on par with Australia or not, I can tell you conclusively that FO first year pay is more than enough to survive.
It's also a great way to jump the ladder. Single engine time in aus to a jet in the USA and upgrading not long after .