aussie training
yo gareth08,
take your time when making your decision as it is going to cost you a lot of money, flying is an expensive business.
use a search engine such as google and click on their Oz portal link at the bottom of the page so you get info about Oz only. Do searches for CASA, DIMIA, flying schools and tech courses and cheap flights!
CASA have said they intend to apply for JAA status which presumeably means they will have to conform to JAA rules if they want this. This is due around 2005 so my aussie mates keep telling me.(They also think it means they can come and work in Europe, not without EU passport mate!)
Currently CASA(aussie CAA) has quite a number of 'differences' to ICAO/JAA practices whether they will change I don't know, a quick sqizz on their website will tell you more. Their medicals, as you seem aware, allow cetain ailments that other ICAO states do not( colour blindness being one). This restricts you to flying domestically only ie within Australian airspace. You can also count microlight hours towards a CPL/ATPL and do self study for PPL/CPL/ATPL and take exams one at time for the ATPL with 7 exams as opposed to 14 JAA. CPL/PPL is one combined cyber exam done over the internet at an approved centre. No 10 day wait for results, instant! Amazing.
If you are under 30 you can get a working holiday visa which costs you £70 in the UK and gets you 12 months with working privileges. A holiday visa only gets you 3 months(sometimes 6) and they frown upon people studying and working on those visas. Just a word about the Aussie customs/immigration, they can be very tough and ask a lot of questions and search all of your stuff and if you are caught over staying your visa you will end up in Woomera with the asylum seekers and be deported in whatever you are wearing when you are caught. It happens.
You can get longer stay visas if you book your flying course through an accredited school or tech college ( like US now) this gives you part time working rights too and the possibility of permanent residency.
Just one final important consideration. The weather!
If you don't like it too hot or cold be prepared for a shock. Oz has a tremendous variety of climates. Tropical,temperate, arid and maritime. This is very important for where you do your flying as it can have an adverse effect on VFR flying(PPL/CPL). The thunderstorms are amazing and produce hail the size of golf balls.Dust storms and even snow in the ranges.
If you are serious about it then you will have the time of your life. Oz is different, laid back and very outdoor based. The vast majority are very very friendly( sometimes a bit scary if not used to it) and will cordially invite a stranger into their home or buy you a beer (schooner of New) just as a mate would.
Enjoy. save up loadsa money and don't spend too much time in the pub. put another shrimp on the barbie for me.
C ya
Troposurfer