A couple of points regarding the audio recording:
1. Communication is key: The student pilot luckily spoke and understood English natively which is not always the case with student pilots who start their flight training in Australia. He also had some prior knowledge of flying and associated lingo, and he could orientate himself around Jandakot*, all of which helped him understand the controller. By his own account, he tuned in TWR frequency by himself. I surmise that the clear communication was a calming factor to both himself and the controller.
2. It's surprising to hear all these other calls while an emergency is unfolding.
* Just imagine the same situation at Moorabbin:
TWR: Can you see GMH on your right side?
Student: !!?