You think Australia is bad for the self-improver? Try Europe, the JAA's are doing a marvellous job at destroying this route to an aviation career.
Unless you have access to a lot of money £s50K+ you don't stand much of a chance.
It could have been worse, if it wasn't for the UK CAA not putting their foot down, when the German's wanted all candidates for the JAA ATPL to have a university education.
Say what you like about authorities like the FAA, NZ CAA & CASA etc, etc. but they let various companies do their weeding out, not the state.