Fred4000 - The advice for you from here in NZ is simple, if you're not happy with what you are about to commit to then stay at home.
You quote that graduate jobs both in the private and public sector award higher salaries, well yes there is no dispute that this can be the case. However, to put this in perspective for you, there are many people out here that gave up employment (private/public/graduate etc.) that was already paying substantially more than the initial remuneration we will receive. Evidently, we are NOT in it for the money - if you are then stay at home.
If you think that Thomas Cook, easyjet, any other airline, or CTC, is going to 'shaft' you, then stay at home - remember you can’t be 100% sure which airline you're going to be with until 6 months after you start flying the line and you have a contract of employment in hand.
Aviation is a fickle business - you can’t please everyone all of the time. Believe nothing of what you hear and half of what you read.