captainsecure -
You can get an OK studio in Potts Point / Kings Cross / Surry Hills / Darlinghurst for $210-230 per week. But given the number of young single professionals that live in these areas they can be hard to come by. Many JQ FAs live in around Cronulla where you can get a a one bedroom unit for that much.
If you wanna go out West you could get a one bedroom for $180 ish but you would kiss goodbye a social life...
You can share in Surry Hills etc for $180 per week. Realistically I dunno how far out of the City you would need to go to get cheaper than that.
We don't really have a system where you can ask to work any more or less. We can work a max of two days off per month. It isn't wise to do this however as all it says to the Company is we are willing to have our days off from 10 a month to 9 next EBA. And we aren't, OK!?
You can nominate to get double time on Available Days (3-5 days per month) if you are happy for the hours not to count toward your block (140 max). It sounds like you would be happy to do that given you work such hours already! Our daily average hours is 6 hours 28 mins so Jetstar would be like a holiday four you, me thinks.
Hope it helps!