Didn't fly mail on my first job in Oz (Kimberley region, WA). I flew freight, govt pax, scenic pax, you name it. My 3rd job involved freigt/mail/pax in outback Queensland.
Remember, the term fATPL is a marketing short hand way of saying CPL/IR with ATPL theory subjects completed.
Gaining employment as a pilot in Australia isn't as easy as just lobbing in there and expecting to start work the next day. You need to be able to work in Australia for starters, convert your JAA CPL over to an Australian one (not that tricky thank goodness) and then join the hundreds of hopefuls out in the bush waiting their turn to start.
The competition is very very tough. However, the bush flying I did was a tonne of fun and very glad I did it.
