My advise to you is to do a Bach of Aviation degree somewhere. There are about 17 Uni's that do it in Aus. All are different - some specialise in management, some in science etc. This will give you ATPL subjects as well as a Degree if things go pear shaped (e.g. if you lost an eye). Also you will be able to compete with all the other tertiary educated pilots out there.
Someone mentioned roller coaster and they're right. Aviation is cyclic with the economy and rate of success corelates with when you were born. For example, if you had all the qual's and hours in, say, 1992 you would be stuffed because we were in the middle of the recesion we had to have. Now in 2001 we are in another trough. However, my flying school buddies say that next years intake will be very small due to the Ansett collapse (school leavers choosing another career) which is good for you because in 2-3 years when you have your qual's, the economy will be up again and you will have less competition. Good Luck!
