Killapax
I disagree with you....even though they may be paying 'peanuts', it is still experience !! And judging from the amount of other airlines' flight attendants QF hired last time around....I believe that if anyone wants to fly for QF or another larger airline, any flying expereince would be a good start. Also, flying regional - you would make similar money, but Virgin/ Impulse give you jet/ domestic experience. It's also a good way to find out whether or not you like being a f/a....if you like flying for these carriers, you'll love it flying for a larger airline.
Yes, QF is curently hiring casuals, so is Ansett....but both airlines have a limit to the amount of casuals they can have (or a minimum amount of full timers they must have)...so they will both have to eventually hire permanent staff again.
No casual employees, in any department of the airlines, get staff travel !! But they do get an awful lot of money to compensate the fact (they are on a much higher pay rate than permanents to make up for lack of staff travel/ leave entitlements).