Mate,
speaking from personal experience...
1) you need a car, I remember at least three people who flew back to SYD/MEL/BNE and picked up their cars a few months later
2) MECIR and ATPLS are a must, ATPLs can be done in seven weeks at Nathan Higgins if you stay away from the grog... I did my ATPLs before I went on the job hunt - at the couse about 90% of the people had to give up their annual leave or quit a (good) job to do their ATPLs
AB