bose, there certainly is a long-winded, relatively expensive and nauseously pointless process to validate your UK licence for flying in Oz, which is why when I was there for a short visit 18 months ago I didn't bother.
Instead, I pitched up at an aeros school at Bankstown and did some instruction with them. Simple and legal, with no ID cards or CASA paperwork in sight.
I'm pretty sure it's the same if you go for a trial lesson or similar.
The bush flying place that closed down was catering to PPLs who needed their existing licences validated etc, not students.
crazy6: go for it. It is bound to be useful to you - if for no other reason than there will be less hiatus in your training. I doubt there is any downside, and at least your view of what you can do when you have your PPL will have been expanded from early on.