Reply to QF22.
Mate, I know the Air-Force doesn't pay that well. It does, however, offer a huge range of allowances/benefits on top of an airman's normal salary. i.e. The Defence Credit Union offers full-time and part-time members of the Australian Defence Force low interest rates on Home Loans, lower than bank and other Home Loan lenders. Not to mention the amount of allowances you get when on operations and exercises.
Most of all though, i reckon i'll get job satisfaction and career progression in the Air-Force, aswell as the ability to work with people my own age, which is something that members of this forum say that QANTAS doesn't offer.