not myself, haven't had 'time' as such plans were shelved 'until further notice' due to living, saving and studying in the UK. Lots of my own research of immigration system etc. Had everything sorted, only some experience in catering was required to sort the application. Then I was inspired by ex-flatmate and decided to pursue aviation career.
I started some rotary training in the US (almost finished PPL(H) ). Rest had to be shelved. Going to do FW soon, when time allows. I'm about to start aircraft maintenance degree in the UK - Sept 2009 unless I defer entry, but since my funding got screwed, GBP savings keep losing its value, etc, I won't be able to do my CPL (A) and JAA papers ensuing, within a year anymore.. Unfinished degree, catering qualifications. Not much as proper career backup should things go wrong even more with my life. And I want to stay in aviation, hence airmech study. At least occasional gliding for fun..
If you search here, you'd find plenty threads about flying in the outback.
check the one 'okavango' started, I left few ideas there. He's done some bush flying in OZ on WHV. Few other contacts there. Plus plenty stuff on D&G subforum.
ME? No personal experience, I'm just working on flight training etc. Things don't tend to work out for me these days/months/years. But..
I see your location as Belfast. That's my location for now as well.
So, if you have been here for some time(Irish national is automatically 'settled' in the UK so 5yrs would do) or born in NI - just stop by in IPS in Hight St across the Post Office, you should be able to claim UK passport. Then, if you worked at least 3 months in total in 'agriculture' related job - picking, farm hand, etc and you can prove it with some references and payslips etc, you can get second 1yr WHV for OZ (Didn't know about it? Changes implemented last few years, guess to attract more Brits to fruit/veg picking as the original idea of WHV and not mostly hospitality gigs)
At the moment, as you said you'd like to do some flight training there and you should be able to get residence visa application sorted, WHV isn't that needed if you were eligible for another one.
The thing with lodging application onshore still applies, so WHV or student visa and submitting application onshore would definitely speed things up. If no f
ups in paperwork, you should have residence before you finish your training.
Also, you could play long-term student card until all sorted. I just find it waste of money, paying some college cert or diploma as int'l student just to be legal in OZ - and work PT alongside..
For the temporary work visa (besides WHV) you'd have to find employer beforehand and they'd have to prove the need, lots of paperwork yada yada. Although they recently started that foreign graduate work visa for few select Unis and OZ degree 'work experience' visa, it's more likely you'd sort residence visa/permit. Then you're not tied to lots of paperwork.
If you want, you can use MARA registered migration agent for the paperwork, but I find it bit of a luxury with their fees to check your application and spoonfeed you what to attach for the application.
Personally, if you want to settle in OZ, I don't see a reason for getting JAA papers. Being able to sponsor student visa in OZ isn't the same as in the US. All they have to do is have some vocational frame stages for their studies. Cert in Aviation II, III, IV, etc. Their websites would state that they are CRICOS registered so that they could organise visa paperwork for students.
I don't know FW schools in OZ. Haven't researched myself, only few rotary.
I'd love to go to Tocumwal(l) and do some huge gliding XC flight. Oh.
NZ immigration system's easier, more flexible and less discriminatory compared to OZ. But since it was abused as gateway/backdoor to OZ, they stopped NZ residents from rights to live/work in OZ. You could do so as NZ citizen, but that's 5 years of full residence, not even work permit time anymore from 2005 or 2006. As OZ resident, you could go and work in NZ without hassle and further paperwork, just like a citizen..
I'd rather be a man of action, moving around the world for flight training, etc, but well, one has to be responsible, pedantic perfectionist nerd, to achieve my ambitious demanding long-term plans that are being messed up by external factors.