Mickey,
Check out the Fragrant Harbour forums and in particular the wannabe section as there is lots of information on getting into Cathay. Generally what you find with most of the big carriers is that although they have a set minimum number of hours in reality you won't get a look in unless you far exceed those due to the strength of the other candidates putting their CV's forward.
The Dunnunda forums will give you insight into work in Oz and NZ and Terms and Endearment is good for getting a feel for what is going on in the market.
Unfortunately most of the info relating to jobs etc in these sub forums is half truths and rumours spouted from overhead conversations at a flying school. Unfortunately most wannabes appear poorly read in the vagaries of the industry to which they are trying to get a job resulting in much rubbish being spouted.