Being more specific, talk to Gerrard Lapin at the LVAC (that's latrobe valley by the way). He's got both the decathlon and the C180. Good instructor, good bloke, and at LTV you can really cram in the circuits.
Though I did mine in the decathlon it was 'strongly' recommended (and I did) do some time in the 180 also - basically the decathlon's too easy, you should at least appreciate the difference.
I'd also suggest that route is a good way of managing the cost - get the fundamentals in the decathlon, then upgrade. The 180 is not a cheap beast to fly..