Hey QLD pilot type, 20 years ago I was in your position. I drove 22 hrs nw, pitched a tent, got a job as a shelf stacker working nights in the first few days, went to the airport most days and washed a plane. Two weeks latter was doing enough casual flying to toss the woolies job. Havn't had a propper job since. And that was in the wash up of Paul Ketting's economic hic up "we had to have" and the pilots dispute. Stay safe, have fun, don't rush to heavy jets as flying lighties is more interesting and enjoyable. At the time I couldn't afford an instructors rating, so it wasn't an option.