Thanks rmm!
I went to the group assessment/info session last week and it was all very optimistic (as it would be, of course), promised that yes there would definitely be jobs at the end of the apprenticeship, lots of opportunity for career progression, etc etc. And I have dug out a copy of the '05-'08 CA so I finally have some pay and conditions info to go on. Good adult apprentice wages, but from there on it's all a bit ordinary, especially for shift work. Not the quite the stuff to support a family and pay a mortgage in Australia's least liveable city. And from the info in that thread you posted is still correct, that there is no GA component anymore, big planes only, then that is a serious dent in my plan to move back to the sticks.
Ho hum, back to the drawing board :(