Its not just Australia either mate, if you want to be a pilot in Canada, then be prepared to do all manner of things before you even get the keys to a 206. Seen the show Ice Pilots? Those poor bastards have to go out and pre-warm aircraft in -40C. Id prefer sweating my box off in central australia and actually flying over that any day!
Its true, some of my best mates were first met during that 'first job'. Good times.....