Slim Jim,
As stated there are probably two ways to end up in an airline, cadetship or working your way up through GA.
CADETSHIPS, the cadetships are in my opinion immoral, they are training you to do a job that they need you for yet they are making a profit out of your training.
OR
GA, don't expect any employer in GA to pay you the award, the vast majority don't. This was probably the traditional way into the airlines in the past. It will be extremely competitive on this route now as cadetships will provide one of the biggest employers in Australia their main source of pilots. If it works for this airline and it's a big if, expect all the other airlines in Australia to follow suit.
Don't expect ethics or morality to be part of your flying career, it's not just pprune that you can source your information from on this subject.
Get another useful qualification before you enter this industry.