Hi BP,
Technically its 12 months from the date of interview. This tends to be a little flexible to the date of your sim.
However, the last time I was swimming we were extended to the date of our sims, then a further 6 months then we sank.
Total time in hold pool then was about 20 months.
According to the recruitment team during the Q&A, it will be 12 months from date of interview again (possibly extending to sim). However, this time they are trying to tie the recruitment and course planning together with greater precision.
Reading between the lines that means "hold pool" should equal "course planned in at some point in the next 12 - 18 months notice period dependant" on this round of selection.
However, nothing is certain.....