Relaaaaax Ruth! Don't sweat the bookwork - there might be a lot of it but it's not complex stuff. Yes you need it so learn it well, but the hard bit is pulling it all together and that's largely down to aptitude, not bookwork. Knowing the bookwork makes the simulator a lot easier, as the less you have to think about routine stuff the more time you have to think about solving problems.
Age does make a difference to you as an individual - at 33 you'll find it harder than you would have at 23, but the thing to remember is you're being measured against a standard. You at 33 may very well be better suited than the 23 year old sitting next to you.
As Shags says, keep on CASA's back.
Forget about the idea of a "diploma". That's just part of the accredited training organisation thing and is irrelevant to the reality of becoming a controller. You're attending lessons and simulator sessions Monday to Friday on a largely fixed schedule. Everyone progresses through the course at the same rate so the academy part of the course is the same for everyone. It also means there is limited scope to catch up.
The diploma isn't awarded until you gain a rating, hence the variability. Different sectors take varying amounts of time to gain a rating (some are more complex than others so varying training times are required) and your field training has to be fitted in with the training requirements of the group you're assigned to (simulator and training officer availability, other training commitments).
You will most definitely use what you learn in the academy out in the field. Exactly which aspects you use will depend on the group and sector(s) you're assigned to in the field (radar, procedural, DTI and various mixes). The academy provides you with a basic skill set that is built on in the field.
Last edited by le Pingouin; 6th Sep 2013 at 16:14.