ugly. Incorrect and I know that from experience.
I was also the same age in '89 and applied the following year and managed to pick up a slot for a '91 start. The deal for the first year ('90 start date) was a $10K 'bond' that was non refundable but no expense beyond that. QF paid the lot. I think the idea of the 10 grand was that the trainee also had something invested in the program and just didn't bludge and wash out.
For those of us who started in '91, it had risen to $15K. For the courses that started about '97ish, the cadets paid the entire cost of the course (about $100K
). My parents put $10K towards it and I cashed in my annual leave from my old job for the other $5K. I paid them back the $10K after the training finished- with interest.