I never thought I'd see the day when QF laid off pilots. It was one of the few "safe" jobs in Australian aviation, alongside the RFDS.
Other operators went broke or retrenched people but a job with with Qantas or Ansett meant security and a pension at the end of it. It was something to aspire to while you were flogging around in a 20 year old piston twin for taxi driver money.
At least there's work available at the moment, but it will mean a move abroad.