I don't think the Night VFR rating (call it what you will) is as unique to Oz as you may think. Perhaps the Oz version is more upswept and restrictive than elsewhere.
Elsewhere you may just have needed the experience. In OZ we needed training, a test and Rating issued.
We also had a GA specific Instrument Ratings that had either 6 month or 12 month renewal requirements and airspace restrictions.
But holding either of these two Instruments ratings did not allow you to conduct NVFR operations unless you had more specific NVFR training.
If you wished to do NVFR Charter there was additional requirments.
The point of my posts is that it WAS weird.