I have found the Ansett training on the Airbus was relatively exceptional.
It wasn't of an astronaut standard, it was highly efficient and practical, as were domestic jet operations of the time prior to QF International coming onto the scene as well as with the advent of more rigid airspace procedures.
Flying the Airbus conventionally ( we'd joke 727 like ) and building up toward the full armor of automatic systems was a superb counter to mode confusion and general handling was well above what I have seen since. Snippets suggest Airbus has started to look toward a style of training similar which AN stumbled upon accidentally as the technology was a mystery 20 years ago.
There are good and bad trainers that have evolved out of the AN system just like anywhere else. There are two sides to every story and having seen the low cost Aussie product abroad it can be embarrassing.