All good advice so far. Regardless of everything else, if you decide to press on with making a flying career, then IMHO your priority is to obtain an instrument rating. Sooner or later when learning to fly you will probably inadvertently enter cloud while trying to remain visual. History indicates that could be fatal. Same if night flying on a moonless dark night without proper instrument flying training from a competent instructor who has a current instrument rating.
Many instructors do not have instrument ratings but are still allowed to teach simulated instrument flying for PPL and CPL students. The blind leading the blind but perfectly legal.
An instrument rating is included in the RAAF 220 hour Pilot Course, so that must tell you something. Instrument flying is taught soon after first solo in the RAAF. That also tells you something about priority.
With very good simulators (FTD's) in most flying schools, the number of hours needed in the real aircraft for an instrument flying course has been reduced greatly from former years. To be a competent all-weather pilot (and not just a sunny day pilot), you will need to have a current instrument rating. After all, isn't that what you are aiming to be one day?
