What day did you pay for your photo license card at the RMS?
This is technically the day your PPL starts - you can submit your PTA form 6 months after this date. I wouldn't submit it on that exact date. Do a week later.
However, before you can submit your PTA you need to complete a minimum of 3 practice competition shoots and fill out the form 'COMPLETION CERTIFICATE PISTOL FIREARMS SAFETY TRAINING (PPL) COURSE' - which needs to be filled out by a club official.
Here is a link to the form:
http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/__data/ass ... r_2016.pdf Some clubs may require more than 3 practice shoots, for example my club requires 6 but you obviously just fill out 3 on the form.
Send this above form in say 5 months into you PPL. That gives the FAR time to process it and when you submit your PTA everything is in order.
This is the process in NSW. If you ask your club officials which really is the best avenue for any information - they should tell you the same thing.
The real time it takes from getting your PPL to purchasing your first firearms is between 7 - 8 months.