I'm also currently investigating the various pistol clubs in Brisbane, I live 15 mins from Belmont so I am focusing mainly on the clubs located in that area. I'm also unsure on what discipline(s) I want to focus on. There is a few I am interested in, and I know the types of pistols I would like to eventually purchase so that narrows it down somewhat, but I would like to be able to try a bunch of different ones during my probationary period, both the standard target oriented and precision stuff, as well as some of the more dynamic styles like IPSC & service. I would definitely choose a 9mm autoloader as my first pistol, which would enable me to shoot a bunch of different disciplines, and down the line would like to get a .45 which I believe is only used in Metallic Silhouette.
Rc42 your posts were very informative about SSAA and what the various processes and steps are for progressing as a member in that club, I also shoot at the rifle section as SSAA occasionally so I have a reasonable idea of what the atmosphere and attitudes around the club are.
I have recently gone on a tour of the City of Brisbane Pistol Club, and spent a while chatting to the people who run it, and asking questions about the various aspects I wanted to know about the club and how it's run. I'm unsure on whether this would be the correct club for me as the club was focused almost entirely on IPSC and offered very little else. Now I am interested in IPSC myself, but I'm also interested in various other disciplines so perhaps one of the other clubs will be better suited to me.
Metropolitan Pistol club seems to be the other major pistol club in the area, and going off the various information I was able to gleam from their website and social media seems like it might be a good fit for me. I haven't contacted them yet but will be shortly, but I would be very interested in hearing from any members who shoot at that club and what their impressions of it are. Some of the key areas that sound promising to me are the large amount of disciplines they seem to cater for (based purely on their website), also the fact that they allow rifles up to .223 caliber as well as pistol caliber carbines to be used on some of the ranges means I could get some extra use out of their facilities.
I think I would prefer to join one of the clubs rather than going the shooters union route, I just want to make sure I choose the right one first up