I just looked back at my scanned application form there is a section with Countries and Australia is on that list. But I filled it all out with information I had and sent it in with supporting letter and received the book.
Maybe it was a christmas present.
I wish you all the best of lucky getting a seamans book but from what I read on the AMSA web site the Aussie one is just a log of trips no good for what you ned it to work in Middle East and such.
Greg