Hi Liam let me be the first to WELCOME you to IAP from over the ditch!! I am from New Jersey hiding out in New Zealand...LOL I am the resident polymer clay artist.. You are going to love it here!!
Below are links to two threads/articles that have lots of information on pen turning. The first one is a very basic overview of the many aspects of getting into turning pens. http://www.penturners.org/forum/showthread.php?t=42446
Welcome Liam, Stick around and you'll be bewildered from USA all the way to down under and anywhere in beetween. I am hoping to see some very wild and crocky pens form you in Aussie. I hear they reaaly have some wild woods down ther that we can't find her in our neck of the woods.