In Victoria, we have VicRoads, which is our equivalent of your RTA. You only need an inspection (and therefore RWC) during first registration in our state, transfer of ownership, or to clear a major defect / notice of unroadworthy.
SAU Vic hold monthly meets open to members and non-members. We have member only events too. People on the forums do organise their own events too, though not so much during the colder months.
Police attention is random and depends largely upon where you live or travel through. Don't let someone tell you that if you drive sensibly, in a car that doesn't draw attention, then you will be cop free...because they are likely inexperienced and/or lucky. It is true that doing these two things will improve your chances of being left alone, but we are the defect state for a reason. People do get hassled in standard imports and defected/fined for something arbitrary; people also get ignored in loud shitboxes with chrome bits hanging off. It's luck of the draw sometimes, and the area / the kind of cop you come across both have a lot to do with it. If you're driving an import here, do so with the expectancy to have a run in at some point and you will have no nasty surprises