Being through the process myself ill note my experience.
1) You should not drive in Pattaya without IDP. They will fine you even if you have an aussie license.
2) You cannot get a thai license without an IDP.
3) I was on a 2 month tourist Visa and went via a Visa agent, paid 4500 baht for both car and motorbike license and only thing i presented was my IDP (International driving permit). I was picked up and went to the road office and showed my passport and IDP and made a booking. 2 weeks later i went back, went upstairs and the only test i did was a color test and brake test, but even if you got it wrong many times they will keep allowing you to test until you get it right. I did not have to show any address etc as the agent fixed all that up.