Start 2012 with the "Beginners' guide to puppetry", a quick list of references to articles that will help you on your journey in discovering the world of puppetry! From definitions to theory, you'll find it all here.

How to make puppet eyes

You can use a lot of different things to make eyes for a puppet. It really depends on the type of puppet you’re using, the materials, and of course, the character of the puppet. As mentioned in my post on the basics of puppet design, the eyes are the most important features of the puppet, as they convey the emotion and life of the character. This article includes a video tutorial for one method, a list of other suggestions, plus info about blinking eyes (aka ‘blinkers’).

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@Neil, I believe we've had a similar conversation before, late last year. (I've recently started migrating my FAQs to a new site, so you probably wouldn't have realised it was me). Unfortunately, I haven't moved the post on ventriloquist dummies yet, but you can still find it here:

http://www.puppetsinmelbourne.com.au/faq.php/2008/12/01/where-to-buy-ventriloquist-dummies-in-au

The best thing I can recommend is to purchase something from overseas, or to commission a local puppeteer. I know of no one who specifically makes and sells ventriloquist dummies in Australia. Alternatively, you may want to commission a muppet-type puppet which has moving eyes, etc. Jarrod Boutcher, a well-known muppet-type builder, is located in QLD.

Sorry I can't offer more info, but this is all I have found on vents in Oz.

... School of Puppetry on What is ventriloquism?