Stratovolcanoes are more explosive due to their silica content. Some volcanoes are mountains but not all mountains are volcanoes. The Aussies will be treated to more volcanism, just don't hold your breath. Slower even than cricket. The volcanoes are a result of a diffuse hot spot.
Life returns quickly.
As soon as the material is cool enough the wind blows seeds on it and insects. Doesn't take much. All volcanoes become extinct because their magma supply gets cut off, usually due to a change in tectonic conditions or conditions in the mantle where the rocks are melting.