Hey M8, I'm an Aussie too. I was actually born in Mount Isa, mining town... though I think I was the bully there, only to this one lil bitch, we were equally mean to each other, so it's fine . so I don't know your experiences at all. I only lived there till my little sister was born then we moved to Charters towers, a ghost town. Then we moved... Okay, I've moved around a lot!
And why don't you? Why not move closer to the coast where it's artsier? Or if you don't have the money, just go on work holidays. My friend attends an America summer camp every summer and is in the art program so he teaches art to kids. If you're an aboriginal? I don't know if you are, but it would probably even give you extra points and they love Aussies. He works for free but it pays for his flights over there they pay for his food accommodation, and even to rent a car and travel around a bit afterward.
Though sometimes you can't and I suppose that's why the internet is brilliant. Publishers rarely do anything for you, they don't even do the marketing for you now, they just strip you of your rights to it. They're totally dying. Now they only accept like 10 deals a year, and that's probably not going to no-name people's first books.
Why not self-publish your book? I've already self-published a book on Amazon, it's relatively easy to get your work out there. It's what I'm doing. I don't need anybody telling me no, I'm not asking for their permission. I'll probably be on the dole for a while when I get back to Aus (I'm currently in America), but I'll be doing what I love.