Save some cash and make the pilgrimage north-west. Dealers choice how you get there - plenty of small airfields and operators either way you go. Unless you want to instruct or do useless skydiving flying don't waste your time in Victoria or up the East Coast. Maybe for your second job.
There are plenty of threads on this (because everyone has done it, or is about to) but I'll get you started because standby has me stuck at home.
Best bet is to arrive 'up north' in January. Any later might be too late. Find a town you like, settle in, find a job pulling beers, making lattes, stacking shelves, whatever. Drop by the operators from time to time to let them know you're still around.
Think Mt Isa, Tennant Creek, Katherine, Kakadu, Kununurra, Broome.