When you say you had a pretty good look at the market what do you mean?
There are plenty of fish in the sea, at least around here. All you have do is go to a meetup group or two to see that.
Did you ask companies to see their applicant lists and CVs or something?
Any of the meetups I've been to in Australia are mostly employed people(half only there to try and find other devs), recruiters and uni students or recent grads. Which meetups did you go to it would likely be worth adding them to my list for next time I'm in Melbourne.