The Wallabies will head into a World Cup year on the back of their worst European tour in almost a decade after being overpowered by England in their season-ending Test at Twickenham.
And coach Michael Cheika insists Australia are not shying away from what needs to be addressed over the next ten months, including a lack of belief and the much-maligned scrum that was ruthlessly exposed on Saturday.
The Wallabies fell 26-17 in front of 82,031 fans on Saturday with the clear set-piece dominance of England - one of their World Cup group opponents - proving the difference in a match that finished two tries apiece.
Following defeats to France and Ireland, the Wallabies suffered three Test losses during a spring tour for the first time since 2005, rounding out a tumultuous year for Australian rugby.
Cheika, who took the job only three days before the tour following Ewen McKenzie's resignation, admitted his side still had to come to grips with a new playing style but was adamant progress was being made.
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"It's a pattern I've seen before with teams I've been involved with before when changing the shape of the team," said Cheika, who led the Waratahs to this year's Super Rugby title.
"The team probably just doesn't believe in itself enough.
"I definitely believe in the way it's headed.
"There's not going to be any panic at our end."
Australia will play only four Tests in the shortened Rugby Championship before the World Cup in September but the coach believes the Wallabies still have time to turn things around.
"We're going to have to," Cheika said.
"I think we've improved a lot of areas on this tour around the way we've played the game and the physical nature of the game.
"But we're also not naive of the things that we need to improve and we're going to take the steps to improve."
Much of the pre-match focus had centred on a possible set-piece mismatch and it so it proved on Saturday, with England's scrum and maul a regular source of points and penalties.
England No.8 Ben Morgan scored tries in either half, with both coming on the back of attacking scrums with the home side's backs capitalising on their forwards' dominance with a smart kicking game.
A frustrated Cheika said Australia would have to change its scrum tactics to get in line with what he claimed were dubious ones from England.
"We need to change some things. Perhaps a bit more wheeling or something because that seems to be accepted," Cheika said.
"Perhaps we are just a little bit too honest maybe in the scrum.
"There are some personnel (changes) we are going to look at as well. The lads are well aware of that."
The Wallabies trailed 13-3 at halftime but hit back through a Bernard Foley try just after the break, though the playmaker was substituted for Quade Cooper immediately after converting it.
Huge lock Will Skelton also crossed the line in the second half, just moments after he came off the bench, but Australia were again let down by silly mistakes and a lack of execution.
Preferencing running rugby over kicking, they looked superb in open play at times with strong contributions from centre Matt Toomua and Israel Folau, who had a strong game apart from a mistake that led to Morgan's first try.
Backs Cooper, Nic White and Kurtley Beale tried to add some late spark off the bench but Australia's decision-making in attack let them down.
Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper admitted it was a frustrating end to the tour following three-point defeats to Ireland and France.
"It sucks. To have the feeling, knowing we go close, is really disappointing," Hooper said.
The Wallabies will return home on Sunday, with Waratahs coach Cheika planning to maintain close contact with his players during the Super Rugby season to maintain momentum.
