Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has forecast significant selection changes and a lot of hard work as he tries to pilot Australia back up the world rankings.
Schmidt passed his first major test by completing a 2-0 series win against Wales with a 36-28 win in Melbourne highlighted by a stunning Filipo Daugunu double.
Australia will now host Georgia in Sydney on Saturday before much sterner challenges await in the Rugby Championship.
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"I'll definitely say I'm relieved, but boy, we're going to have to be a lot better than that," Schmidt told Stan Sport after Wales slumped to their ninth straight loss.
"We made the most of a few chances, which is great. So there's some things that we can anchor onto, a few promising things and there's a few things that are a massive work on for us."
Top of that list will be maul defence after Wales captain Dewi Lake drove over too easily for two first-half tries.
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Asked what he was hoping to achieve in the next 12 months, Schmidt answered with "survival."
"We made five changes for this one, there could be a similar number of changes (against Georgia). It's just trying to get a balance between a bit of continuity and giving some opportunities."
Georgia will be no pushovers and upset Eddie Jones' Japan 25-23 in Sendai on Saturday.
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"We learned a fair bit about making sure that we stay really present in the game," Schmidt reflected on the Wales series.
"I think both weeks – 13-0 (lead in Sydney), 17-0 (lead in Melbourne) – and then it is frustrating when you give teams access back into the game. Tim (Horan) talked about Ireland with their retention – that they convert those opportunities and we've got to build enough confidence, enough accuracy in that area to be every bit as good as they are."
Winger Daugunu scored Australia's first try, a 100m special sparked by an Andrew Kellaway chip and chase and link with Fraser McReight in the seventh minute.
Halfback Jake Gordon pounced for the second in the 25th minute to help give the Wallabies an early 17-0 lead in pouring rain at AAMI Stadium.
But Wales hooker Lake scored two tries to pull Wales back to 23-14 at halftime.
Lake's second try came with Australia lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto sin-binned for 10 minutes for a high shot.
Wales closed to 23-21 when Liam Williams scored seven minutes into the second half – the first time the 91 Test veteran had notched a try against Australia.
Replacement prop Allan Alaalatoa then gave Australia a 28-21 lead with his first Test try in the 54th minute.
Daugunu's second try came when Williams batted a kick back into play and sent it instead into the path of the alert winger who streaked away. – with AP
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