Struggling with job hunting in Brisbane

Looking for some Brisbane job search advice.

I’ve been trying to transition out of retail management since late last year while still working full-time. I’m currently in a management role earning low $90k’s and I’m looking for a Monday-Friday role with a better work-life balance, ideally on similar pay.

I finished high school with an ATAR but don’t have any tertiary qualifications. Most of my experience has been gained through progressing into leadership positions and building transferable skills on the job. I have around 5 years of management experience across retail operations, team leadership, compliance, customer service and business support functions.

I’ve been applying for a mix of Queensland Government AO3/AO4 roles and corporate positions such as Business Support, Office Manager, Return to Work Coordinator and Business Development roles. I have two tailored resumes (government and corporate) and use AI to help draft cover letters because finding the time outside of work is difficult.
I’ve had a couple of interviews and phone screens but haven’t had much success overall. Government applications seem to disappear into a black hole, recruiters rarely respond, and even when I follow up I often hear nothing back. The only useful feedback I’ve received so far was that I had the skills for a role but lacked direct industry experience.

A recruiter recently told me I was competitive for AO3/AO4 government positions based on my transferable skills, but I’m struggling to get interviews. I’ve reached out to multiple recruiters and recruitment agencies with little success.
I’m open to permanent or temporary roles if it helps get my foot in the door. My biggest concern is taking a large pay cut or having to start completely from scratch after spending years working my way into management. I’ve also had some negative experiences with promotions in retail, so the idea of starting right at the bottom again is difficult.

For those who have successfully moved from retail management into government or corporate roles:

What worked for you?

Am I aiming at the right level?

How important are tertiary qualifications for AO3/AO4 or corporate support roles?

How can I get recruiters to respond?

Is there anything obvious I might be doing wrong?

I feel like I have strong transferable skills, but getting someone to give me a chance seems to be the hardest part.

Any advice would be appreciated. I’m getting desperate.