Well there is even more stuff likely around since when you left, I don't know exactly when you left. But there is a new mid-patch coming out next week to delivery a bunch of new stuff and the next major patch is coming next month 2.3. You can read all of the details over here http://thefinalfantasy.net/forums/fi...v-summary.html.

But here is a short run down on everything I can think about.

Housing is in, but it is very expensive and only Free Companies right now, but Private Rooms in Free Company housing in coming in 2.3 and Personal Housing will be coming after that, best guess right now 2.4, which will hit in Sept/Oct time frame.
The Vanity system is in now, so you can look however you want and still wear that gear you need for your level.
Depending on the patches make you go, there have been 2 brand new dungeons and 4 Hard Mode versions of old dungeons, with another new dungeon and 2 more Hard Modes coming next month, and the Hard Modes are actually different and not increased stats of the same thing you ran at lower levels. So they are actually fun to run.
Crystal Tower is in and more Crystal Tower content is coming next month with even more classic FFIII bosses.
Second Binding Coil of Bahamut is out, the First Binding Coil is now unlocked on the weekly lockout, just like Crystal Tower. So you gear up and play as much as you want.
Leviathan was added and Ramuh is coming next month, so more primal fights.
There is a Gilgamesh fight that is awesome.
Daily Beast Quests give you plenty of money and things to do on the side.
Even more main story.
New Dagger and Gun based jobs are coming soon, announcements likely to be at E3.
A new playable race is incoming and teased in the 2.2 storyline.
And the amount of end game content to do now will leave you busy for months likely.
It's even easier now to level up with dungeons being on par with FATEs.

I don't know how bad the ping will be for you in Australia using the server we are on. They divided up all the servers into regions. If you want you can make a character on both and see how the ping and latency is to decide. I only offer Ultros because nearly everyone on TFF plays on Ultros, so if you want to play with people on here that you know that's the only place to go.