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Australian resume format

An Australian resume generally runs two to four pages (two at most for internships and graduate programs), reverse-chronological, with your work rights near the top and referees at the end. Leave out your photo, date of birth and tax file number. Government jobs often add a written pitch or selection criteria.

Build my resumeCheck my ATS scoreUpdated 4 October 2026

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Australian resume format at a glance

Length
Generally two to four pages; internships and graduate programs two at most (UQ Employability).
Work rights
"Australian citizen", "Permanent resident" or your visa and its expiry date, near your contact details.
Referees
Two or three, usually listed at the end with name, title, organisation, phone and email (with their permission).
Leave out
Photo, age or date of birth, marital status, health status, religion, and your tax file number.
Spelling
Australian English: organise, colour, programme.
Government jobs
Read the job pack: it may ask for a pitch or selection criteria responses as well.
Where to look
Seek, Indeed, LinkedIn, APSJobs and Workforce Australia.

Resume sample for Australia

A made-up person, in the layout described on this page. Build yours with any CVEmber template and download it as a PDF.

Australian resume example (registered nurse)

Sophie Tran

Registered Nurse · Emergency

Parramatta NSW · 04xx xxx xxx · sophie.tran@example.com

Australian citizen · AHPRA registered (NMW000xxxxxxx) · Current NSW Working with Children Check

Career summary

  • Emergency registered nurse with 5 years in a level 6 ED, triage-trained, and clinical facilitator for graduate nurses.

Experience

  • Registered Nurse, Emergency Department, Westmead Community Hospital · 2021–present
  • • Triage nurse for 30 to 40 presentations per shift; mentor to 12 graduate nurses.
  • • Led a sepsis-pathway audit that lifted antibiotic-in-60-minutes compliance from 71% to 88%.

Education

  • Bachelor of Nursing, Western Sydney University · 2020

Referees

  • Jane Doyle, Nurse Unit Manager, Emergency · 02 xxxx xxxx · jane.doyle@example.com
  • Mark Wilson, Clinical Nurse Educator · 02 xxxx xxxx · mark.wilson@example.com

Referees

UQ Employability notes that Australian employers prefer to contact referees by phone, and may email if they can't reach them. For each referee give name, current title, organisation, phone and email; you can add the relationship in italics (“previous supervisor for 6 months”). Pick people who know your work, ask their permission, and tell them which jobs you've applied for. If you'd rather protect their details, write “referees available upon request”. UQ suggests character references only if you have little work history.

Government jobs (APS and state)

Read the job pack first. It may ask for a short pitch or responses to selection criteria; write them with examples in the STAR format (situation, task, action, result).

On a visa?

State the visa and any work limits clearly (“Temporary Graduate visa (485), full work rights to Jun 2028”). The ATO notes that foreign residents need permission from the Department of Home Affairs before they start work. Home Affairs' VEVO system shows your visa's work entitlements and conditions, and lets you email those details to an employer, so have it ready when a recruiter asks.

Your tax file number comes later

The ATO says to give your TFN to your employer after you begin work, and not on job applications. When you start, the employer asks for a TFN declaration; you have 28 days to complete it, or tax is taken at the highest rate. Keep the number off your resume and out of emails.

Layout UQ recommends

Font size 11 or 12 in a clear font such as Calibri, Arial or Cambria; reverse-chronological lists; plain bullet points; no tables, including invisible ones, because some software can't read them; dates on the right; and a footer with your name and page number. Include casual and volunteer work as well as professional roles.

Section by section

  1. Contact and work rights: name, mobile (04xx), email, suburb and state, citizenship or visa.
  2. Career summary: three or four lines with your strongest results.
  3. Key skills: six to ten, matching the job ad.
  4. Experience: employer, title, dates, responsibilities and achievements.
  5. Education and licences: degrees, TAFE qualifications, registrations (AHPRA), checks (Working with Children, police check) where the job needs them.
  6. Referees.

Common mistakes in Australia

  • A photo, date of birth or tax file number.
  • A one-page resume that leaves out achievements you could show in the usual two to four pages.
  • Not stating work rights when on a visa.
  • Referees who haven't been told they may be called.

When you resign

The Australian resignation letter covers notice under your award, final pay and leave.

Sources

Checked on 4 October 2026. Employers and portals change what they ask for, so always follow the job advert first.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

How long should an Australian resume be?

UQ Employability says professional resumes are generally two to four pages, and many employers prefer two at most for internships and graduate programs.

Do I list referees on my resume in Australia?

You can list two or three, with name, title, organisation, phone and email and their permission, or write "referees available upon request".

Should I include a photo?

No. UQ's resume guide lists your photo among the things to leave out.

Should I mention my visa?

Yes. Give your work rights near your contact details: citizen, permanent resident, or the visa and its expiry.

What are selection criteria?

Written responses a job pack may ask for, showing with examples how you meet each requirement. Answer every one the pack lists.

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