Australian Resume Format 2026: The Complete Guide
Everything you need to write a resume that meets Australian employer expectations, passes SEEK and LinkedIn ATS screening, and follows the referee-page convention that most international applicants miss.
What do Australian employers call it: CV or resume?
In Australia, "CV" and "resume" are used interchangeably. This is different from the strict US/UK split where a CV is a multi-page academic document. When an Australian job ad says "submit your CV," it means the same two-to-three page resume that every other applicant submits.
This distinction matters because Indian professionals often default to one of two incorrect extremes: submitting a one-page US-style resume (too short) or a lengthy academic CV (too detailed for most private-sector roles). The Australian standard sits between these: a professional document of two to three pages that covers your work history in detail, includes a personal statement, and ends with a named referee page.
The format is reverse-chronological for work experience, with your most recent role first. Each position should include the company name, your job title, the city and state (e.g., Sydney NSW, Melbourne VIC), dates of employment in Month Year format, and three to five bullet points describing accomplishments with quantified results wherever possible.
Contact details should include your full name, Australian phone number (or +61 prefix if calling from overseas), professional email, LinkedIn URL, and optionally your suburb and state. A full street address is not required. If you are applying from outside Australia, mention your visa status or eligibility to work in Australia clearly in your personal statement.
The referee page: Australia's most distinctive resume convention
Australian resumes end with a dedicated referee page listing two to three professional referees by name, title, company, phone, and email. "References available on request" is considered evasive and outdated. Referees may be contacted before a formal job offer is made, so notify them before you apply.
Key fact for international applicants
In the US and Canada, it is standard to omit referees from your resume entirely. In Australia, omitting the referee page is a red flag. Hiring managers view it as either evasive or unfamiliar with local norms. Always include a named referee page. It is not optional.
A standard Australian referee page includes two to three contacts: typically your direct manager from your most recent role, a senior colleague or project sponsor, and optionally a client or cross-functional lead. For each referee, list their full name, current job title, company name, direct phone number, and professional email address. Use a simple heading: "Referees" or "Professional References."
Australian employers frequently contact referees by phone before making an offer, and sometimes before inviting you to a final-round interview. This is a materially different norm from India, where reference checks typically happen only after an offer is accepted. You should contact each referee before you submit your application, brief them on the role you are applying for, and confirm they are willing to speak positively on your behalf.
If you are a recent migrant with no Australian referees yet, use international referees initially while building local professional relationships. Acknowledge this in your cover letter if necessary. A credible international manager at a well-known company is far better than leaving the page blank or writing "available on request."
How long should an Australian resume be?
Two to three pages is the Australian standard for mid-career professionals. Early-career candidates aim for one to two pages. No photo, no age, no marital status, no religion. A4 paper size is preferred for Australian-based applications.
Unlike the US one-page norm, Australian employers expect and are comfortable reading a two-to-three page resume from a mid-career candidate. The additional page is typically used for a more detailed work history, a skills section, and the referee page. The extra length reflects more detail per role rather than a longer career span.
Australian resumes follow the same anti-discrimination conventions as US and Canadian resumes. Do not include a photo, date of birth, age, marital status, religion, or national origin. The Australian Human Rights Commission and state equal opportunity laws apply to all employers. Including personal details that reveal any of these attributes is both unnecessary and potentially disadvantageous.
A4 paper size (210mm x 297mm) is the standard for Australian applications, though most digital applications are submitted as PDFs and the physical paper size is rarely relevant. If you are applying to an Australian employer while currently based in India, A4 is the right choice. Australian Letter size does not exist. The US Letter format (8.5 x 11 inches) is acceptable for digital PDFs but A4 is preferred.
What sections must an Australian resume include?
Contact information, personal statement, work experience, education, skills, and referees are essential. A personal statement at the top is expected, and slightly more personality-forward than the terse US-style summary.
Personal Statement
3-5 sentences at the top. State your years of experience, key strengths, and what you bring to the role. Australian employers expect a slightly warmer, more direct tone than a US-style objective.
Contact Information
Full name, suburb and state, Australian phone number, professional email, LinkedIn URL. No street address required. State your right to work in Australia if relevant.
Work Experience
Reverse-chronological order. Company, job title, city and state, dates (Month Year), and 3-5 bullet points per role with quantified achievements.
Education
Degree, institution, and graduation year. For Indian degrees, add the equivalent Australian level if known (e.g., "B.Tech = Australian Bachelor's degree"). Skills assessment equivalency if completed.
Skills
Technical skills, tools, programming languages, certifications. List skills relevant to the specific role. Avoid generic entries like "Microsoft Word" unless required.
Referees
2-3 professional referees with name, title, company, phone, and email. This is mandatory in Australia. Never write "available on request."
How is an Australian resume different from an Indian resume?
The most significant differences are the referee page (mandatory in Australia, absent in India), resume length (2-3 pages vs 1-2 pages), and what personal details to include. Many Indian resume conventions that are standard at home are red flags in Australia.
Indian resume conventions differ from Australian norms in several important ways. The table below covers the key differences so you can adjust your document before applying to Australian employers.
| Feature | Australia | India |
|---|---|---|
| Resume length | 2-3 pages standard; 1-2 for early career | 2-3 pages common; often shorter for junior roles |
| Photo | Never included (discrimination risk) | Commonly included (Indian job portals often show it) |
| Date of birth | Never included | Often listed under personal details |
| Marital status | Never included | Frequently listed under personal details |
| Religion / caste | Never included (illegal to request in Australia) | Sometimes included; caste rarely but does appear |
| Referee page | Mandatory: 2-3 named referees with full contact details | "References available on request" or absent entirely |
| Personal statement | Expected: 3-5 sentences, personality-forward tone | Objective statement common; often formulaic |
| Hobbies / interests | Optional; rarely included in professional roles | Frequently included under personal details |
| Salary expectations | Not on resume; addressed in cover letter or interview | Sometimes listed as "Current CTC / Expected CTC" |
| Job portals used | SEEK (dominant), LinkedIn Australia, Indeed AU | Naukri, LinkedIn India, Shine, Monster India |
Mistakes Indian applicants make on Australian resumes
The most common errors come from applying Indian resume conventions to an Australian context. Each of these signals unfamiliarity with the local market and can cost you an interview.
Common mistakes to avoid:
- Writing "References available on request" instead of listing actual referees
- Including a passport-size photo in the header
- Listing date of birth, marital status, or religion under personal details
- Including current and expected CTC or salary details on the resume
- Omitting the personal statement at the top (Australian employers expect it)
- Submitting a one-page US-style resume (too thin for Australian standards)
What to do instead:
- Name 2-3 referees with full contact details on a dedicated last page
- Remove the photo entirely. No exceptions for any Australian employer.
- Keep personal details to: name, suburb/state, phone, email, LinkedIn
- Discuss salary only when asked; never include it in the resume or unsolicited
- Open with a 3-5 sentence personal statement that is direct and specific
- Aim for 2-3 pages with detailed work history and a referee page
If you are applying for skilled migration to Australia, the resume conventions are somewhat different for your skills assessment application versus your eventual job search in Australia. Our Australian skilled migration resume guide covers the ANZSCO alignment and ACS skills assessment requirements that apply before you arrive.
Which ATS systems do Australian employers use?
SEEK's native application system, Workday, PageUp, and LinkedIn are the dominant platforms in Australia. The federal government uses APS Jobs. The same ATS formatting rules apply: plain text, standard section headers, no tables or columns in the main body.
Most Australian employers route job applications through SEEK, which has its own application system in addition to allowing file uploads. Large Australian enterprises and multinationals operating in Australia use enterprise ATS platforms. Understanding which system your target employer uses helps you optimise formatting, file type, and keyword density.
| ATS / Platform | Used By | Formatting Tips |
|---|---|---|
| SEEK Apply | Most Australian employers (dominant job board) | Upload PDF or .docx. Use standard section headers. Avoid text boxes and columns. |
| LinkedIn Easy Apply | Multinational companies, tech sector, startups | PDF preferred. Ensure your LinkedIn profile matches your resume exactly. |
| Workday | Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, BHP, Woolworths, Telstra | Standard formatting only. No tables, columns, or text boxes. PDF or .docx accepted. |
| PageUp | Australian universities, government agencies, healthcare | Plain formatting. Use standard headers. Keyword-dense content matters more than design. |
| APS Jobs | Australian Federal Government (APS) | Structured form entry. Responses must address Key Selection Criteria (KSC) separately. |
Frequently Asked Questions About Australian Resumes
Answers to the most common questions about writing a resume for the Australian job market, from formatting and file types to the referee page and personal statement conventions.
Is CV or resume more common in Australia?
The terms are used interchangeably in Australia, unlike the strict US/UK split where "CV" means a multi-page academic document and "resume" means a concise 1-2 page summary. In Australia, both words refer to the same standard job application document. When a job ad says "submit your CV," it means the same as "submit your resume." Use whichever term the job posting uses.
Do Australian employers expect a photo on a resume?
No. Like Canada and the US, Australian employers do not expect or want a photo on your resume. Including one is considered unusual and may trigger unconscious bias. The Fair Work Act and equal opportunity legislation across Australian states prohibit discrimination based on appearance. Leave the photo out entirely.
How many pages should an Australian resume be?
Two to three pages is the Australian standard for mid-career professionals with 5-15 years of experience. Early-career candidates should aim for one to two pages. Senior leaders with 15+ years may go up to three pages. Unlike the strict US one-page norm, Australian employers expect more detail, particularly a dedicated referee page at the end.
Do I need referees listed on my resume for Australia?
Yes. The dedicated referee page is one of Australia's most distinctive resume conventions. You should list two to three professional referees at the end of your resume with their full name, job title, company, phone number, and email address. "References available on request" is considered evasive and outdated in Australia. Referees may be contacted before a formal offer, so notify your referees in advance.
Should I include a career objective or personal statement on an Australian resume?
Yes. Australian employers generally expect a short professional summary or career objective at the top of the resume, typically three to five sentences. Unlike the terse US summary style, Australian employers appreciate a slightly more personality-forward opener that states your experience, key strengths, and what you are looking for. Keep it under 100 words.
What is the correct date format on an Australian resume?
Use Month Year format (e.g., June 2024 or Jun 2024). Australia uses the DD/MM/YYYY date format in general, but on resumes the Month Year convention is standard across all industries. Avoid using only years (e.g., 2022-2024) as this can obscure whether you were employed for the full two years or just a few months in each.
Do I need to include my age or date of birth on an Australian resume?
No. Australian employment law (the Age Discrimination Act 2004 and state equal opportunity legislation) prohibits employers from making hiring decisions based on age. Do not include your date of birth, age, or graduation year in a way that reveals your age. Simply list your qualifications with the institution and degree name.
What file format should I use for Australian job applications?
Submit your resume as a PDF unless the application portal or job posting specifically requests a Word document. PDF preserves formatting across devices and is handled well by SEEK, LinkedIn, and major Australian ATS platforms. Name your file professionally: FirstName-LastName-Resume.pdf. For some government positions on APS Jobs, plain text entry is required instead of a file upload.
Build Your Australia-Ready Resume
Use ResumeVera's AI-powered tools to create a resume optimized for Australian employers and ATS systems. Get instant feedback on referee page formatting, keyword density, and the personal statement that Australian hiring managers expect.