How to Write an Australian Resume (CV): Format, Referees, and Visa Considerations

How to Write an Australian Resume (CV): Format, Referees, and Visa Considerations

Australia launched the Skills in Demand (SID) visa (subclass 482) in December 2024, replacing the Temporary Skill Shortage visa and opening new pathways for skilled workers to reach permanent residency after two years with any employer.¹ The country faces persistent labor shortages across healthcare, engineering, IT, and trades, and employers actively recruit internationally. But Australian resumes follow conventions that trip up applicants from every other English-speaking market. Last updated: March 2026

At a Glance

Key Takeaways

Australian resumes (also called CVs) run two to three pages, longer than most markets. They exclude photos and personal details (age, gender, marital status) but include two to three professional referees with full contact details. The format uses a career profile, key skills section, reverse-chronological work history, and education. Quantify achievements in every role. ATS systems are standard across large employers. Use Australian English spelling (organise, colour, programme). If you're applying under a skilled migration visa, include your visa status, ANZSCO code relevance, and skills assessment body details. Key difference from UK/US: referees are listed directly on the resume, not held for request.²

Key Australian Conventions

Length: Longer Than You'd Expect

Australian resumes commonly run two to three pages, and senior professionals may extend to four. The one-page rule from the US does not apply. Employers expect enough detail to assess your capabilities without requiring a separate portfolio or cover letter to fill gaps.²

Guidelines by experience: - Graduate/entry level: 1-2 pages - Mid-career (5-15 years): 2-3 pages - Senior/executive: 3-4 pages

Referees: Listed on the Resume

Australian employers contact referees directly, often before the interview stage. Include two to three professional referees at the end of your resume.²

For each referee, provide: - Full name - Current job title - Company name - Phone number - Email address - Your relationship to them (e.g., "Direct manager at XYZ Corp, 2021-2024")

Referee selection: Choose people who supervised your work directly. Australian hiring managers call referees to verify claims made in the resume, not just to confirm employment dates. Warn your referees in advance and confirm they are comfortable receiving calls from Australian numbers.³

No Photo, No Personal Details

Australian anti-discrimination law (Age Discrimination Act 2004, Sex Discrimination Act 1984, Racial Discrimination Act 1975) prohibits hiring decisions based on protected characteristics. Australian resumes exclude:²

• Photo or headshot
• Date of birth or age
• Gender
• Marital status
• Religion
• Nationality (unless clarifying visa status)

Resume Structure

Contact Details

Proper Australian resume header format:

SARAH CHEN
Mobile: +61 412 345 678
Email: sarah.chen@email.com.au
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarahchen
Location: Parramatta, NSW 2150

Include suburb, state abbreviation, and postcode. Australian mobile numbers use the +61 format for international applicants or the 04XX format domestically. No photo, no date of birth, no nationality (unless clarifying visa status).

Career Profile

Open with a three-to-five-sentence career profile (also called a professional summary). State your profession, years of experience, industry specialisation, and what you're looking for.²

Example: "Civil engineer with 12 years of experience across residential and commercial construction in Western Australia. Specialised in project management for developments valued at $10M-$50M AUD. Currently seeking a senior project manager role with a Tier 1 contractor in Perth or Brisbane."

Key Skills

List eight to 12 core skills matching the job description. Australian employers value this section for quick screening and ATS keyword matching.²

Work Experience

Reverse-chronological order. For each role, include:²

• Company name and location (city, state: "Melbourne, VIC")
• Your title
• Date range (MMM YYYY)
• Company description (one line: "National engineering consultancy, 500+ employees")
• Key responsibilities (2-3 bullets)
• Key achievements (2-3 bullets with metrics: dollars, percentages, team sizes)

Australian state abbreviations: NSW (New South Wales), VIC (Victoria), QLD (Queensland), WA (Western Australia), SA (South Australia), TAS (Tasmania), ACT (Australian Capital Territory), NT (Northern Territory).

Education

List highest qualification first. Include institution, qualification, field of study, and year.²

For international qualifications: Have your credentials assessed by the relevant skills assessment authority. Engineers use Engineers Australia (EA), accountants use CPA/CAANZ, IT professionals use ACS (Australian Computer Society). Include the assessment outcome: "Bachelor of Engineering, assessed by Engineers Australia as equivalent to an Australian engineering degree."³

Additional Sections

Skilled Migration: Resume for Visa Applications

If you're applying for work in Australia under a skilled migration pathway, your resume serves double duty: it must convince the employer and support your visa application.³

Include on your resume: - Your current visa status and subclass (e.g., "Subclass 482 SID visa holder" or "Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa") - ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) code for your nominated occupation - Skills assessment body and outcome (e.g., "ACS Skills Assessment: positive, assessed as Software Engineer ANZSCO 261313") - Right to work statement: "Unrestricted work rights in Australia" (for PR holders) or "Valid work visa with [employer/any employer] sponsorship"

Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482): As of December 2024, the SID visa replaced the former TSS visa. Workers can apply for permanent residency after two years with any employer (not restricted to the sponsoring employer), a significant improvement from the previous four-year lock-in requirement.¹

Australian English

Australian English follows British conventions with local variations. Consistent spelling signals cultural fit.⁴

Date format: DD/MM/YYYY for specific dates; MMM YYYY for employment periods. Avoid American MM/DD/YYYY.

Currency: Use AUD or A$ (not bare "$" which may be confused with USD). "$85,000 AUD" or "A$85,000" are both clear.

Australian Terminology

Beyond spelling, Australian business vocabulary differs from both American and British usage in ways that affect your resume.⁴

"Referees" vs "references": Australian employers expect named "referees" with contact details listed directly on your resume. "References available on request" is insufficient and signals unfamiliarity with Australian hiring conventions.

"CV" vs "resume": Both terms are used in Australia, but context matters. "Resume" is standard for corporate and private-sector applications. "CV" is preferred for academic positions, senior executive roles, and Australian Public Service (APS) applications, where longer documents with detailed publication lists or project histories are expected.

Industry-Specific Resume Notes

Mining and Resources

The Australian mining sector has specific CV expectations that differ from standard corporate applications.²

• Include FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) availability and willingness explicitly
• List all site-specific inductions and safety certifications: White Card, Working at Heights, Confined Spaces, First Aid
• Specify equipment operated with hours/years of experience
• Include fitness-for-work medical clearance status if held
• Mining companies in WA and QLD often use specialised recruitment agencies (Hays Mining, Chandler Macleod) — format your resume for their ATS systems

Healthcare

• AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) registration is mandatory for all health practitioners. Include your registration number and division prominently.
• Specify clinical specialisations, patient populations served, and case volumes
• List any Australian clinical placements or supervised practice periods
• Medicare provider number (if applicable) demonstrates established practice

Education

• State teacher registration body and status (e.g., "Registered with NSW Education Standards Authority")
• Working with Children Check (WWCC) number and state of issue
• Specify year levels, subjects, and curriculum frameworks (Australian Curriculum, IB, etc.)
• Include professional development hours if approaching or meeting registration renewal requirements

Visa and Work Rights (Expanded)

Australian employers are legally required to verify work rights before hiring. Ambiguity about your visa status costs you the screening.³

VEVO check: Employers use the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system to confirm your work rights. Providing your VEVO grant number or ImmiCard details happens during onboarding, not on the resume. Your CV should state the visa type and work rights in plain language.

Check your resume's ATS compatibility before submitting to Australian employers. A resume builder can help you structure your content with the right section headings and keyword placement for Seek, LinkedIn, and APS applications.

Job Platforms

Seek dominance: Unlike most markets where multiple platforms compete equally, Seek holds a commanding position in Australia. Most employers post on Seek first. Complete your Seek profile thoroughly.⁴

Common Mistakes That Get International Applicants Rejected

1. One-page resume. Australian employers expect two to three pages. A one-page resume from someone with 10 years of experience looks like a summary, not a full application.

2. Omitting referees. "References available on request" is insufficient. Australian employers expect named referees with contact details on the resume itself.

3. No skills assessment. For skilled migration visa holders, omitting your skills assessment body and outcome raises questions about your qualification recognition.

4. Using American English. "Organized" instead of "organised" flags the resume as non-Australian.

5. Missing local licences. Industries like construction (White Card), hospitality (RSA), and childcare (Working with Children Check) require specific Australian licences. List them if you hold them.

6. No visa status clarity. Australian employers need to know whether they must sponsor you or whether you already hold work rights. Ambiguity costs you the screening.

Key Takeaways

For skilled migrants: - Include your visa subclass, ANZSCO code, and skills assessment outcome directly on the resume. - Have your qualifications assessed by the relevant Australian body (Engineers Australia, ACS, CPA, VETASSESS). - List Australian-recognised licences you've obtained since arrival (White Card, RSA, First Aid).

For tech professionals: - Sydney and Melbourne dominate the Australian tech market, with growing hubs in Brisbane and Perth. - Include specific technology keywords. Australian tech employers search Seek and LinkedIn by stack. - The Global Talent visa (subclass 858) provides a pathway for highly skilled tech professionals without employer sponsorship.

For healthcare workers: - AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) registration is mandatory. Include your registration number on the resume. - Specify your clinical specialisations, patient volumes, and any Australian clinical placements. - Healthcare faces the largest labour shortages in Australia. The SID visa's healthcare stream has accelerated processing.

Related Guides

• How to Write a CV for the UK
• How to Write a Resume for Canada
• ATS Systems Guide 2026
• How to Write a Resume for Japan

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should an Australian resume be?

Two to three pages is standard for mid-career professionals with 5-15 years of experience. Graduates and entry-level applicants should aim for one to two pages, while senior executives may extend to three or four. The American one-page rule does not apply in Australia — employers expect enough detail to assess your capabilities without requiring a separate portfolio. Each page should contain substantive, relevant content; padding with generic skills or hobbies to reach three pages works against you.

Should I include referees on my Australian resume?

Yes. Australian employers expect two to three named professional referees with full contact details (name, title, company, phone, email, and your relationship to them) listed directly on the resume. "References available on request" is considered insufficient and signals unfamiliarity with Australian conventions. Choose referees who supervised your work directly, as Australian hiring managers call to verify specific claims made in your resume, not just employment dates.

What is a skills assessment and do I need one?

If you are applying through a skilled migration visa pathway (subclass 189, 190, 482, or 494), you need a positive skills assessment from the relevant Australian body for your occupation. Engineers use Engineers Australia, IT professionals use the Australian Computer Society (ACS), accountants use CPA Australia or CAANZ, and trades use TRA (Trades Recognition Australia). Include the assessment outcome on your resume: "ACS Skills Assessment: positive, assessed as Software Engineer ANZSCO 261313." The assessment confirms your qualifications meet Australian standards.

How do I handle the Working Holiday visa employer limit on my resume?

Working Holiday visa holders (subclass 417/462) can work for a single employer for a maximum of six months. This means you may have several short-term roles. Group related short engagements under a summary heading ("Contract and temporary roles, Jan 2025 - Dec 2025") with a combined description of responsibilities and achievements. For substantive roles, list them individually. Employers understand the visa constraints — the key is demonstrating the value you delivered in each role despite the limited duration.

What is the difference between a resume and a CV in Australia?

In Australia, "resume" is the standard term for private-sector job applications. "CV" (curriculum vitae) is preferred for academic positions, Australian Public Service (APS) applications, and senior executive roles where longer, more detailed documents are appropriate. For most job seekers, a two-to-three-page resume is the correct format. Academic CVs may run to ten or more pages and include publications, grants, and teaching history.

Next Step

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