Australia CV Template 2026 — Format, Examples & Free Download

This page pairs a printable Australian resume template with the format rules local employers actually expect — what to include, what to leave out, and the mistakes that get an application filtered before a human reads it.

How resumes are formatted in Australia

Australian private-sector applications use the word resume; "CV" is mostly reserved for academic, medical and research roles. Length runs one to two pages for most roles, and three is acceptable for experienced specialists — but a graduate resume that runs to four pages signals poor judgement. Write in Australian English (organise, prioritise, centre) and use reverse-chronological order with month and year for every role.

Do not include a photo, date of birth, marital status, religion or a full home address — suburb and state are enough. One thing Australian employers do expect is a clear work-rights statement: whether you are a citizen, a permanent resident, on a working holiday visa, or need sponsorship. Put it as one line under your contact details rather than leaving them to guess. Unexplained gaps of more than a few months should get a short note inline.

Sections to include, in order

1. Contact details — name, suburb and state, phone, email, LinkedIn, and one line on your work rights or visa status.
2. Professional summary — two or three lines aimed at the specific role, not a generic objective.
3. Work experience — reverse chronological, each role with three to five achievement bullets. The template uses the STAR pattern (Situation, Task, Action, Result), which Australian selection panels are trained to read.
4. Education — qualification, institution, location, year. Add honours or relevant coursework if they strengthen the case.
5. Key skills — tools and platforms grouped by category, plus languages.
6. Certifications — licence numbers where the role is licensed (trades, nursing, teaching).
7. References — either two or three referees with title and contact details, or the line "available on request". Always ask referees before listing them.

A cover letter (or a statement of claims against selection criteria for public-sector roles) is expected alongside the resume, not optional.

What gets an Australian resume rejected (ATS + recruiter)

• Personal details that do not belong — a photo, age or marital status mark you as unfamiliar with local norms.
• Duty lists, not results — "responsible for sales" tells a panel nothing; a quantified outcome tells them everything.
• Missing work-rights line — recruiters screening for sponsorship questions cannot find it, so they move on.
• Wrong length — a two-page resume for a junior role, or a five-page CV for a mid-level role, gets skimmed and dropped.
• Keywords not in the ad — applicant tracking systems match the posting's wording; mirror its key terms honestly.
• Inconsistent dates or unexplained gaps — use month and year everywhere, and add a one-line explanation where you took time off.
• Spelling in the wrong market dialect — "organize" on an Australian application reads as imported boilerplate.

Free Australia resume template: how to use ours

Replace every [bracketed placeholder] with your own details, starting with the name bar and contact line. Rewrite the summary first — everything else is easier once the top of the page is honest. Swap the sample bullets for real achievements with numbers (percentages, budgets, time saved), keep the STAR structure the template sets up, and fill the skills grid with terms from the job ad. When it is ready, press Print / Save as PDF, choose "Save as PDF" as the destination — the page is pre-set to A4 — and name the file Firstname_Lastname_Resume.pdf. Prefer an editable version? Build the same content in the resume builder and export from there.

Frequently asked questions

Should I mention my visa status on an Australian resume?

Yes — one line under your contact details stating exactly what you hold and, if relevant, when it expires. Australian employers must know whether a role needs sponsorship, and hiding it only pushes the question to the offer stage. Full permit details belong in the application form or interview, not the resume.

Do I need a photo on my Australian resume?

No. Photos are not Australian convention and can trigger bias screening. The only exception is when a job ad explicitly asks for one — some creative or client-facing roles still do — in which case use a recent professional headshot, not a casual selfie.

How long should an Australian resume be?

One page early in your career, two pages for most experienced roles, and up to three only if you have a long, relevant track record. Cut roles older than fifteen years to a one-line summary and remove anything that does not support the job you want.