How to Write an Australian CV in 2026: Complete Format Guide

The Australian CV occupies a distinctive middle ground in the English-speaking world. It is longer than a North American resume, more practically structured than a British CV, and frankly more outcome-focused than either. Australian employers are accustomed to candidates who can substantiate their claims with numbers, context, and direct relevance to the role. Understanding when you are applying to a selection criteria-based government role versus a private sector position shapes every decision you make about your document.

Australian CV Format: Length and Presentation

Length: Two to three pages for experienced professionals. New graduates can use one to two pages. The American one-page rule does not apply in Australia. Employers are accustomed to and comfortable with detailed CVs, provided the content is genuinely substantive. A padded two-page document is worse than a tight one-page one; a genuinely content-rich three-page document is better than an artificially compressed two-page version.

Photo: Not included. Australian anti-discrimination law under the Fair Work Act and state equivalents makes it inappropriate to base hiring decisions on appearance. Including a photo signals unfamiliarity with local convention and may disadvantage your application at well-governed employers.

File format: PDF unless the job portal specifies otherwise. Most ATS platforms used by Australian employers handle PDF correctly. Avoid tables and text boxes, which often misparse.

What to Put at the Top

Name, mobile number, email address, suburb and state (for example, "Melbourne VIC"), and a LinkedIn URL. Clearly state your visa or residency status: "Australian Citizen," "Permanent Resident," or "Working Holiday Visa (valid until [date])." Employers must verify right to work before making an offer, and transparency on this removes friction from the process.

Section Order

Contact information and visa status → Career summary → Key skills (optional) → Work experience → Education → Professional development → Referees

For Australian Government (APS) applications, this order is typically set aside entirely in favor of structured selection criteria responses submitted as a separate document.

Education and Australian Qualifications

Australian qualifications operate under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). The most recognized universities for private-sector employers:

• University of Melbourne: Australia's most internationally recognized research university; Melbourne Law School, Melbourne Business School, and its medical programs are frequently named alongside Oxford and Cambridge in global rankings
• Australian National University (ANU, Canberra): the national research university; its Crawford School and law school are well-regarded for government and public policy careers
• University of Sydney and UNSW Sydney: both Sydney-based; UNSW is particularly strong in law and engineering; University of Sydney's Business School is recognized by Big Four and management consulting recruiters
• University of Queensland (UQ) and Monash University (Melbourne): both are Group of Eight research universities valued by mining, resources, engineering, and pharmaceutical employers respectively
• University of Western Australia (UWA): the primary institution for Western Australia's mining and resources sector; graduates are actively sought by Rio Tinto, BHP, Woodside Energy, and Chevron Australia

For trades, the Certificate III and IV under the Australian Apprenticeships system are recognized without further explanation. The Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) and CPA Australia designations are the peak accounting credentials and should be listed prominently.

Career Summary

Two to four sentences that communicate your level, specialization, and a standout achievement. Avoid the phrases "dynamic," "results-driven," and "passionate professional" — these have been on Australian CVs for thirty years and have lost all meaning. Be specific. Compare the following:

Weak: "Experienced project manager with strong leadership skills seeking new challenge in a dynamic environment."

Strong: "Civil engineer with 11 years delivering infrastructure projects for Tier 1 contractors in Queensland. Most recently managed a $44M water treatment upgrade for South East Queensland Water, delivered six weeks ahead of programme and within budget."

Work Experience: The Australian Standard

Reverse chronological order, no exceptions. For each employer, state: company name, your job title, employment dates (month and year format), and location (city and state). Follow with three to five bullet points per role.

Australian hiring culture places high value on demonstrated outcomes. Use the CAR method if it helps you structure your points: Context, Action, Result. The result is the part most commonly missing.

For construction, mining, and resources roles, standard professional currency includes: site names, contract values, workforce numbers managed, and any safety performance records. For professional services and corporate roles: client counts, revenue impact, cost savings, and project scope are expected.

Australian Government Applications

Public Service positions at the federal level (APS) and most state government roles use selection criteria, a separate set of required capabilities that applicants address individually in structured written responses. These are scored independently of the CV and typically carry more weight in the selection process.

The Integrated Leadership System (ILS) underpins APS capability frameworks. When addressing each criterion, write a STAR-format example (Situation, Task, Action, Result) of approximately 200 to 300 words. A strong CV with weak criteria responses rarely produces an interview. A modest CV with compelling criteria responses sometimes does.

Two Named Referees

Australian CVs end with two professional referees who can speak to your work performance from a direct management perspective. Include full name, title, organization, professional email, and direct phone number. References in Australia are typically checked by phone rather than email, so phone numbers are as important as email addresses.

The phrase "References available upon request" is acceptable but slightly less preferred in sectors where reference checks are a standard and expected part of the process, including government, healthcare, mining, and professional services.

Tone and Language

Match the register of the organization you are targeting. Government and legal applications require formal, structured language. SME and startup applications allow a warmer, more direct tone. Australian culture has a strong anti-pretension streak; a CV that reads as excessively formal or corporate for a casual-culture employer can signal poor cultural fit. Check the company's website, job posting, and LinkedIn presence for tone cues.

Use Australian spelling throughout (recognise not recognize, programme not program for general use, labour not labor).

Common Australian CV Mistakes

• Not disclosing visa or residency status, creating administrative uncertainty for the employer
• Omitting referee names and contact details when the posting explicitly requests them
• Using the US one-page rule and compressing genuinely substantive experience inappropriately
• Treating APS selection criteria as optional rather than the primary assessment document
• Being too modest about quantified results, writing "contributed to project delivery" when you "managed subcontractor coordination for a $12M commercial fitout"