How to write a CV for Australia
Employers in Australia usually expect a CV on A4 paper, most recent experience first. Length: 2–4 pages is normal. Employers there usually leave out a photo, date of birth and marital status. If you are not a citizen, your right to work or visa status is usually stated.
Build a CV for AustraliaYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
At a glance
| What it is called | Curriculum Vitae |
|---|---|
| Length | 2–4 pages is normal |
| Paper size | A4 |
| Layout | Tabular, dates in a left column |
| Order | Most recent first |
| Dates | Month and year (e.g. Mar 2023) |
| Photo | Usually left out |
| Date of birth | Usually left out |
| Nationality | Usually left out |
| Marital status | Usually left out |
| Right to work / visa status | Usually included |
| References | List two or three referees with contact details |
| Explain gaps longer than | 6 months |
Key facts
- In Australia, the Age Discrimination Act 2004 makes it unlawful to discriminate on the ground of age in employment, including in deciding who is offered a job. Source: legislation.gov.au
- In Australia, Ahpra works with 15 National Boards to regulate 16 health professions, and registered practitioners appear on a public register. Source: ahpra.gov.au
Facts checked 2026-10-15.
How Australia compares with nearby countries
Unlike Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, CVs in Australia leave the photo out and leave out the date of birth.
New Zealand follows the same conventions, so one CV can serve both if the language fits.
| Country | Called | Photo | Date of birth | Length | Paper | Usual language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Curriculum Vitae | Usually left out | Usually left out | 2–4 pages | A4 | English |
| New Zealand | Curriculum Vitae | Usually left out | Usually left out | 2–4 pages | A4 | English |
| Vanuatu | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Optional | 2–3 pages | A4 | English |
| Papua New Guinea | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Optional | 2–3 pages | A4 | English |
| Solomon Islands | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Optional | 2–3 pages | A4 | English |
Tips for Australia
- Two or three referees with phone and email are expected, usually recent supervisors.
- State your visa or residency status (citizen, permanent resident, visa subclass) near the top.
- Key achievements under each role carry more weight than duty lists.
- No photo or date of birth: anti-discrimination law covers age (e.g. Australia’s Age Discrimination Act 2004, NZ’s Human Rights Act 1993).
Australia follows the same CV conventions as 1 other country in the Australia & New Zealand guide.
Regulated jobs in Australia
For these jobs, put your registration or licence near the top of the CV, or say that your application is in progress.
| Profession | Registration or licence |
|---|---|
| Doctors | AHPRA registration (Medical Board of Australia) |
| Nurses | AHPRA registration (NMBA) |
| Midwives | AHPRA registration (NMBA) |
| Dentists | AHPRA registration (Dental Board) |
| Dental care professionals | AHPRA registration (hygienists and therapists) |
| Pharmacists | AHPRA registration (Pharmacy Board) |
| Allied health professionals | AHPRA registration (or Speech Pathology Australia / Dietitians Australia membership) |
| Paramedics | AHPRA registration (Paramedicine Board) |
| Psychologists | AHPRA registration (Psychology Board) |
| Optometrists | AHPRA registration (Optometry Board) |
| Veterinarians | State veterinary board registration |
| Care workers | NDIS Worker Screening Check and police check |
| Childcare workers | Working with Children Check |
| Teachers | State teacher registration (e.g. NESA, VIT, QCT) and Working with Children Check |
| Engineers | Engineers Australia (CPEng) and state registration where required (e.g. RPEQ) |
| Architects | State architects board registration |
| Electricians | State electrical licence |
| Plumbers | State plumbing licence |
| Gas engineers | State gas fitting licence |
| HVAC technicians | ARCtick refrigerant handling licence |
| Professional drivers | HR / HC / MC licence |
| Forklift operators | High-risk work licence (LF) |
| Pilots | CASA licence |
| Accountants | CA ANZ / CPA Australia / IPA membership |
| Financial advisers | ASIC Financial Advisers Register |
| Lawyers | Supreme Court admission and practising certificate |
| Social workers | AASW membership (South Australia has legislated statutory registration; check whether it has started) |
| Security officers | State security licence |
Guides by job
- Doctor CV for Australia
- Nurse CV for Australia
- Dentist CV for Australia
- Pharmacist CV for Australia
- Allied health CV for Australia
- Teacher CV for Australia
- Engineer CV for Australia
- Lawyer CV for Australia
- Accountant CV for Australia
- Electrician and trades CV for Australia
- Care worker CV for Australia
- Childcare worker CV for Australia
- Social worker CV for Australia
- Software engineer CV for Australia
Regulated in Australia: Veterinary & animal care, Architecture, construction & property, Transport, logistics & supply chain, Aviation & maritime, Police, defence, security & emergency.
Guides for every other field, from hospitality to aviation, are in the jobs index.
Questions
Do I put a photo on my CV in Australia?
No. Leave the photo off a CV for Australia. Employers there don’t expect one and generally prefer CVs without it, and the CV Atlas readiness check flags a photo if you add one. Use the space for your experience and qualifications, and include a photo only if a job advert asks for one. No photo or date of birth: anti-discrimination law covers age (e.g. Australia’s Age Discrimination Act 2004, NZ’s Human Rights Act 1993).
How long should a CV be in Australia?
For a CV in Australia, aim for 2–4 pages. Describe recent roles in detail and summarise older ones in a line or two, so the whole CV is quick to scan. Set the document to A4 (210 × 297 mm) paper, the standard size in Australia. Academic and senior clinical CVs are the exception: they list publications, research, teaching and courses in full and can run longer.
Should I put my date of birth on my CV in Australia?
No. Leave your date of birth and age off a CV for Australia. The same goes for your nationality and marital status. Employers there judge applicants on experience and qualifications, and personal details like these are best left out unless an application form asks for them. CV Atlas sets these details on or off to match the usual practice in Australia, and you can switch each one yourself.
Do I need references on my CV in Australia?
Yes. CVs in Australia usually end with two or three referees: recent supervisors or managers, with their job title, organisation, phone number and email. Ask each person before you list them, and tell them which jobs you are applying for so they are ready when a recruiter calls. Two or three referees with phone and email are expected, usually recent supervisors.
Should I put my visa status on my CV in Australia?
Yes, if you are not a citizen of Australia. State your right to work or visa status near the top of the CV, for example under your contact details, in a few words such as “Permanent resident” or “Requires visa sponsorship”. Recruiters there check this early, so saying it upfront saves a round of questions. State your visa or residency status (citizen, permanent resident, visa subclass) near the top.
What language should my CV be in for Australia?
English. CVs for Australia are normally written in English. Follow the language of the job advert if it differs, and keep one language throughout: headings, dates and descriptions should all match. Have a native speaker check the final version if English is not your first language. CV Atlas writes the section headings in the language you choose, so switch it to match the advert.
What should a CV for Australia include?
A CV for Australia is usually 2–4 pages on A4 paper, written in English unless the advert says otherwise, with your most recent role first. Expect no photo, no date of birth, and two or three referees at the end. Start with a short profile, then experience, education, skills and languages. CV Atlas applies these rules when you choose Australia, and the questions below explain each one.
What paper size should my CV be for Australia?
A4 (210 × 297 mm). A4 is the standard paper size in Australia, so set your CV to A4 before you export it. US Letter is slightly shorter and wider, and a Letter-sized PDF printed on A4 leaves an uneven gap at the bottom of each page, which looks careless on paper. CV Atlas sets A4 automatically for this country, and you can change the paper size in the design options.
Should I put my nationality on my CV in Australia?
No. Leave your nationality off a CV for Australia. CVs there normally leave out personal details such as nationality, age and family status, and employers judge applicants on skills and experience. If the job needs a particular right to work, say that you have it instead. An application form may still ask about your right to work, so answer it there.
Should I put my marital status on my CV in Australia?
No. Leave your marital status off a CV for Australia. Family details say nothing about how you do the job, and CVs there normally leave them out. Keep the personal details to your name, contact details and, where it matters, your right to work. The same applies to children and other dependants.
Should I put my gender on my CV in Australia?
No. Don’t state your gender on a CV for Australia. It is not relevant to the job, and CVs there normally leave it out. Your name, job title and contact details are enough at the top of the CV, followed straight away by your profile and experience. If an application form asks for it, answer there rather than on the CV.
Do I need my full address on my CV in Australia?
Just your city and country. A CV for Australia needs only your city, country, phone number and email, not your full street address. That is enough for recruiters to see where you are based and whether you would need to relocate, and it keeps your home address off a document that may be shared widely. Employers ask for your full address later, when they make an offer or prepare a contract.
Should I put my driving licence on my CV in Australia?
Only if the job needs it. On a CV for Australia, mention a driving licence when the role involves driving, travel between sites or field work, or when the job advert asks for one. For office jobs it is optional, and one short line in your skills or personal details is enough. For driving jobs, give the licence category and any professional qualifications that go with it.
How should I write dates on a CV in Australia?
Use month and year, newest first. On a CV for Australia, write each role’s dates as month and year, for example “March 2021 to present”, and list your most recent job first. Keep the same format throughout, and avoid giving years only, which can hide gaps and makes recruiters ask questions. Exact days are not needed for jobs or studies.
How do I explain a gap on my CV in Australia?
Explain any gap longer than six months. Recruiters in Australia usually expect a longer break to be accounted for, so add a short line in your timeline, such as “Career break: caring for a family member” or “Relocation and language study”. Be brief and honest, and keep the details for the interview. The CV Atlas readiness check points out gaps of more than six months in your work history, so you can add a line before you send the CV.
Do I sign my CV in Australia?
No. CVs in Australia are not signed. End the CV with your last section, such as skills, languages or references, with no signature, date or place line. A signature adds nothing to a document that is sent online, and recruiters there don’t expect to see one. If an application form asks you to sign a declaration, do it on the form itself.
Should I put hobbies and interests on my CV in Australia?
Only if they add something. Interests are optional on a CV in Australia, and many recruiters skip them. Include one short line only when an interest shows a skill or commitment that fits the job, such as volunteering, coaching or a relevant club, and leave out generic ones like reading or travel. If space is tight, interests are the first section to cut.
Start your CV for AustraliaYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
Guidance checked October 2026; facts checked 2026-10-15. General information for most employers, not legal or immigration advice. A job advert’s own instructions always come first. CV Atlas is not affiliated with any regulator or professional body named.