Australian Resume Format for Students: Free Template and Examples ?

If you've just arrived in Australia and your resume still has a passport photo, your date of birth and a line about your marital status, don't panic. Almost every international student starts there. But those details can quietly hurt your chances, because Australian employers expect something quite different.

The good news is that the Australian format is simple, and you don't need a lot of work experience to fill it. This guide walks through the structure step by step, with a free template you can copy and an example of how to turn study, volunteering and part-time jobs into strong bullet points.

Employers and universities differ in what they prefer, so use this as a starting point and check your university careers service and the job ad.

Resume or CV? In Australia, it's mostly the same thing

In Australia, people use "resume" and "CV" almost interchangeably for most jobs. A resume is a short, targeted summary of your experience and skills. The word "CV" is sometimes used for longer, more detailed documents, such as those for academic or research roles.

The Australian resume at a glance

Careers services at Australian universities commonly advise leaving off a photo and unnecessary personal details, partly because hiring decisions should focus on relevant qualifications and skills rather than personal characteristics.

Step 1: Contact details

At the top, put your full name in a larger font, then:

• Mobile number

• A professional email address (your name, not a nickname)

• Your suburb and state (a full street address is optional)

• A LinkedIn link, if your profile is up to date

You don't need a heading that says "Resume" or "Curriculum Vitae."

Step 2: Work rights (for visa holders)

University careers pages say international students may find it helpful to state their visa status and work rights, so employers know they can legally hire them. A simple line is enough, for example:

Work rights: Student visa, with work limits as set out in my visa conditions

Check your own visa grant notice and Home Affairs' official guidance before writing anything more specific, because your conditions are what count. Our guide to student visa work hours explains the basics.

Step 3: Personal statement (optional, but useful)

A short summary at the top, two to four lines, tells the employer who you are and what you want. Some universities call it a career objective or profile. Keep it specific to the job:

Second-year Bachelor of Commerce student with experience in customer service and a strong interest in retail operations. Reliable, quick to learn and comfortable working in busy, team-based environments. Seeking a part-time role to build on my communication and problem-solving skills.

Avoid vague phrases like "hard-working team player" unless you back them up with examples further down.

Step 4: Education

For students, education usually goes before work experience. Include:

• Your degree name, university and expected completion date

• Your major or specialisation

• Relevant subjects, if they fit the job

• Your grades, if they help (for example, your WAM or GPA). If your grading system isn't familiar to Australian employers, add a short note

• Scholarships or awards

• Exchange programs, if relevant

Step 5: Work experience

List your jobs in reverse order, with:

• Job title

• Employer and suburb or city

• Month and year you started and finished

• Three to five bullet points describing what you did and achieved

If you don't have formal work experience, that's fine. Many first resumes lean on volunteering, university projects, clubs, tutoring or work done overseas. Employers know students are at the start of their careers.

Step 6: Skills

Split your skills into short, scannable groups, such as:

• Technical: Excel, Word, Canva, Python, point-of-sale systems

• Languages: For example, fluent Mandarin and English

• Other: First aid certificate, Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certificate, driver's licence

Only list skills you can talk about in an interview.

Step 7: Volunteering, projects and activities

This section can carry a lot of weight for a student. Include:

• University clubs and societies

• Volunteering

• Group projects or capstone projects

• Leadership roles

• Sports or community involvement, if relevant

Step 8: Referees

Practices differ. Some Australian careers services recommend listing two professional referees with contact details, while others say "references available on request" is acceptable. If the job ad says to include referees, do it. Either way, always ask your referees first, and choose people who know your work, such as a manager, tutor, lecturer or volunteer supervisor, not a friend or relative.

Free student resume template

Copy this structure into Word or Google Docs, and replace the text in brackets. Keep it to one or two pages.

[YOUR NAME]

[Mobile] | [Professional email] | [Suburb, State] | [LinkedIn]

Work rights: [Your visa status and conditions, if you're an international student]

PERSONAL STATEMENT

[Two to four lines: who you are, what you offer and what you're looking for]

EDUCATION

[Degree name], [University]

[Month Year] to [Expected Month Year]

• Major: [Major]

• Relevant subjects: [Subject 1, Subject 2]

• [Grade, award or scholarship]

WORK EXPERIENCE

[Job title], [Employer], [Suburb]

[Month Year] to [Month Year]

• [Action verb + what you did + result]

• [Action verb + what you did + result]

• [Action verb + what you did + result]

VOLUNTEERING AND ACTIVITIES

[Role], [Organisation]

[Month Year] to [Month Year]

- [Action verb + what you did + result]

SKILLS

• Technical: [List]

• Languages: [List]

• Other: [Certificates, licence]

REFEREES

[Name, position, organisation, phone, email] or [References available on request]

Copy resume template

Example bullet points (fictional)

Strong bullets start with an action verb, say what you did and, where you can, show a result. Here's how that looks for three common student situations.

Café or retail job

• Served an average of 80 customers per shift, taking orders accurately in a fast-paced environment.

• Trained two new team members on the point-of-sale system and opening procedures.

• Handled cash and card payments and balanced the register at closing with no discrepancies.

• Organised weekly study sessions for 15 first-year students as part of a university peer program.

• Assisted at community events by setting up stalls, greeting visitors and answering questions.

• Led a team of four to deliver a marketing plan for a local business, earning a distinction.

• Analysed survey data in Excel and presented recommendations to an audience of 30.

Use numbers only if they're true. Employers can ask about anything on your resume.

No experience? Try this

• Lead with education and projects.

• Add volunteering, even small things.

• Include overseas jobs, with a short note about the country if helpful.

• Mention skills from clubs, sports or family responsibilities where relevant.

• Include certificates, such as RSA, first aid or a White Card, if they suit the role.

• Ask your university careers service for a free review. Many offer drop-in sessions and templates.

Tailor it to each job

One generic resume rarely works. Read the job ad and use its key words where they genuinely apply. If the ad asks for customer service experience, make that the first thing the reader sees. Many large employers use software to screen resumes, so a simple layout and relevant keywords can help.

Common mistakes

• Including a photo or personal details. Leave them off.

• Making it too long. One to two pages is usually plenty for a student.

• Using an overseas format. Check what's standard in Australia.

• Fancy design. Avoid heavy graphics, columns and decorative fonts, which can confuse screening software.

• Typos. Proofread, then ask a friend or careers adviser to check.

• Vague duties. Say what you achieved, not just what you were responsible for.

• Forgetting to name your file. Use FirstName-LastName-Resume.pdf or follow the employer's instructions.

• Lying or exaggerating. Employers check, and it can cost you the job.

Where to get free help

• Your university careers service. Many Melbourne universities offer templates, resume reviews and workshops.

• Study Melbourne. Offers support and information for international students.

• Jobs and Skills Australia and government job sites. For general career information.

• Your student union. Often runs workshops.

Our other guides can help too: how to understand student visa work hours, your rights as a renter and furnishing a room on a budget.

Quick answers

How long should a student resume be in Australia?

One to two pages is common. Check your university's guidance.

Should I include a photo?

No.

Should I include my visa status?

Many university careers services say it can help. Use wording that matches your visa conditions.

Do I need referees on the resume?

It depends on the employer. Check the job ad, and always ask your referees first.

What if I have no work experience?

Use education, volunteering, projects and skills, and ask your careers service for feedback.

Is a resume the same as a CV?

In most cases in Australia, yes.