Resume writing
Should you put a photo on your resume in Australia?
Why Australian resumes leave out photos and personal details, and what to put in that space instead.
Many resume templates come with a photo box. If you are applying for jobs in Australia, delete it.
Personal details: what belongs on an Australian resume
| Detail | Include? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Name, phone, email | Yes | The employer needs to contact you |
| City or suburb | Usually | Helps with location-based roles; a street address is optional |
| Visa status and work rights | Yes, if you are not a citizen or permanent resident | Answers the question the employer will have |
| Photo | No | Not used to assess your work |
| Date of birth or age | No | Not relevant to the job |
| Marital status, children | No | Not relevant to the job |
| Nationality | No; state work rights instead | Work rights are what the employer needs to know |
| Religion, health details | No | Not relevant to the job |
The University of Sydney's resume guide states that there is no need to add extra information such as a date of birth, photo or nationality. For international applicants, Study Australia's resume guide recommends stating your visa type, its expiry and any work restrictions instead.
Why personal details stay off
Under the Fair Work Act, an employer cannot take adverse action against a prospective employee because of protected attributes. The Fair Work Ombudsman's list of protected attributes includes race, colour, sex, age, marital status, family or carer's responsibilities, pregnancy, religion and national extraction, among others.
A photo, a date of birth and a marital status line can reveal several of those attributes. Leaving them off keeps the reader's attention on the evidence that matters.
What to put in the space instead
If removing the photo leaves a gap at the top of your template, fill it with something useful:
- a one-line statement of your work rights, if relevant
- a link to a portfolio, GitHub profile or LinkedIn profile, if it shows relevant work
- a two-sentence summary that connects your background to the role
A quick before-and-after
Wei Zhang is a fictional applicant who downloaded an overseas template. The original header included a photo, date of birth, nationality and marital status. After editing, it reads:
Wei Zhang
Melbourne, VIC · [Phone] · [Email] · linkedin.com/in/example
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), full work rights until March 2028
Nothing the employer needs was lost, and the work-rights line answers a question the old header left open.
Questions about photos and personal details
What about LinkedIn?
A LinkedIn profile is different from a resume. Profiles commonly include a photo, and you control what is shown. Our guide to LinkedIn for the Australian job market covers the rest of the profile.
Should I include my age if the ad asks for experienced candidates?
No. Show experience through your work history and achievements. If an application form asks for your date of birth for a specific legal reason, such as confirming a minimum age for the role, answer the form; keep it off the resume.
My visa is linked to my nationality. How do I show work rights without it?
State the visa type and the work conditions, not your citizenship. For example: "Student visa (subclass 500), up to 48 hours per fortnight during semester". Check your current conditions with the Department of Home Affairs' VEVO service.
Does a photo affect applicant tracking systems?
A photo is an image, not text, so it gives screening software nothing to read. It also takes space from content that does. See how to write an ATS-friendly resume.
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Start from an Australian-ready layout
Use a clean, single-column template without a photo box.
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