Do Australian resumes need referees?

You need referees, but they usually do not need to be on the resume. The convention in Australia is a line saying "Referees available on request" at the end, with two ready to give the moment you are asked, which is normally after an interview rather than before one.

Naming them upfront is not wrong, and in some fields it is expected. It just exposes your referees to calls about applications that were never going anywhere.

When to name them anyway

  • The ad asks. If it asks for referee details, provide them. An incomplete application is an easy one to set aside.
  • Government and public sector. Application packs commonly ask for two, sometimes with a requirement that one is a current or recent supervisor.
  • Healthcare, education and care work. Referee and check requirements are heavier, and being ready is part of looking employable.
  • Casual and labour hire. Turnaround is fast, and a recruiter who can call today will often move on you before someone who needs to send an email first.

Who counts as a good referee

In order of usefulness: a direct manager, a manager from one job back, a senior colleague who saw your work closely, a client or contractor you delivered for. Two is the standard number.

Friends and family do not count, and an Australian recruiter will spot it. A character referee is only appropriate when the ad specifically asks for one.

When you cannot use your current employer

This is normal and no recruiter will be surprised by it. Say so plainly: you are happy to provide a referee from your current role once an offer is close, and here are two from previous roles in the meantime. The mistake is to say nothing and hope, because the gap is the thing that looks odd, not the reason for it.

Ask them first, every time

Ask before you list anyone, tell them which role you are going for, and send them the ad. A referee who is surprised by the call gives a vague answer, and a vague reference reads worse than no reference. It also gives them the chance to say no, which is far better discovered by you than by the employer. See also the Australian resume format, where referees are the last section.