• 01 The most important thing most applicants get wrong — format by sector 3
• 02 The NSW government application — selection criteria done right 4
• 03 The traditional resume — contact, summary, and experience 5
• 04 Presenting prac, CRT, and casual experience 6
• 05 Demonstrating APST alignment — without padding your resume 7
• 06 Sector-specific considerations — Catholic, independent, QLD 8
• 07 Skills, education, professional learning, and referees 9
• 08 The most common mistakes 10
• FAQ Frequently asked questions 10

Before you open a resume template, you need to know whether the school you are applying to actually wants a resume.

If you are applying to NSW DoE, your application is the selection criteria response document. There is no traditional resume component for classroom teacher positions.

Each criterion gets a maximum of half an A4 page. Three criteria means 1.5 pages maximum. Applications that significantly exceed this may be excluded before panel review. Minimum 10pt font, ~2.5cm margins. Submit as PDF via IworkforNSW (Taleo). [Source: NSW DoE, 2026]

Use 2–3 concrete examples per criterion, each with a clear outcome.

Where the role description references the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST), frame your examples around the relevant standard. Do not list standard numbers — demonstrate the standard in action.

At least one referee must be a principal or head teacher who has directly observed your teaching. For graduates, this means your final practicum supervisor. [Source: NSW DoE Merit Selection Procedure, 2026]

For Catholic, independent, and Queensland government school applications, the traditional resume is required. Keep it to 2 pages (experienced) or up to 2 pages (graduates). No photo.

Principals scan summaries in under 10 seconds. Lead with the four things they are looking for: teaching area, year level, career stage, sector fit.

Describe what you taught and what happened — not just duties.

Do not create a separate "Practicum" section. Prac placements belong under Teaching Experience — they are teaching experience. Format each entry as:

Professional Experience — [School Name], [Suburb] — [Year Levels, Subject/s] — [Month Year – Month Year]

Write 3–4 bullets per placement: what you taught, your pedagogical approach, any outcomes or supervisor feedback, and extra contributions (staff meetings, parent communication, co-curricular). If you completed multiple short prac blocks, list the two or three most substantial in full and note additional placements in a single line.

If you have worked as a CRT across many schools, do not list every school individually. List your primary agency or two or three schools where you worked most regularly, then add a single line covering additional schools and the date range.

Bullet points should emphasise: adaptability, year levels and subjects covered, behaviour management approach in unfamiliar classrooms.

The worst thing you can do with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers is list them. "Proficient knowledge of all seven APST standards" tells a principal nothing. What works is demonstrating a standard through a specific, outcome-linked bullet in your role descriptions. You do not need to name the standard — a reader who knows the APST will recognise the alignment immediately.

Most Catholic school applications expect evidence of how you relate to or align with the school's Catholic ethos and mission. Read the advertisement carefully — if it mentions "Catholic identity," "faith community," or "mission," address this in your professional summary and cover letter.

This does not require you to be Catholic. It requires demonstrating understanding of and respect for the school's values. Keywords to use where relevant: pastoral care, student wellbeing, inclusive practices, collaborative planning, faith community. [Source: edutalent.com.au, 2026]

Independent schools vary enormously — from small non-systemic schools (informal application process) to large GPS schools (structured panel, possibly a written task). For any independent school application, research the school's curriculum, co-curricular programme, and stated values before writing a single word.

If you have co-curricular skills — coaching a sport, leading an ensemble, drama production — list them clearly. These carry real weight in the independent sector and are often explicitly sought in advertisements.

Include your QCT registration number (or applicant number if pre-service) on your resume. Missing this is a common reason for delayed applications. [Source: Teach Queensland, 2026]

If applying for rural or remote postings, include an interests section. Teach Queensland explicitly notes that skills like coaching, music, and community volunteering are valued for rural placements. [Source: Teach Queensland, 2026]

List skills that are specific and relevant. Good hard skills: explicit instruction, NAPLAN data analysis, differentiation for learning support, Google Classroom, OneSchool (QLD), Australian Curriculum v9.0. Good soft skills: collaborative planning within PLCs, parent communication, classroom management, restorative practices. Skip "Microsoft Word" and "time management" — every applicant lists these.

Include 3 contactable referees (name, title, school, phone, email). At least one must be a principal, deputy principal, or head teacher who has observed your teaching directly. For graduates, this means a practicum supervising teacher. Before submitting, contact each referee, tell them the role, and send a one-page brief covering the school's context, the key points you want them to reinforce, and 2–3 examples you referenced in your application.

• No subject area or year level in the summary — principals need this within 3 seconds.
• Vague bullets — "Taught Year 4" is not a bullet. Add approach and outcome.
• Listing APST instead of demonstrating it — examples trump declarations.
• Identical application to every school — principals can tell.
• Photo on the resume — not standard in Australian applications.
• Exceeding NSW DoE page limits — may result in exclusion from the panel process.
• Not briefing referees — an unprepared referee cannot give a well-prepared reference.
• Outdated PD listed as recent — signals stalled professional engagement.

1. Should I include a photo on my teacher resume?
No. Not standard in Australian professional applications. Many ATS systems do not render images correctly. Remove any photo from your template before submitting.

2. How long should a teacher resume be?
Two pages for experienced teachers. Up to two pages for graduates (prac placements need adequate description). One to two pages for CRT/casual pool applications.

3. Do I need to address selection criteria for government jobs?
Depends on state. NSW DoE: yes, strictly (PDF, half a page per criterion). VIC Applicant Pool: no, at interview only. QLD: resume + cover letter, no separate criteria document for classroom roles.

4. How do I reference APST on my resume?
Don't list them — demonstrate them through specific, outcome-focused bullets. In NSW DoE criteria responses, name the standard then give a concrete example.

Teacher Passport

Find your next role

Browse teaching jobs across every sector

Government, Catholic, and independent school jobs across Australia — updated daily from official sources. Filter by state, sector, subject area, and employment type.

Government schools Catholic schools Independent schools Updated daily

teacherpassport.com.au/jobs