High school student resume (Australia) — when you have no paid job yet

Australian Year 10–12 students searching for casual retail, hospitality, or first jobs hit the same wall: every template assumes employment history. Victorian Youth Central's VCE + no work experience sample flips the order — marketing statement, key skills, education and achievements, personal attributes, then placements and volunteering. That structure is still the right default nationwide.

Opening statement (about six lines): who you are, what you are applying for (casual retail, cafe, tutoring), and two proof sources (sport captaincy, volunteer, work placement). Write in first person without "I" — Youth Central's style: "Reliable Year 12 student with roster discipline from weekend sports and customer-facing volunteering."

Key skills (8–12): customer communication, cash handling training if any, Microsoft Office, languages, RSA or food safety if you hold them. Personal attributes only when you can back them with a one-line example — "Reliable: never missed a rostered club training season" beats a floating adjective list.

List school, year level or expected completion, and awards that signal honesty and follow-through (class captain, community recognition, subject prizes relevant to the job). ATAR is optional unless it helps a selective pathway — casual employers rarely need it.

School work placements, Duke of Ed, coaching juniors, and volunteer shifts belong above hobbies. SEEK's high school guidance is clear: extracurriculars and volunteering are experience when paid roles do not exist yet. Date them and use action verbs the same way you would for a job.

One page is enough. Two pages only if you have dense placements and leadership. Do not stretch to two pages with hobbies that do not transfer. Attach PDF named Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf when emailing managers.