What is a reference?

A reference in Australian job-seeking is a person who can vouch for an applicant's work history, character, or professional performance, contacted by a prospective employer during the recruitment process. Australian employers typically check two to three references near the end of the hiring process, just before extending a final offer.

There are two main types. Professional references are previous managers, supervisors, or close colleagues who can speak to the applicant's work performance, skills, reliability, and team contribution. Most employers prefer professional references from the candidate's most recent two or three roles, ideally a direct manager rather than a peer. Character references are people who can vouch for the applicant's personal qualities, often used for early-career applicants without extensive work history or for roles requiring trust (such as roles working with children).

Reference checking has specific etiquette. Candidates should ask referees in advance whether they are willing to provide a reference and brief them on the role. Employers should contact referees only after the candidate has given permission, generally at the offer stage. Employers must use reference information consistently with anti-discrimination law and cannot ask questions that probe protected attributes. Many large employers use structured reference questions and document the responses in a way that allows the candidate to access them under privacy laws.

Working With Children Checks are a separate and mandatory background check for anyone working with children in any state. The checks are run by state government agencies (Service NSW, Working with Children Check Victoria, Blue Card Services in Queensland, and equivalents) and screen national criminal history for offences relevant to child safety. Police checks (also called National Police Certificates) are widely required for roles involving security clearances, government contracts, finance, and aged care, conducted through the Australian Federal Police or accredited providers. Both checks are paid for by the individual or sometimes reimbursed by the employer.