Resignation letter Australia: what to write when you're changing careers

You have decided to move on. Now you need to put it in writing.

A resignation letter is not a big deal, but getting it wrong can make your last few weeks uncomfortable and, in some cases, affect your entitlements. This page covers what the letter needs to include, what to leave out, and how to handle the awkward parts when you are moving to a completely different field.

Before you write anything, it helps to know what you are actually moving toward. The free Career Change Check shows Australian roles that people from call centre, customer service, claims and admin work have moved into, and the skills you already have for each. It takes about three minutes.

What a resignation letter has to do

In Australia, a resignation letter has one job: to formally end your employment contract. It does not need to be long. It does not need to explain your reasons. It does not need to be warm or complimentary.

It needs to:

State that you are resigning
Give your intended last day, based on your notice period
Be in writing (email is fine)

That is it. Everything else is optional.

Notice periods: what Fair Work says

Your notice period is set by your employment contract, your modern award, or the National Employment Standards (NES), whichever gives you the greater entitlement.

According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, the minimum notice an employee must give is usually the same as what the employer would give them, unless your contract specifies otherwise. Check your contract first. If it says four weeks, give four weeks. If it says two weeks and your award says four, check which applies to you.

The Fair Work Ombudsman website at fairwork.gov.au has a notice and redundancy calculator. Use it if you are unsure.

One practical point: if you are moving into a new role and your new organisation wants you to start on a specific date, work backward from that date to calculate when you need to hand in your letter.

The basic structure

Here is a plain structure that works for almost every situation.

Line 1: Address it to your direct manager by name.

Paragraph 1: State that you are resigning from your position and give your last working day.

Paragraph 2 (optional): A single sentence thanking them for the opportunity. Keep it brief and genuine. If you cannot do genuine, skip it.

Paragraph 3 (optional): A sentence offering to help with the handover.

Sign off: Your name.

That is all you need. One page is too long for most resignation letters. Three short paragraphs is the right length.

A plain example

Dear [Manager's name],

I am writing to resign from my position as [your job title] at [organisation name]. My last day of work will be [date], in line with my [X weeks] notice period.

Thank you for the opportunity to work with the team over the past [X years].

I am happy to assist with the handover during my remaining time.

Regards, [Your name]

That letter will not cause any problems. It is professional, clear, and leaves nothing open to interpretation.

What to leave out

This is where most people go wrong, especially when they are leaving for a different career and feel the need to explain themselves.

Do not explain why you are changing careers. You are not required to. Saying you are moving into healthcare coordination or NDIS work or customer success is not necessary and opens up conversations you may not want to have during your notice period.

Do not list grievances. Even if the job was the reason you started looking. Even if the roster was unreasonable or the culture was difficult. Your resignation letter is not the place. It will follow you.

Do not promise things you cannot deliver. "I will ensure a full handover" is a promise. "I am happy to assist with the handover" is an offer. The second one is safer.

Do not use the letter to negotiate. If you want to discuss your finish date or any entitlements, do that in person or by phone, separately.

When you are changing careers and feel like you owe an explanation

You do not owe one. But if your manager asks, you can be honest without being detailed. "I am moving into a different field" is a complete answer. You do not need to name your new employer or your new role.

Some people worry that leaving for a completely different industry will seem ungrateful or surprising. It might be both. That is fine. Your manager will recover. Your job is to leave cleanly and professionally, not to manage their reaction.

If you are still figuring out exactly where you are headed, the Career Change Check is a good starting point. It maps your existing skills to specific Australian roles without asking you to commit to anything.

Handing in the letter: email or in person?

In most workplaces, the right sequence is:

Tell your manager in person or by phone first.
Follow up with the written resignation by email on the same day.
CC HR if your workplace expects it.

Do not send the email before the conversation. Finding out from an email, rather than from you directly, is a bad experience for your manager and it starts your notice period on a difficult note.

Save a copy of the email you send and note the date and time. If there is ever a dispute about when your notice started, you will have the record.

Unused leave and final pay

When you resign, your employer must pay out any accrued annual leave in your final pay. The Fair Work Ombudsman confirms that unused annual leave must be paid on termination, regardless of whether you resigned or were made redundant.

Long service leave entitlements vary by state. Check your state's long service leave rules if you have been with the same employer for seven or more years.

Your final pay must be received within the timeframe set by your award or agreement. If you are unsure, the Fair Work Ombudsman website at fairwork.gov.au sets out the rules by award.

If your employer asks you to leave early

Sometimes an employer will accept your resignation and then ask you to finish earlier than your notice period. This is called payment in lieu of notice. According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, if your employer ends your employment before your notice period is up, they must pay you for the full notice period.

Get any change to your finish date in writing.

After you send the letter

The letter is done. Now the work is the handover and, more importantly, the next step.

If you are mid-career change and still working out your direction, these pages are worth reading:

The twelve-week Sprint is A$299. It includes up to three coach reviews of a targeted resume or an application pack, plus unlimited messages to a coach. It is built for people who are still employed and want to move into a different field without quitting first.

A note on references

How you leave matters for what comes next. A clean, professional resignation, served out without drama, gives you the best chance of a useful reference.

If you are moving into a new field, a reference from your current manager confirming your reliability, your communication skills, and your tenure is worth more than you might think. Many roles in customer success, health admin, and operations coordination value exactly those things.

Leave well. It costs you nothing and it is worth something.

Frequently asked questions

How much notice do I have to give when I resign in Australia?

Your notice period is set by your employment contract, your modern award, or the National Employment Standards, whichever gives the greater entitlement. Check your contract first. If you are unsure, the Fair Work Ombudsman has a notice and redundancy calculator at fairwork.gov.au.

Does my resignation letter need to explain why I am leaving?

No. In Australia you are not required to give a reason for resigning. Your letter only needs to state that you are resigning and give your last working day. If your manager asks, you can say you are moving into a different field without going into detail.

Can I resign by email in Australia?

Yes. Email is accepted as written notice in most Australian workplaces. The better practice is to tell your manager in person or by phone first, then follow up with the email on the same day. Keep a copy of the email and note when you sent it.

Will I get paid out my annual leave when I resign?

Yes. According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, accrued annual leave must be paid out in your final pay when you resign. Long service leave rules vary by state. Check your state's rules if you have been with the same employer for seven or more years.

What if my employer wants me to leave before my notice period ends?

If your employer ends your employment before your notice period is up, the Fair Work Ombudsman says they must pay you for the full notice period. This is called payment in lieu of notice. Get any change to your finish date in writing.

This is general information, not professional career, financial, or legal advice. For tailored advice, consult a qualified career counsellor, financial adviser, or relevant Australian professional service.