A Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) is a document used to demonstrate that an individual possesses the skills, qualifications, knowledge, and experience required to migrate to Australia. It is submitted as part of the Skills Assessment application to the Australian Department of Home Affairs Migration Skills Assessment Program. The report includes details about the applicant’s past work experience, education, formal qualifications, skills, and other relevant information. It is important for applicants to demonstrate their competency for the job role in the CDR in order to gain Australian permanent residency.

Documents required for CDR

If you’re having trouble writing your Competency Demonstration Report (CDR), you can always hire experts who specialize in writing these reports. These professionals have the expertise to craft a CDR that meets all the requirements of EA. They not only help you write it, but also review, edit, and proofread the documents to guarantee your CDR is up to standard. As they have extensive experience in writing CDRs for candidates, they’ll make sure your CDR follows all the necessary guidelines.  

To ensure successful submission, here are the documents you must include with your CDR when sending it to EA:

  • Scans of self-attested educational degrees
  • Passport size photographs
  • Transcript of IELTS score sheet
  • Scans of self-attested joining letters from all organizations previously worked with
  • Self-attested scan of identification document (e.g. passport)
  • Self-attested scans of documents such as promotion letters or experience letters from supervisors/managers
  • Self-attested scans of tax returns, bank statements, and salary slip to verify salary claims

Tips for CDR without work experience

You can write a CDR (Competency Demonstration Report) in a few steps. The Engineers Australia CDR should contain your Personal Information, Application Information, Education, Employment, and Reports. 

Personal Information includes your Prime ID, CV/Resume, passport-size photo, name change documents, and the results of your English language test (TOEFL® / IELTS / PTE ACADEMIC™). 

Application Information must include evidence of registration (if applicable), the nominated engineering occupation, and all relevant papers about that occupation. 

Education should include academic transcripts, degree certificates, enrolment letters (in case of formal educational programs), and any other qualifications. 

Employment should include evidence of employment, and any original or translated documents (in languages other than English). If you are claiming engineering work for more than one year, you must also submit a reference letter with all relevant information. 

Finally, a CPD (Continuing Professional Development) statement, three Career Episodes, and a summary statement must be included. Each Career Episode should be written in MSA (Master of Science in Architecture) format, and provide details of your engineering activities and employment experience.

Engineers Australia (EA) key assessments

EA has established a clear system for evaluating engineering skills. The most important determinant is the course you are taking. There are four categories for vocational classes, which EA has provided specifics for. To show English fluency, you must pass an English language exam. However, if you have completed an Australian Undergraduate Engineering qualification, a two-year Master’s or Ph.D. program in Australia, or are a native English speaker from certain countries, the requirement may be waived. Nonetheless, EA reserves the right to ask for an English language exam if necessary.

Important things to remember

  • Career Episodes must be 1000-2500 words, written in active voice, and accurately reflect your engineering experiences
  • Determine the ANZSCO code for the application, followed by 3 career episodes that demonstrate expertise
  • Projects should be distinct, not overlap, to demonstrate more competency elements
  • Explain role balancing of technical and interpersonal/managerial skills Number units and indicators in each paragraph and map competency parts to Career Episode paragraphs 
  • Write in the active voice, double-checking grammar and facts
  • Prepare one summary report for three Career Episodes
  • Review reports and consider professional help in CDR reviewing from experts

Reasons For CDR Rejection

Engineering Australia (EA) assessors have recently rejected several Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) applications for numerous reasons. The most common of these include failure to follow EA standards, incorrect formatting, lack of indicators showing a clear connection between the applicant’s experience and the expected outcomes, missing documents, failure to present adequate proof, plagiarism, inadequate presentation of the Career Episodes, Summary Statement, and Continuing Professional Development (CPD), irrelevant data and information, and insufficient evidence presented to support the claims made in the application. Moreover, the report must also be properly formatted and presented so that each section—Career Episodes, Summary Statement, and CPD—is organized and easy to follow.

Conclusion?

The Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) must be well written in order to accurately demonstrate an individual’s ability to practice engineering and assess their suitability for the position they are applying for. A well-written CDR will provide employers with a clear understanding of the individual’s skills and abilities, and serves as a formal record of the applicant’s education and experience. The CDR can help ensure a more informed decision when it comes to hiring an engineer, as a lack of clarity can leave room for misinterpretation or misunderstandings. With all this in mind, it is essential to ensure that all CDRs are accurate, detailed, up-to-date and professionally written.