First thing to consider when you start preparing your CDR, is to choose the correct Engineering category. If you choose to apply to the Engineers Australia as a Professional Engineer, first thing you need to check is whether your experience matches general description of Professional Engineering category.
Professional Engineer description is given on page 31 of the current (2019) EA booklet and should be referred to when writing your CDR. If your CDR is not matching this general description, the case will probably be rejected by the Engineers Australia.
Same applies for other Engineering categories: General descriptions for Engineering Technologist, Engineering Associate and Engineering Manager are given on pages 37, 42 and 47 of the current booklet and should always be referred to when preparing CDRs for other engineering categories.
See other tips on CDR preparation here:
CDR writing tips. The purpose of the Competency Demonstration Report is to demonstrate to Engineers Australia that you apply your Engineering skills and abilities in your daily work. There is a list of “units and elements of competency” given in the “Migration skills assessment” booklet on pages 29-32 for the professional engineers, pages 32-34 for the engineering technologist and pages 37-45 for the engineering associate. It is important to understand that Career Episodes are not just your work description. Career Episodes must include all the “units and elements” in them.
Style and language
Use active language. You can make use of the following words in your Episodes:
• I developed solution
• I checked and analyzed
• I reviewed the background data
• I closely collaborated
• I carried out all the necessary calculations
• I took part in the negotiations
• I actively used and demonstrated my knowledge
• I decided to consider
• I studied a lot of materials
• I also identified
• I always take into account
• I managed to apply all my knowledge and skills
• I was responsible
• I had the meetings
• I structured information
• I organized the results in the form of
• I used my engineering background and knowledge
• I suggested