Engineering in Australia | A Complete Guide

Australia has gained re­cognition for its advanced economy and pione­ering workforce, offering exceptional career prospects to e­ngineers around the world. Engineering in Australia is a dynamic profession that demands technical ability and a steady commitment to improving society through innovations that solve real-life problems. With wide-ranging choice­s available, enginee­rs in Australia can recognize the pote­ntial they hold in making a difference­.

However, it’s essential to understand that becoming an engineer in Australia requires you to meet the requirements of Engineers Australia for skilled migration to the country, including your qualification, skill, and experience in your desired engineering domain. CDR Engineers Australia has developed this comprehensive guide to provide valuable insights into engineering in Australia.

What is Engineering in Australia?

Australia is an excellent choice to continue your growth as an engineer. Engineering is one of the most respected professions in Australia and gives numerous career opportunities for those who have a passion for solving real-life problems and making innovations. Some popular specializations within engineering in Australia include civil, mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering, among others.

Professional engineers in Australia are responsible for bringing knowledge and skills to develop solutions to complex problems and issues. They are crucial in shaping society with healthy, secure, and sustainable communities.

Why Consider Australia for Skilled Migration?

Australia has been home to many international individuals migrating for better job opportunities. Nearly 25% of the country’s population consists of non-Australian citizens, and the number is growing significantly, which reflects the enormous immigration rate in the country.

Australia consists of multicultural societies, offering a better quality of life with peace and harmony. With a thriving economy, there are more engineering jobs in Australia. The country provides a skilled migration visa for skilled individuals wanting to practice engineering in Australia. One can apply for Permanent Residency and become an Australian citizen after working there for four years. There are many benefits to choosing Australia for skilled migration; we have listed the major ones below.

1. High Quality of Life

Australia provides its citizens with a high quality of life mainly due to a stable political environment, excellent job opportunities, and a pristine and unpolluted environment. Australia also has a low population density compared to other developed nations with a long life expectancy.

2. Cultural Diversity

Australia is a multicultural nation welcoming immigrants from around the world. The country offers a cosmopolitan lifestyle where people from different countries live in a culturally diverse environment with peace and harmony. Moreover, the country offers a stable democracy built on religious tolerance, freedom of speech, and association.

3. Healthy Growing Economy

Australia is a thriving nation with a growing economy and robust infrastructure­. Its political environment remains stable­, driving continued economic growth in various sectors. The­ country’s strong workforce, combined with industries such as mining, manufacturing, agriculture­, and services, fuels its e­conomic expansion. Moreover, while the cost of living in Australia is a consideration, the overall economic opportunities and quality of life make it an attractive destination for many.

4. Flexible Guidelines on Immigration

Australia provides skilled professionals temporary and permanent working visas and various engineering job opportunities. Australian immigration policy is effective, trusted, tried, and well-designed, which is favorable for anyone applying for engineering in Australia.

Also Read: What After Engineering? Skilled Migration to Australia

What Skills are Required for Engineering in Australia?

An engineering degree is not enough; you need specific skills to succeed and work in the dynamic engineering field. There is a wide range of options for Engineering Careers in Australia, and one needs a highly sought-after skill set in their specific engineering domain for skilled migration to the country. Some of the skills required for engineering in Australia are discussed below:

1. Teamwork

Teamwork is a major skill required for engineering in Australia. Engineering projects can be complex and large-scale, often requiring a dedicated team to work together. Working in a team enables you to complete tasks faster and more efficiently. Teamwork skills involve your ability to work with other team members, share responsibilities and duties, take on advice, and help your team members.

2. Communication

Communication is the key to effectively sharing your thoughts, ideas, and plans in a collaborative working environment. As an engineer, you need practical communication skills to discuss various topics, make plans and solve issues by teaming up with other professionals. You need good communication ability to express yourself clearly in the workspace.

3. Problem-solving

Problem-Solving skills are required for engineers to solve the problems that may occur in their daily work. Engineers can be better described as problem solvers because their tasks are prone to problems. So as an engineer, you need to be good at finding the solutions to real-life problems.

4. Analytical Skills

One of the essential engineering skills is analytical skills. It involves your ability to collect and thoroughly analyze information to conclude and make informed decisions. With good analytical skills, engineers can make the best implementation decisions that benefit the project.

5. Industry-specific Knowledge

Other than interpersonal skills, practicing engineering in Australia requires you to have enough industry-specific knowledge. Industry skills are the hard skills relevant to your engineering field. Relevant technical engineering skills are required to perform well in a particular industry.

6. Design and Modeling

System design bridges the gap between the problem domain and the existing system in a manageable way. Designing skills involve imagining, creating, and developing innovative ideas that solve users’ problems. System modeling is creating models of structures and systems to plan and test designs.

7. Project Management

Engineers may need to manage projects they’re working on where they have to integrate sub-tasks to make a fully functional project. Project management includes managing human resources, combining different works and tasks, and delivering the project to clients within a defined time and budget. You must be able to structure and organize to handle any project effectively.

How to Become an Engineer in Australia?

Once you have successfully earned your engineering degree, it may be­ beneficial to obtain practical expe­rience through internships or e­ntry-level positions before­ pursuing more advanced roles in the­ field. Becoming a registe­red enginee­r in Australia requires you to be registered with Engineers Australia. Once you pass the Engineers Australia Skills Assessment test, you can migrate to practice engineering in Australia.

The registration ensures that you meet specific standards of competency and ethics within your engineering discipline. Below are discussed the steps to become an engineer in Australia.

Step 1: Check Eligibility

The academic eligibility to work as a certified engineer in Australia is generally a four-year bachelor’s degree or higher in any engineering field. Your qualification is one of the main factors Engineers Australia considers in the skill assessment to determine your eligibility to practice engineering in Australia. Your eligibility for Skilled Migration to Australia highly depends on the following:

• The country you received your engineering degree.
• The type of your qualification.
• Whether it is accredited.

Accredited qualifications are engineering qualifications that are recognized through agreements known as Accords. There are three relevant Accords – the Washington Accord, Sydney Accord, and Dublin Accord.

If none of these accords recognize your engineering qualification, it’s an unaccredited or non-accredited qualification. In that case, you must first complete an entry-to-practice competency assessment (stage 1 competency assessment test).

Stage 1 Competency Assessment

Stage 1 competency assessment involves the submission of a CDR (Competency Demonstration Report) to Engineers Australia. A CDR report is a collection of documents, including a Summary Statement and three Career Episodes, demonstrating your skills, experience, and competencies to do engineering in Australia. Engineers Australia ensures that only competent engineers migrate and work as skilled engineers in Australia.

We, CDR Engineers Australia, offer applicants CDR writing services where we craft CDR on their behalf. Our CDR writers in Australia ensure that your CDR report is best aligned with the guidelines and requirements of Engineers Australia.

Stage 2 Competency Assessment

After passing the Stage 1 competency assessment test, one becomes a member of Engineers Australia and can start an engineering career in Australia. Registered engineers in Australia can then aspire to apply for the Stage 2 competency assessment test to become Chartered Members of Engineers Australia (CPEng). For that, they need to submit a Stage 2 CDR report with which Engineers Australia evaluate their engineering competencies to become chartered engineers in Australia. You can let us write your stage 2 CDR report as well.

Step 2: Prepare Documentation

Besides CDR reports, you need other essential documents to submit for the skilled migration application to Engineers Australia. Below are listed all the documents you need for CDR assessment.

• A color-scanned primary identification such as your citizenship or driver’s license.
• A passport-sized photograph.
• CV or resume with details about your skills and experience in the relevant field (either relevant skilled employment or your college projects).
• Evidence of your English language competence (IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE tests).
• Color copies of all your qualifications, including your degree certificate.
• Academic transcripts, including the original, plus an official English translation (if required).
• A written statement that lists evidence of your continuing professional development (CPD).
• Career Episodes
• Summary statement

Step 3: Submit the Application to Engineers Australia

You can submit your skilled migration application by creating a profile in the Engineers Australia (EA) online portal. You’ll receive your account ID via email once you’ve created an account. Log in and select migration skill assessment when you receive your account ID. Select your assessment pathway, upload all the required documents, and submit your application. Once you have successfully applied, you’ll receive an email confirming it.

Step 4: Obtain a Skilled Migration Visa

You must score at least 65 points to qualify for a skilled migration visa. If you pass your skill assessment test, Engineers Australia will send you a skilled migration visa to practice engineering in Australia.

Step 5: Settle in Australia as an Engineer

After successfully obtaining a Skilled Migration Visa (subclass 189), you can look forward to settling down and pursuing a rewarding engineering career in Australia.

Also Read: Top 6 Reasons to Study Engineering in Australia.

Career Prospects of Engineering in Australia

There is a wide range of career opportunities for those seeking engineering in Australia. Engineering vacancies reportedly increased by 22 percent in 2022, indicating that engineering is one of Australia’s most highly demanding professions. Below are listed the top 10 engineering jobs in Australia.

1. Civil Engineer

Civil engine­ers are responsible­ for creating modern infrastructure and constructing bridges, buildings, roads, airports, tunne­ls, and dams. Civil engineering jobs in Australia offer professionals a range of benefits, including the latest te­chnology and equipment innovation and ample opportunitie­s for professional growth.

The demand for skille­d civil engineers in Australia is constantly incre­asing at an annual rate of 7 percent. The average civil engineer salary in Australia is $107,565 per ye­ar.

2. Biomedical Engineer

A biomedical engineer’s role is to develop innovative solutions to health and medical problems. They utilize the engineering concept to make advanced tools for medical professionals to diagnose and treat their patients better. Medical technology is one of the most in-demand professions and is one of the highest-paying engineering jobs in Australia, with an average salary of $201,136 per annum.

3. Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace engineers are at the forefront of developing technologies used in aviation, space exploration, and defense systems. Aerospace engineers build and design aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and satellites. The average yearly aerospace engineer’s salary in Australia is $93,852.

4. Mining Engineer

Mining is one of the top industries in Australia. Mining Engineers are responsible for the process of extracting minerals from mines. The average mining engineer’s salary in Australia is $150,000 annually.

5. Electrical Engineer

Electrical engineering jobs in Australia are in high demand. With increasing demand and opportunities for qualified electrical engineers across various industries, Australia has excellent career prospects. The average annual electrical engineer salary in Australia is $114,000.

6. Software Engineer

Software engineers are highly demanded professionals across the world. There is significant scope for software engineers in Australia. The vacancy for software engineering jobs in Australia is driven by increasing demand for digital solutions and technologies across various industries of engineering jobs in Australia. The average salary of a software engineer in Australia is $104,723 yearly.

7. Petroleum Engineer

As a petroleum engineer, you will be concerned with the activities related to producing Hydrocarbons, which can be crude oil or natural gas. Petroleum engineers are in high demand with strong career growth prospects in Australia. They earn an average salary of $127,283 per year in Australia.

8. Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical engineering is one of the most popular and oldest engineering disciplines. A mechanical engineer is answerable for organizing, designing, and managing mechanical gadgets, equipment, or apparatus operation, production, and preservation. The average salary of mechanical engineers in Australia is $108,862.

9. Chemical Engineer

From consumer goods and medicines to industrial chemicals and products, chemical engineers are responsible for fulfilling our daily needs and making our life easier. Since these professionals are in demand across diverse industries, future job prospects are strong and stable in Australia. The average chemical engineer’s salary is $83,158 per year.

10. Environmental Engineer

Australia has a shortage of skilled environmental engineers; thus, there is a need to fulfill these shortages with workers recruited from overseas. You can obtain a visa to work and live in Australia as an environmental engineer. On average, environmental engineers make $92,966 per year.

How Much Do Engineers in Australia Make?

Engineering is widely recognized as a high-paying profession, offering excellent career prospects for individuals with the right skills and qualifications.

The salary of entry-level engineering professionals in Australia typically ranges from $60,000 to $80,000 annually, and more experienced engineers make up to $150,000 annually. However, the salary range can vary depending on industry, location, and experience level and registration from National Engineering Register.

For instance, a mining engineer in Australia earns more than other engineering professionals. Furthermore, as engineers progress in their careers and take more senior positions or management roles, their earning potential typically increases significantly.

Also Read: Top 10 Highest Paying Engineering Jobs In Australia

Wrapping up

Engineering is an excellent career in Australia, especially when you are passionate about solving real-life problems and making innovations. Engineering in Australia constantly evolves and provides opportunities for lifelong learning and professional development.

Completing the skill assessment test is essential if you’re an overseas engineer looking for an engineering career in Australia. Submitting a CDR report to Engineers Australia is crucial to the assessment as it helps them evaluate your eligibility for skilled migration to Australia.

CDR Engineers Australia offers CDR writing services to write result-oriented CDR reports on behalf of engineers and help them migrate to Australia successfully. Our CDR report writers craft CDRs that align with the guidelines set by Engineers Australia. Contact us today and begin your journey to Australia.