Premier

Backing Victoria As A Cyber Security Leader

05 October 2017

The Andrews Labor Government is backing a new university degree aimed at addressing a skills shortage in one of the world’s fastest growing industries.

Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney today announced $1 million for Deakin University’s Bachelor of Cyber Security, which has been used to develop the degree and for industry certification licences, ensuring rigorous standards are met.

Cyber security graduates are vital in the growing fight against cybercrime, which affected almost half of small and medium Australian businesses in 2015 and costs the nation’s economy about $17 billion a year.

The Bachelor of Cyber Security, which had its first intake this year, was developed with Deakin’s Cyber Security Industry Partnership members including Dimension Data, ANZ Bank and the National Australia Bank.

Up to 50 jobs are available at Dimension Data, Deakin, NAB or ANZ for the first lot of graduates who will be equipped with the skills necessary to investigate and combat cybercrime.

Deakin and Box Hill Institute of TAFE are working together to provide pathways for students undertaking Box Hill’s new Advanced Diploma of Cyber Security into the bachelor program.

The new Advanced Diploma builds on the Certificate IV in Cyber Security, both of which were developed after Box Hill secured funding through the Labor Government’s TAFE Back to Work Fund.

There is a significant lack of cyber security professionals in Australia. A survey commissioned by Intel Security estimates that about a fifth of cybersecurity jobs could go unfilled by 2020.

Through Skills First, the Labor Government is overhauling Victoria’s training and TAFE system, making sure everyone has access to high quality training to get a job and industry has the skilled workforce it needs.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney

“Thanks to this partnership, we’re cementing Victoria as a leading cyber security hub in Australia and Asia.”

"As more of us bank, buy clothes, gifts and even groceries online, we need to make sure we have highly skilled, job ready graduates to fight cybercrime."

“The Bachelor of Cyber Security is a great example of what can be achieved when training providers work together with industry, in this case it is combatting cybercrime and cyberterrorism and giving graduates jobs.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis

“Victoria already produces more technology graduates than any other state so it’s no surprise we are leading the way in cyber security training and education.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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