The Government will improve Australia’s cyber security by delivering world-leading cyber education and research.
Education Minister Simon Birmingham and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cyber Security Dan Tehan today announced approval for the Academic Centres of Cyber Security Excellence.
Cyber security skills are fundamental to Australia’s capability in a connected, technology-enabled world.
The centres will produce work-ready graduates to increase our cyber security workforce and world-leading r¬¬esearch on cyber security as well providing executive education programs for industry and government.
The announcement comes as a survey released today of Australian millennials found two-thirds had never discussed a career in cyber security at high school.
Mr Tehan said a global survey of 18 to 26 year olds had found Australia needed to work harder to encourage young people into cyber security careers.
“There is growing demand for cyber security professionals and it is an exciting and challenging career,” Mr Tehan said.
“Australia also needs talented cyber professionals to help protect our national and business interests online and to encourage innovation.
“The Centres of Excellence extends the Government’s work encouraging young people into cyber careers through the Australia Cyber Security Challenge and Women in Cyber networking event.”
Mr Birmingham said the Turnbull Government wants to ensure that funding for cyber security is being directed as strategically as possible.
“The Turnbull Government has committed $3.45 million to help address Australia’s shortage of skilled cyber security professionals via the establishment of Academic Centres of Cyber Security Excellence to ensure they are effectively meeting our country’s future needs,” Mr Birmingham said.
“In an important next step we will also appoint a working group to review the courses currently on offer at universities and the eligibility and selection criteria for establishing the Academic Centres of Cyber Security Excellence.
“Ultimately our Academic Centres of Cyber Security Excellence will help ensure our students are ready to enter the workforce, that we can upskill executives and government professionals and that our research highlights Australia as a leader in the field.”
Mr Tehan will launch Raytheon’s Securing Our Future: Closing the Cybersecurity Talent Gap survey today in Canberra.