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Australian students will be benefitting from Questacon’s $14.9 million Cyber Ready Program, an education initiative that will boost cyber security skills and prepare them for future careers in cyber security.
The Cyber Ready Program was launched yesterday with a particular focus on underrepresented groups. The program consists of a series of challenges and teacher training modules developed for primary, secondary and tertiary students across Australia.
Minister for Science and Technology Melissa Price said that the program will ensure future generations will be able to protect themselves online while encouraging them to consider job opportunities in the cyber sector.
“The Questacon Cyber Ready program is about inspiring and preparing Australian students for a career in cyber security while also bridging gaps in the cyber security education ecosystem,” Minister Price said.
“We want to increase the cyber education initiatives available to young Australians, including those in regional and remote areas, and boost the participation of women, Indigenous and neuro-diverse people.”
The Cyber Ready Program was established to help improve partnerships within the industry and between key players in cyber education.
The Program is set to complement other cyber education initiatives such as the Engineering is Elementary Program. This will improve digital systems, critical thinking, enquiry-based learning, problem-solving, and equip Australian students to become part of the next generation of cyber experts.
As AI, quantum technology, and the IoT continue to revolutionise cyber security, Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews said it was vital for the Australian Government to grow the nation’s cyber skills by building a strong, intergenerational cyber-savvy population for long-term security and economic prosperity.
“Australia faces a range of serious cyber threats in 2021 – attacks on our critical infrastructure, identify theft, hacks from serious and organised criminals, the spread of disinformation, and growth of the dark web; to name just a few,” Minister Andrews said.
“The extent and breadth of these risks were not envisaged in 2001, or even in 2011. By investing in training now, we will ensure that Australians in the future have the skills, training, and experience to overcome the threats we know are coming – and those we don’t.”
This article was first published on Public Spectrum
Eliza Sayon is an experienced writer who specialises in corporate and government communications. She is the content producer for Public Spectrum, an online knowledge-based platform for and about the Australian public sector.
