SA opens first cyber training centre

TAFE SA has officially opened the state’s first cyber security training facility at its Adelaide City Campus to cater to the growing demand from local industry and prospective students.

The new facility features a red ‘attack’ and blue ‘defence’ room to provide hands-on skills development to compliment the certificate IV in cyber security program.

Student demand for the qualification jumped following the introduction of the state’s Cyber Traineeship Pathway launched in October last year which was co-developed with AustCyber.

Premier Steven Marshall said the initiative is part of the government’s focus on working with industry to ensure the state’s economy has access to the cyber-ready workforce it needs, particularly in the defence sector.

“It is critically important that companies in the defence supply chain are armed with cyber-ready capabilities, and naturally, the key to advancing South Australia’s cyber industry and capabilities is building a trained and skilled workforce,” Marshall said.

He said that, along with ambitions to deliver globally recognised leaders in cyber security and protect important assets and defence projects, having local access to hands-on training facilities would be an opportunity to create new jobs and develop the IT economy.

“While cyber threats will continue to escalate globally and we must be prepared to protect our state, we also need to look at the business opportunity that this growing global cyber sector offers.”

TAFE SA chief executive, David Coltman, added that the new training centre offers the VET organisation an opportunity to expand on its current cyber offerings.

“We are currently delivering a 12-month Certificate IV in Cyber Security and this new centre offers students the latest training in the field, while also allowing us to add further qualifications in cyber security to our scope of training,” he said.

“Our cyber security qualification is part of the first national skills-based cyber security certificate level qualification and has been developed in close collaboration with a range of industry partners to make sure education and training is aligned directly with jobs and skills requirements.”