The Victorian Government has celebrated the graduation of five new participants from its Cyber Internship Program at RMIT, marking a continued effort to bolster the state’s cyber security workforce.
The graduates completed six-month placements within government cyber security teams. During their tenure, they were involved in detecting digital threats, supporting incident response protocols, and assisting in the protection of systems that hold sensitive data for Victorian residents.
All five interns entered the program after completing a Certificate IV in Cyber Security. This qualification is offered fee-free under the state’s Free TAFE initiative, which aims to reduce financial barriers to vocational training.
The expansion of this pipeline comes as cyber threats continue to escalate nationally. Data from the national cyber security hotline indicates that it received more than 42,500 calls in the last financial year, representing a 16 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
To address these growing challenges, the government is focusing on developing local talent equipped with the necessary skills to protect essential services and public infrastructure. Since its inception three years ago, seventeen interns have successfully completed the program.
Expressions of interest for the 2027 intake are scheduled to open in October.
According to recent figures, the Free TAFE initiative has saved more than 245,000 Victorians over $816 million in course fees. The government has stated that it intends to maintain this funding structure to ensure a steady supply of qualified professionals for the sector.