10 February, 2020

The increasing threat of cybercrime and a worsening national skills shortage in cyber security specialists has prompted TAFE NSW Wagga Wagga to launch a new course in 2020.

Research from the Institute of Data found cybercrime cost Australia more than $4.5 billion last year, with a shortage of about 2300 cyber security workers nationally – a figure predicted to grow to 17,600 by 2026.

Responding to industry demand, TAFE NSW Wagga Wagga has introduced a Certificate IV in Cyber Security, to commence next week, 17 February.

The 12-month course will focus on the practical aspects of cyber security and guide students through a special project in a simulated workplace, requiring them to identify issues, and deal with policies and security procedures to secure vulnerable data.

TAFE NSW Wagga Wagga Head Teacher of Information Technology George Holt said cyber security was a field awash with job opportunities.

“There are so many jobs out there because cybercrime is such a grave threat to Australian businesses that we need to train people to address that threat,” Mr Holt said.

“Most larger businesses have cyber security experts in place but we need an army of support workers to assist with things like checking computers for malware. This really is an emerging industry.”

Chief Operating Officer of Wagga IT business Zetifi, Paul Maybon, welcomed the introduction of the new course

“The threat is growing year on year and we really are facing an unprecedented threat to businesses and the public right now,” Mr Maybon said.

“You have millions of ‘bots’ scanning through IP addresses to find a response and try different ways of getting in to a computers.

“We need people with an awareness of how to combat and prevent the enormous loss of productivity this presents.

“Australia loses so much to these cybercrime issues and it’s all preventable – you just need enough people with the knowledge.”

The average salary for an information security specialist in Australia is $87,901.

To find out more about studying the Certificate IV in Cyber Security at TAFE NSW Wagga Wagga, phone 13 16 01 or visit www.tafensw.edu.au.

Media contact: Daniel Johns, TAFE NSW Media and Communications – Business Partner, 6938 1441, mobile 0477 722 428.