The Queensland Government is investing a $2 million Cyber Security Training Operation Centre and a $3.6 million Advanced Manufacturing Hub at the TAFE Campus in Cairn to support more jobs in the cyber security and advanced manufacturing sectors. 

Training and Skills Development Minister Di Farmer said that, with the new facilities, the ‘Good People. Good Jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032′ would ensure the state has the workforce capability to meet its cyber security needs. 

“You can’t get more ‘future-focused’ than developing the skills to tackle cyber security issues,’’ she said. 

“The fit-out will include attack and defence rooms, monitoring rooms for hacking/triaging web data and data centres to incorporate IT infrastructure, delivering additional training opportunities for future cyber security professionals in the Far North Queensland region.” 

Minister Farmer said the upgrades were part of the Queensland Government’s $100 million Equipping TAFE for our Future program. 

“In 2020–2021, the Cyber Security Hotline received on average 60 calls per day – an increase of 310 per cent from the previous year. By investing in training infrastructure and working with industry and educators, we can create the future workforce Queensland needs,” Minister Farmer said 

“These cutting-edge facilities mean students can be prepared for the evolving demands of setting up and monitoring vital systems and information networks and gain experience in defending against different kinds of cyber-attacks.” 

Equipping TAFE for our Future is also delivering Cyber Security Training Operations Centres at TAFE Queensland’s Mooloolaba and South Bank campuses. 

Cairns MP Michael Healy said Cyber Security Awareness Month was a great time to highlight the training and employment opportunities in the sector. 

“There are currently 335 students statewide enrolled in the Certificate IV in Cyber Security with registered training organisations (RTOs) and this will continue to grow when our Cairns facility opens in mid-2023,” he said. 

“The cybersecurity industry is far broader than many realise – there’s also digital technology skills and roles as business embrace digital transformation.” 

Barron River MP Craig Crawford said cyber security should be a focus area for small businesses with more than 67,500 cybercrimes reported in Australia in the 2020–2021 financial year. 

“Cybercrimes continue to increase each year, with self-reported losses from cybercrime totalling more than $33 billion in 2020–2021,” he said. 

“While small businesses continue to be a target, recent events show us that all businesses can be impacted and highlights the importance of protecting our businesses against cyber threats.” 

Speaker of Parliament and Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt said micro-credentials can help businesses quickly upskill and train their staff.

Mr Pitt also states that TAFE’s Cyber Security Essentials and the Data Security Essentials micro-credentials will enable people to gain a better understanding of cyber security, the risks involved with supplying and storing personal information, how personal information can be used, and how to ensure personal information is kept secure,

“As part of the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022–2032, we continue to look at ways to boost Queensland’s skilled workforce and flexible learning options and workplace practices like micro-credentials are providing us with an effective way to upskill,” he said.

For the first half of next year,

Work will also commence on an Advanced Manufacturing Skills Lab next year. The lab will train students in the latest techniques using simulated and mixed-reality training to meet industry requirements, representing a $3.6M investment in developing the skills needed for the growing advanced manufacturing sector.

Source: Queensland Government media release. Content has been edited for style and length

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.

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