Tasmania's most talented tech students have taken a deep dive into the world of ethical hacking at re_B00TCMP - a cyber program designed to educate teens about the crucial online boundaries that separate cyber champions from cybercriminals.
The AFP-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3), with support from the Tasmanian Government's Digital Careers service, hosted the re_B00TCMP program at the TasTAFE Cyber Innovation Training Hub in Hobart last month.
Thirty talented high school students were selected by JPC3 for their impressive IT skills and tech curiosity. The one-day program aims to 'flip the script' on hacking by transforming young people's skills and passion for tech into ethical, lawful and impactful career opportunities in IT, cybersecurity and law enforcement.
Building on the success of last year's pilot in Sydney, the Hobart program featured interactive cyber challenges, expert-led discussions on ethical and non-ethical hacking, engagement from industry experts, technical analysts, and mentors, and insights into future career and study pathways in cyber security.
Students also competed in a Capture the Flag competition where they solved a series of puzzles and challenges that mimic real-world cyber offences, from cracking codes and finding hidden messages to spotting vulnerabilities and thinking like a hacker.
Recognising the crucial role of a positive support network, parents, carers, and teachers joined a parallel program that offered practical guidance on how to stay engaged with young people's online activities and support the ethical use of their digital skills.
AFP Commander Graeme Marshall said the program reflected a growing need to educate young people about the lawful use of technology.
"We often say you wouldn't teach someone how to drive without first teaching them the road rules, but in the online world, this is what has happened for young people," Commander Marshall said.
"We have taught them how to code and encouraged and promoted their use of technology, but we never gave them the online road rules to help them navigate this space and advance their skills within the boundaries.
"re_B00TCMP is an opportunity to find highly talented young people and expose them to career opportunities that exist when they use their skills within the boundaries of the law, such as cybercrime investigations and the cyber security industry.
"After a successful pilot with 18 students in Sydney last year, we've nearly doubled participation in Hobart to 30 students, with plans to expand to Adelaide later this year."
Department of Premier and Cabinet's Dr Tristan Richards said the program was a fantastic example of government, industry and education working together to inspire talented young people across Tasmania to consider a digital career in cyber security.
"It has been amazing to see young Tasmanians, teachers, parents and carers from 11 schools and colleges across the state engage and participate in this program on the day. This engagement with young people would not have happened without the support of teachers, schools and the Beacon Foundation industry facilitators in the regions working with parents, AFP and the Tasmanian Government," Dr Richards said.
TasTAFE Interim-CEO Will McShane said TasTAFE was proud to have offered its state-of-the-art Cyber Innovation Training Hub to the AFP, enabling them to bring the re_B00TCMP pilot program to Tasmania.
"TasTAFE's involvement in re_B00TCMP not only strengthens its connection with future learners but also positions it as a leader in ICT and cyber security education in Tasmania and cyber safety advocacy," Mr McShane said.
Tasmania Police Detective Sergeant Paul Turner said the program was a fantastic opportunity for our wider organisation and enabled cyber investigators to not only interact with the children participating, but to share vital skills and knowledge with them.
"It was also a great opportunity to engage with parents of participants, and allowed them to ask questions and raise any concerns they had in relation to the online space," Det Sgt Turner said.
The re_B00TCMP initiative is piloted from the Dutch National Police, who introduced it in the Netherlands in 2021 and have since had 700 students, and 260 parents, carers and teachers participate in the program.
The JPC3 brings together Australian law enforcement and key industry and international partners to fight cybercrime and prevent harm and financial loss to the Australian community.
The AFP is committed to equipping all Australians with the knowledge and resources to protect themselves against cybercrime.
Watch our cybercrime prevention videos and protect yourself from being a victim of cybercrime.
If there is an immediate threat to life or risk of harm, call 000.
If you are a victim of cybercrime, report it to police using Report Cyber.
