The Allan Labor Government is supporting Victoria's next generation of cyber security experts - giving them the critical skills they need to keep us all safe.
Minister for Government Services Natalie Hutchins today joined students at Victoria University (VU) to announce that the second ever cohort of Victorian Government Cyber Internship Program interns will soon graduate from the program - hearing directly about their experiences, and discussing future pathways in the cyber industry.
The program which is guided by Victoria's Cyber Strategy offers one-of-a-kind opportunities for interns to learn from cyber experts, while growing Victoria's pool of cyber talent.
This year's seven interns are all recent graduates from the Certificate IV in Cyber Security which is delivered through the Labor Government's Free TAFE initiative.
Interns gain hands-on experience in critical areas including incident response, cyber awareness, threat intelligence, governance and project management at the Department of Government Services.
Oliver is a current intern of the program who studied at VU and is passionate about educating the community and spreading awareness about cyber safety, particularly to elderly Victorians who may be more susceptible to cyber scams who has learned skills to prepare organisations for and respond to cyber security risks.
Damon is also an intern who studied at VU and has always provided tech support to friends and family to keep them safe online. Damon has enjoyed collaborating with the other interns on cyber projects, and contributing to cyber training for government staff while learning skills in incident response and cyber awareness and education.
The program launched in 2024 and saw five interns graduate, with four entering into the cyber workforce, and one returning to further study. Current participants in the Cyber Internship Program will graduate in August.
As part of Victorian Budget 2025/26 the Labor Government invest $100 million to strengthen cyber security across government agencies.
By developing homegrown cyber talent through initiatives like this internship, we are building long-term capability and helping ensure our state is equipped to prevent, detect, and respond to evolving cyber threats.
As stated by Minister for Government Services Natalie Hutchins
"This program supports the growth of Victoria's cyber expertise so we can fight the increasing rate of cybercrime and help keep our community safe from cyber-attacks."
"With the local and global cyber security sector growing, this program is equipping Victorians with the skills they need to get employment all while keeping the community safe."
As stated by Victoria University Acting Vice Chancellor Professor John Germov
"I'm proud to celebrate VU's talented cyber security students and graduates. Nearly 2000 enrolled with us in 2024 and we expect this to grow in 2025. 40 per cent of these students are also first in family - their future in this fast-moving industry is bright."
As stated by Cyber Internship Program participant Oliver
"It was really fulfilling to be part of a team that delivered an in-person Cyber Safety Basics event for seniors at Knox City Council library, educating seniors on good cyber hygiene and de-mystifying cyber security.
