Government Offers Free TAFE Courses To Boost Australia’s Cyber Workforce

Cybersecurity is becoming a concerning topic throughout the world. With a consistent rise in cyberattacks and hacking, coupled with data leakages and significant losses, there is a need to bolster and strengthen the workforces behind cybersecurity. State governments in Australia have now started to roll out free TAFE courses that students in cybersecurity and other areas can take up. We look closer at how these courses work and what students should do if they are interested in these free provisions from the state governments.

Recent reports show that there is a significant shortage of skills throughout Australia. During 2022, the average number of positions that companies are struggling to fill went from 153 all the way up to 286. The number of vacancies that had to be filled increased by 40% from January to August 2022. The numbers continue to grow.

One of the key areas where skill shortages have been identified in Australia includes software engineers and related industries. With a shortage of IT staff in the country, the risk of cybersecurity threats is something the governments are concerned about.

A factor that led to the introduction of the fee-free TAFE courses is the recent cybersecurity attacks that various institutes and facilities throughout Australia faced. In October 2022, REvil, a ransomware group, breached Medibank. This is a health insurance company that has data from millions of patients.

Another breach happened when cybercriminals accessed the customer relationship management software that MyDeal, a subsidiary of the popular Woolworths chain, used. Data related to 2.2 million of the customers on the MyDeal database was leaked. A hacker then attempted to sell the information they gained from this breach on a forum.

Other noteworthy breaches include 2.1 million records leaked after Optus was hacked. The University of Western Australia also experienced a data breach that led to student information being leaked. Student names, IDs, contact details, course details, and other data were leaked.

What Are TAFE Courses?

TAFE refers to Technical and Further Education. These courses are provided to students by providers that the local governments own. There are numerous courses available under TAFE. In addition to government-owned institutes, certain Registered Training Organisations are also allowed to offer students access to these courses.

These courses can help students increase their chances for higher education programs and allow them to gain hands-on experience. Small class sizes also allow for more individualized attention, which pays off in the long run.

There are also multiple types of qualifications that students can access when they decide to take up a TAFE course. These include certificates that range from level I to IV, as well as diplomas and advanced diplomas. Some courses offer vocational graduate certificates and diplomas too. The specific options that are available largely depend on the course a student decides to enrol in.

How Students Can Get Access To Free TAFE Courses

With a shortage of skilled individuals in cyber sectors throughout Australia, the government has set out a grant for students who are willing to take up courses that will essentially bolster the country’s IT industry.

If you are interested in taking up one of these courses, you’ll first need to consider which course you want to enrol in.

Visit your states to check the list of free TAFE courses available:

• ACT – https://www.act.gov.au/skills/fee-free-tafe-at-cit
• NSW – https://www.tafensw.edu.au/fee-free-short-courses
• NT – https://nt.gov.au/learning/adult-education-and-training/free-training-courses
• QLD – https://tafeqld.edu.au/courses/apply-and-enrol/subsidised-training/fee-free
• SA – https://www.tafesa.edu.au/courses/fee-free-tafe-courses
• VIC – https://www.vic.gov.au/free-tafe
• WA – https://www.jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/skillsready

The following are some of the most popular courses that the governments are currently offering as part of the TAFE program:

• Diploma of Information Technology, with a particular focus on cybersecurity.
• Certificate III and IV in Information Technology.
• Certificate IV in cybersecurity.

Next, you’ll need to find one of the government-owned education provider centres offering these courses. You need to meet certain criteria before you are eligible for the fee-free TAFE project.

First of all, you need to be an Australian citizen. Note that fee-free courses are also available to New Zealand residents. You also need to have completed school, and you should not currently have other training programs that you are enrolled in.

The government is strongly encouraging young people between the age of 17 and 24 to apply for these courses. They also encourage people currently only doing volunteer work and those who are unemployed. The funding provided through these courses can help these individuals obtain the skills they need to pursue a lucrative career while also doing good at the same time.

Conclusion

With a dire need of skilled cybersecurity and IT staff members, local governments within Australia have started to offer free TAFE courses that students can apply for. The process of applying for these courses is relatively straightforward, and it provides an excellent opportunity for students who are unable to afford further education to gain a solid certification that will help them secure a good career.

References

• https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-06/national-skills-commission-report-occupation-shortages-soar/101505668
• https://socradar.io/what-we-learned-from-medibank-ransomware-incident/

Written by The Original PC Doctor on 4/3/2023.