CyberPath opens consultation on Australia's cyber workforce

CyberPath has opened a national consultation on the future of Australia's cyber workforce, seeking input from cyber professionals, employers, educators and aspiring practitioners.

The consultation is part of a broader programme to shape how cyber security work is recognised, supported and developed across Australia. An initial national survey is now open for a limited period, with further feedback to be gathered through town hall sessions and stakeholder engagement.

The federally backed initiative is being delivered by a consortium comprising the Australian Computer Society, the Australian Information Security Association, the Australian Women in Security Network and the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre.

The programme has now moved into a wider industry engagement phase after launching last year. It will focus on pathways into the profession, workforce standards and support structures for people at different career stages.

A leadership change has also been announced, with The Hon Kate Jones appointed Chair of the CyberPath Steering Committee. Jones has held senior leadership roles for more than two decades and spent more than eight years as a Queensland Government minister across education, innovation and major events portfolios.

Wider input

The consultation is intended to gather views from across the cyber sector, not only from employers or established practitioners. That includes frontline workers, training providers and people seeking to enter the field.

That broad audience reflects a long-running challenge in Australia's cyber sector and elsewhere: defining career pathways clearly enough to help employers recruit, workers progress and educators align training with market needs. Industry bodies have also pushed for more consistent recognition of cyber roles as demand for security staff rises across the public and private sectors.

Jones said broad participation would be essential to the process.

"CyberPath is a national initiative designed to strengthen and professionalise Australia's cyber security workforce," Jones said.

"This is an important opportunity for cyber professionals, employers, educators and emerging talent to help shape a stronger future for the sector," Jones added.

Industry role

The involvement of several industry groups gives the programme reach across different parts of the cyber labour market. The Australian Computer Society represents technology professionals more broadly, while AISA focuses on cyber security practitioners. AWSN works to increase the participation and retention of women and girls in security, and Aus3C represents members across education, industry, government and the community.

Together, the organisations span professional membership, advocacy, training and industry collaboration. This suggests the consultation is intended to produce a framework backed by multiple parts of the sector rather than a single professional body.

ACS President Beau Tydd said the consultation would give practitioners and related groups a direct role in shaping the profession.

"Cyber security is fundamental to Australia's economic resilience, national security and digital future," Tydd said.

"To build a stronger profession, we need input from the people doing the work, hiring talent, training the next generation and navigating these pathways firsthand," Tydd added.

Workforce focus

Australia's cyber sector has faced sustained pressure to expand its workforce as cyber risks spread and organisations deal with tighter compliance demands, more complex digital systems and a growing need for specialist security staff. Employers have often pointed to hiring difficulties, while educators and industry groups argue that entry routes into cyber jobs can be unclear for students and career changers.

Against that backdrop, consultations such as CyberPath can influence how roles are classified and how workers are trained and recognised over time. They can also shape how employers describe vacancies, assess skills and support career development for staff moving between technical and non-technical cyber roles.

The current consultation is only one part of a broader engagement effort. Alongside the survey, town hall meetings and direct stakeholder discussions are intended to test ideas and gather feedback from across the sector.

For industry participants, the immediate task is to provide input before the first survey closes.