CyberNexus is a strategic consortium designed to build a resilient cybersecurity talent pipeline.

Why is CyberNexus Needed

Australia is currently facing a critical shortage in its cybersecurity workforce. This deficiency poses significant security risks and digital sovereignty risks and hinders the country's growth potential through innovation-based economic strategies.

The cybersecurity skills gap and an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment have escalated beyond a market failure to a national security crisis. The Federal government’s ambitious plans to restructure the economy, potentially more significant than the industrial and information revolutions, further heighten the need for a robust cybersecurity workforce.

Cyber Awareness and Skills: A Priority for CISOs

A significant 69% of Australian Chief Information Security Officers have identified Cyber Awareness & Skills as their top priority. This statistic highlights the pressing need for a coordinated national effort to address the cybersecurity skills gap.

The Role of CyberNexus

CyberNexus is a strategic consortium-led initiative designed to:

  • Accelerate Skills Development: Compress 15 years of cybersecurity skills training into just five years.

  • Foster Collaboration: Unite educators, government bodies, corporations, and specialist organizations to eliminate friction in the cybersecurity market.

  • Support National Interests: Ensure the initiative aligns with the best interests of the Australian taxpayer by maximizing impact and efficiency.

A Proactive Solution

CyberNexus represents a proactive, collaborative solution to this pressing issue. By bringing together key stakeholders, CyberNexus aims to:

  • Standardise Cybersecurity Education: Develop a unified approach to cybersecurity education that aligns with global best practices and meets national workforce demands.

  • Launch a Central Talent Exchange: Efficiently match trained professionals with the needs of government and industry.

  • Ensure Continuous Development: Provide ongoing skills assessment and training to maintain a resilient cybersecurity workforce.

A Nation-Building Opportunity

CyberNexus is more than a solution to the cybersecurity skills shortage. It represents a scalable model for creating the skills necessary for Australia's future digital economy. This initiative will:

  • Accelerate Skills Development: Speed up the process of training and deploying cybersecurity professionals.

  • Promote Collaboration: Create hubs where government, corporations, and educational institutions can collaborate on skills development, participate in simulated cyber exercises, and compete in “cyber games,” including with international partners.

  • Foster Innovation: Position CyberNexus locations as centers of innovative activity and destinations for cybersecurity excellence.