Tuesday, 8 September 2026

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Finance, Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Government Services) (12:53): I rise to update the house on the Carroll Labor government’s work to build Victoria’s cybersecurity workforce and ensure we have the skills and expertise needed to protect Victorians from growing cyberthreats. Last week I had the pleasure of visiting RMIT to congratulate the recent graduates of the Victorian government’s cyber internship program for completing their six-month internships. At RMIT I also had the opportunity to meet with Dr Nick Patterson, one of the leading academics, experts and consultants in this field, and the Future Technologies team to discuss the university’s work in emerging technologies and the skills Victoria will need to address future cybersecurity challenges. The cyber internship program is one way we are building those skills to give Victorians who have completed a certificate IV in cybersecurity the opportunity to gain paid, hands-on experience working alongside cybersecurity professionals across government. These graduates have worked across areas including incident response, threat intelligence, cyber awareness and security operations, building practical skills while helping protect the systems and information Victorians rely on. Importantly, every graduate I met came through free TAFE, demonstrating how we can connect skills, training and real career pathways in areas where Victoria needs skilled workers.

In the past two years 17 interns have participated in the program, with many graduates going on to roles in the Victorian public service and related fields and some furthering their interest and study. The program is part of the Victorian government’s broader commitment to strengthening Victoria’s cyber defences and developing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. As cyberthreats continue to grow, building Victoria’s homegrown cyber workforce is an important part of keeping our community safe. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate this year’s graduates on their achievements and thank our departmental cyber professionals who have supported them throughout the program. I look forward to seeing where these talented graduates take their careers.