CIT chosen for new Cyber Security TAFE Centre of Excellence at Woden

The Canberra Institute of Technology has been chosen as the new Cyber Security TAFE Centre of Excellence, a national initiative aimed at building Australia’s cyber workforce and addressing the country’s critical skills shortage.

The Centre, funded through a matched $5 million investment by the Australian and ACT Governments under the National Skills Agreement, is based at our new Woden campus and will serve as a hub for innovation, industry partnerships, and hands-on student training. CIT delivers job-ready training that connects directly with industry and government priorities, making us uniquely placed to lead this initiative.

Our CEO Dr Margot McNeill said the Centre is a milestone for Canberra and for Australia’s digital future. “CIT is immensely proud to lead this project. It will help fill the significant skills gap while empowering a new generation of cyber defenders to protect our nation. This Centre shows what can be achieved when government and industry work together to address a national priority,” Dr McNeill said. “We are proud to be trusted with this responsibility and look forward to continuing CIT’s tradition of innovation, collaboration, and excellence.”

CIT Senior Educator, Department of Cyber Security, Nusrat Jahan, said the Centre will broaden access to cyber careers. “Cyber security needs all kinds of people, and women are still underrepresented in this field. At CIT we’re showing students that they can succeed in cyber. Through hands-on training and support, we’re not just teaching technical skills, we’re building confidence and opening doors to rewarding careers,” Ms Jahan said.

For students, the Centre represents opportunity and a direct path into jobs. Cyber student Alicia Madrid said it is exciting to be part of something bigger. “It’s inspiring to know that what I’m learning at CIT will help Australia stay safe online. Having a Centre like this makes me feel confident that I’ll graduate with the skills industry really needs,” Alicia said.

Fellow student Jacob Dew said practical learning opportunities would be transformative. “The chance to do more work placements through the Centre will be huge for students like me. It means we’ll graduate not just with knowledge, but with experience that makes us job-ready straight away,” Jacob said.

You can find out more about the CIT Cyber Security TAFE Centre of Excellence at https://cit.edu.au/cyberCOE.