In December 2024, the Victorian Government, in partnership with the Australian Women in Security Network (AWSN) launched an Australian-first program, the Summer of Cyber. Over the summer of 2024, the program matched women and gender-diverse tertiary students and recent graduates with real-world cyber security projects to gain work-ready skills and solve cyber security challenges that small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) experience. The participants were supported by their tertiary supervisors and industry mentors from AWSN.
The program provided participants with industry experience and supported them to forge connections with employers within the digital technology sector. For businesses, it supported the uplifting of their cyber capabilities and bridging the cyber skills gap while empowering emerging tech talent to develop practical, job-ready experience.
Padmini is one of 44 women and gender diverse students selected to participate in the program. Padmini’s interest in network security led her to pursue a career in cyber security – she recognised the field’s dynamic nature, critical importance and real-world impact. Through the program, she was matched with a Victorian-based cyber response management platform and received valuable hands-on experience and mentorship that would have otherwise been inaccessible. As a result of the experience, Padmini feels more confident in her technical and soft skills and can see a clear career pathway in cyber security and her career beginning to take shape.
“Participating in the Summer of Cyber program has definitely boosted my confidence in applying for cybersecurity roles. I now have hands-on experience with real platforms, tools, and workflows used in the industry. I’ve worked on practical tasks like incident response automation, threat intelligence enrichment, and writing detection rules – all of which I can confidently talk about in job applications and interviews. It also helped me understand what’s expected in a professional cybersecurity environment, which makes me feel more prepared to take the next step in my career."
The Summer of Cyber program enables students and recent graduates like Padmini to transition into Victoria's digital tech workforce by offering structured mentorship and a paid studentship. The program presents a model for integrating education with practical paid industry experience, supports diversity in a traditionally male-dominated field and contributes to Victoria's commitment to a modern, secure, and inclusive digital economy.
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