Australia’s push to strengthen its cyber workforce capability is accelerating, with the CyberPath: Paving the Way Forward for Cyber Professionals program launching a nationwide consultation series to define how cyber security professionals are recognised and developed across the country.
Launched last November by the Australian Computer Society in partnership with the Australian Information Security Association (AISA), Australian Women in Security Network and Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre, CyberPath is now expanding into industry-wide engagement.
Throughout March, the AISA will lead consultation sessions across Australia, supported by two national online forums and an industry-wide survey.
This is the first large-scale opportunity for practitioners, employers, educators and government stakeholders to review and shape the draft Cyber Professionalisation Framework currently under development.
The initiative aims to establish clearer capability standards, defined career pathways, and consistent expectations for cyber professionals. In practice, professionalisation means building a structured system of capability benchmarks, ethical standards, training pathways and oversight mechanisms so that cyber professionals can operate with consistency, competence and trust in an increasingly complex threat environment.
CyberPath aligns with the Australian Government’s 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy, supporting national workforce planning, surge capacity and stronger links between industry and education. It is designed as an industry-led, co-designed pilot that will inform a scalable and sustainable national model.
The program also aims to address persistent workforce challenges, including skills shortages, uneven capability recognition and barriers to entry. By clarifying roles and expectations, the framework aims to improve employer confidence, reduce risk in procurement and assurance, strengthen diversity and inclusion, and enhance Australia’s international credibility in cyber capability. It will also align to international best practices, frameworks, and taxonomies and complement existing framework investments.
How the consultation will work
As an industry-driven initiative, CyberPath is deliberately avoiding pre-empting what a professionalisation model should look like for Australia. The draft framework is not finalised and will evolve through consultation, with stakeholder feedback directly shaping design decisions as the program progresses.
Each session will include a presentation on the proposed framework, an industry panel discussion, and facilitated audience discussions to capture sector feedback. An independent survey will run alongside the sessions, allowing broader participation from cyber professionals unable to attend in person.
A dedicated Cyberpath microsite will support open submissions, publish FAQs, and provide updates from consultations ensuring transparency around industry input informs a fit-for-purpose solution, tailored for Australia.
Consultation calendar
All cyber security professionals and stakeholders are invited to provide diverse perspectives across all sectors and experience levels on how cyber professionalisation takes shape in Australia.
To register for any of the sessions below, please visit: https://conference.aisa.org.au/ppp/register/Site/Register
- Online session 1: Tuesday 10 March, 1.00pm–2.00pm (AEDT)
- Online session 2: Thursday 26 March, 1.00pm–2.00pm (AEDT)
- Hobart: Wednesday 4 March, 5.30pm–8.00pm (AEDT). In-person at Wrest Point, 410 Sandy Bay Road, Sandy Bay TAS 7005
- Canberra: Wednesday 11 March, 5.30pm–8.00pm (AEDT). In-person at Crowne Plaza Canberra, 1 Binara Street, Canberra ACT 2601
- Adelaide: Monday 16 March, 5.30pm–8.00pm (ACDT). In-person at Pullman Hotel Adelaide, 16 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide SA 5000
- Perth: Wednesday 18 March, 5.30pm–8.00pm (AWST). In-person at Four Points by Sheraton, 707 Wellington Street, Perth WA 6000
- Sydney: Tuesday 24 March, 5.30pm–8.00pm (AEDT). In-person at Swissotel Sydney, 68 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000
- Brisbane: Wednesday 25 March, 5.30pm–8.00pm (AEST). In-person at The Sebel Brisbane, 95 Charlotte Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
- Darwin: Friday 27 March, 12.00pm–2.00pm (ACST). In-person at Hilton Darwin, 32 Mitchell Street, Darwin NT 0800
- Melbourne: Tuesday 31 March, 5.30pm–8.00pm (AEDT). In-person at Le Méridien Melbourne, 20 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Visit the program website for more information or contact [email protected] for questions.
This article was produced in partnership with the Australian Computer Society (ACS) as part of its sponsorship of the InnovationAus Awards for Excellence 2025.
Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.