Cybermerc and Program Partners have launched the Purple Team Australia Program as part of the announcement of their successful funding bid by the Australian Government’s Cyber Security Skills Partnership Innovation Fund Round 2 in November 2022.

Purple Team Australia Program has been developed as a collaborative partnership across industry, education and not-for-profit sectors. The Purple Team Australia Program is a partnership between:

• Cybermerc Pty. Ltd.
• Baidam Solutions Pty. Ltd.
• AustCyber
• Anomali
• Australian Women in Security Network
• Uplifting People; and
• University of Tasmania

The shortage of job-ready cyber security talent in Australia represents a significant challenge to the economic growth of our country. Research demonstrates that it’s driven by tough competition for talent, a skills gap, lack of diversity and an ever-changing threat landscape.

The Purple Team Australia Program has been designed, developed and implemented by partners who understand the challenges facing Australia’s cyber skills shortage and underrepresentation of diversity in the industry. In its simplest form, Purple Team Australia is a cyber security talent pool upon which employers can draw upon interested candidates who are matched as being a right fit.

About the Program

The Purple Team Australia Program focuses on four key challenges to achieve success:

• Collaboration - the right delivery partners to add value to the participants and the program outcomes
• Diversity and Inclusion - a bespoke training program, built from the ground up, that addresses challenges faced by First Nations Australians and women, to ensure maximum participation
• Remote and rural areas - providing access to those outside of traditional metropolitan opportunities
• Employment - employment match process with interested employers with a view to employment to ensure a ‘right skill, right person, right employer’ fit.

Program Aim

Within the cyber security industry, professionals in defensive roles are commonly referred to as ‘blue team’ and offensive professionals are known as ‘red team’. The concept of the Purple Team Australia Program combines blue and red teams, working together in partnership to support Australia’s national interest, security and prosperity.

The aim of Purple Team Australia Program is to:

• increase the quality and availability of job-ready cyber security professionals in Australia;
• attract participation from women and First Nation Australians into the cyber security industry; and
• ensure the development of a cyber security workforce that meets industry needs.

Program Delivery

Purple Team Australia will have two intakes: June 2023 and June 2024 with 160 female and First Nation Australian students participating in each intake across all eight States and Territories. Students will be provided with:

• Microcredentials in cyber security
• Self-paced online learning, instructor-led teaching sessions and instructor-led in person sessions
• Online delivery through University of Tasmania and Cybermerc Learning Management System
• Additional learning and support through:
  • Fortnightly mentor sessions
  • Monthly in person or online ‘Expert in Residence’ events
  • Specialised vendor training and certification
  • In-Residence sessions online and in-person with potential employers
  • Dedicated Talent Manager to assist in employment readiness

The program will culminate with a National Capture The Flag Challenge and Graduation Ceremony in Canberra at a three day conference.

A key delivery component of Purple Team Australia is our ‘Employment Match’ process. Having the right skills set, the right person, and the right employer fit can bring a range of benefits to both the employer and employee including increased productivity, higher job satisfaction, improved employee engagement and improved employee retention. By utilising dedicated Talent Management specialists, they take the time to listen, understand and document the students strengths, weaknesses, goals, motivations, short and long term career aspirations, personal circumstances and professional development needs, with the aim to match the students with the perfect employer.

Contact:

Linda Cavanagh

Chief Operating Officer, Cybermerc

E: linda@cybermerc.com