Cracking the code! Australia’s hidden cyber security talent

Just six minutes. That's all it takes for another cyber attack to hit Australia.

Our digital defences are under siege, and we desperately need more cyber professionals to join the fight. But the solution might not be found floating in traditional recruitment pools.

That’s why one Melbourne-based company is tackling the challenge head-on by turning to an unexpected channel – the brilliant minds of the neurodivergent community.

A missed opportunity

Humans are naturally neurodiverse. Our brains function and process information in a vast spectrum, there's no single "normal" way.

But many young people with autism spectrum disorder and other neurodivergent conditions struggle in the confines of traditional education.

The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority reports that almost 1 in 4 school students need extra support because of a disability.

Yet our teachers, torn between supporting these students and meeting administrative demands, often lack the resources to give them the attention they need.

The exceptional abilities of these students – a keen eye for detail, a laser focus, and an almost superhuman ability to identify patterns – often go unrecognised or even stifled.

But as Melbourne’s Untapped Talent has found, these very traits are a holy grail for cyber security professionals.

Combined with an insatiable curiosity and unwavering integrity, you have a recipe for a top-notch career in cyber security.

The challenge and opportunity for Untapped Talent

As it stands, only 7% of our cyber security workforce report as neurodivergent – a far cry from the reported 15 to 20% of the population.

This is a massive workforce gap, especially with thousands of new cyber roles needed in the next decade.

The key lies in creating truly inclusive opportunities for people with neurodiversity (known as neuro-inclusion), where all people, regardless of their thinking style, can thrive.

That’s why Untapped Talent launched Genius Armoury – a free, introductory training program to build skills in cyber security.

This innovative online training ground is set-up to attract and develop neurodivergent talent, with courses that cover the fundamentals of cyber security: fighting cyber threats, network security, digital forensics, and how to program.

The course is free to complete, with modules taking around 30-90 minutes each, making it more attainable than more time-intensive training programs.

With a universal design approach, Genius Armoury is built to be accessible for a wide range of learners, including those both with and without neurodivergence.

This includes those who may not have previously considered a career in cyber security – or felt it too difficult to get started.

Former cyber security trainees of Genius Armoury note that the course serves as an essential base for employment and further education:

“I was reluctant at first, as cybersecurity wasn’t something I had ever considered doing before and I didn’t really have a technical background. However, I was able to find work within just a few months of finishing the course at one of Australia’s biggest companies, as part of their cybersecurity team,” says one trainee.

“Thanks to the support I have received, I have completed a Certificate IV in Cyber Security 22334VIC at Victoria University Polytechnic, something I would not have been able to do in the past,” says another.

Genius Armoury also provides specific programming for veterans, returning workers and high school students – to build on their unique experiences and position in life, in order to help them take control of their own future.

A growing outreach to diverse communities

The program's impact extends well beyond filling vacancies. These individuals bring a fresh perspective to threat detection.

Untapped Talent dismantles traditional hiring and upskilling that often overlook exceptional talent, due to a narrow focus on what makes, and who can be, a good employee.

By engaging underrepresented groups, particularly those with neurodivergence, Genius Armoury helps build a diverse and skilled workforce.

“We’re not just filling a gap; we’re building a bridge to a more secure future where everyone has the opportunity to contribute their skills to cybersecurity,” says Carolyn Burr, Managing Director of Untapped Talent.”

What it also reveals is that this injects unique talent and perspectives into cyber security, and helps create more robust and effective cyber solutions.

It also expands the workforce, and builds early exposure to cyber security, to better prepare future professionals, businesses and our nation to deal with the growing threat of cyber crime.

The need to collaborate for continued cyber success

Collaboration has been key to Genius Armoury's success in meeting the demands of a diverse workforce.

The project received financial support from the AustCyber Projects Fund, a $15 million, three-year initiative designed to help the Australian cyber security industry grow.

It also received support from industry leaders like BHP, Splunk, DXC Technology and universities like La Trobe and Curtin.

This support has fueled the creation of the platform, educational content, and outreach programs and helped ensure the content remained aligned with the needs of modern cyber security professionals.

This is the future of cyber security: a future built on diversity, innovation, and the power of human potential.

We need to make a change to how we think about our cyber defences and inclusivity in our workforce.

As cyber threats escalate, programs like Genius Armoury are crucial to securing Australia's digital future.

Find out more now about Genius Armoury.