Digital skills to secure Melbourne’s cyber security future: RMIT Uni study

A new report by RMIT University, funded by the Victorian Government, recommends establishing a digital skills academy and developing cyber security programs to secure Melbourne’s future as a digital central business district.

Since the pandemic, many organisations have invested heavily in technology to address immediate concerns such as falling revenue, interrupted supply chains as well as building longer-term competitiveness and resilience.

RMIT University’s report stresses that our increased dependency on technology also functions as a catalyst for cyber security threats.

“We are more vulnerable than ever to cyber security attacks as the new environments we study and work in demand unprecedented agility and precaution from us,” said Professor Matt Warren, University Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation Director at RMIT.

“For Melbourne to become a Digital Central Business District (CBD), we need to enhance our collective understanding of the digital skills shortages among professionals – An important first step on the path toward global excellence, for the state of Victoria,” Prof Warren said.

He said that ensuring Melbourne transforms into a digital leader for cities around the world is a thrilling aspiration.

“In Australia, one in three workers lacks basic digital skills, indicating that a substantial number of workers need reskilling or upskilling,” revealed report co-author Dr Ahmad Saleh Sahraki.

The report also surveyed digital professionals including ICT & cyber professionals, who worked in greater Melbourne, to provide further insight into the current skills shortages in the Victorian labour market.

“Although over 60 per cent of respondents indicated that there has been an increase in the number of cyber security staff compared to three years ago, only a quarter of respondents believe that they currently have enough cyber security professionals working in their organisation,” Dr Sahraki said.

In addition to this, less than 15 per cent of workers in the cyber security industry are women, making it the industry with the biggest gender gap.

RMIT University’s “Digital Skills and Cyber Security: How do we secure our future” report attempts to understand the current digital skills issues, and the challenges the pandemic brought about, in the context of developing Melbourne as a Digital CBD.

Among the report’s recommendations include establishing a Victorian digital skills academy; an Australian Cyber Security Accreditation Body and an Australian Cyber Security Body of Knowledge; and creating a comprehensive ICT and Cyber Security Diversity Action Plan for Victoria.

It also recommends increasing skilled migration to aid Victoria’s recovery; investing in innovative school programs highlighting the skills required in a digital economy; and creating a program to increase the awareness of digital technologies and the need to upskill digital skills within the Melbourne CBD.