University partners with Camberwell High School to mentor students in cyber security

University of Melbourne researchers will partner with Camberwell High School to provide mentoring for students in cyber security through the Melbourne Pathways in Technology (P-TECH) initiative.

The partnership was launched at Camberwell High School today by Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

The University’s Academic Centre of Cyber Security Excellence (ACCSE), led by Melbourne School of Engineering’s Professor Chris Leckie, will bring together expertise from the faculties of engineering, law and arts to offer a range of outreach activities to provide mentorship in cyber security.

Professor Leckie said: “Upskilling secondary students in cyber security is becoming increasingly important in a highly connected and fast-moving world. Cyber security is one of the biggest challenges facing society and we need to ensure more steps are taken to safeguard our data.

“I look forward to mentoring Camberwell High School students to become safer online global citizens as part of the P-TECH initiative.”

Melbourne School of Engineering Dean Professor Mark Cassidy said: “Computing skills are widely needed across most professional sectors in 2019, so it makes sense to teach the next generation about the importance of cyber security. Melbourne School of Engineering is delighted to partner with the Federal Government and Camberwell High School on this important initiative to help nurture the workforce of the future.”

Other partners of the Melbourne P-TECH initative include the Skilling Australia Foundation, AustCyber, BHP, NBN Co, Trustwave, Telstra, Box Hill Institute and Swinburne University of Technology.