CyberPath: Closing the skills gap

Australia’s cyber security workforce is growing fast. But it’s also fragmented, inconsistent, and under pressure. Skills shortages persist. Career pathways are unclear. Employers struggle to define what ‘good’ looks like. And educators work hard to align with industry.

CyberPath is a government-backed pilot program to build a standardised, inclusive and highly skilled cyber security workforce. The goal is to bring clarity to industry complexity with a structured, nationally aligned framework that standardises career and education pathways, skills requirements and recognition frameworks.

Closing the skills gap

Cyber security skills shortages are well-documented. ACS Digital Pulse 2026 highlighted that Australia needs an additional 54,000 cyber security professionals. But often the problem isn’t just volume, it’s visibility and precision. Many organisations don’t have a clear, evidence-based understanding of the skills they have, the capabilities they’re missing or how to plan upskilling effectively.

CyberPath will address the skills gap by defining structured competencies and standardised role profiles. Instead of vague job titles and inconsistent expectations, organisations will gain a clear benchmark for capability. Leaders can translate strategic objectives—higher resilience, digital transformation, regulatory compliance—into defined workforce requirements.

Closing the skills gap creates practical advantages:

• Skills gaps become measurable, not anecdotal

• Workforce planning becomes data-informed rather than reactive

• Recruitment aligns with consistent competency standards

• Learning and development investment becomes targeted and defensible

CyberPath will also strengthen maturity modelling. Maturity frameworks only work when there is a shared definition of what ‘good’ looks like. By linking role standards to capability levels, CyberPath enables organisations to assess their current state and plan structured uplift over time.

For contractors and service providers, the benefits are equally clear. Procurement can be based on standardised competency definitions, reducing ambiguity and improving accountability. For permanent staff, clear pathways improve retention and long-term institutional knowledge.

Closing the skills gap starts with clarity. CyberPath provides that clarity.

Discover the benefits of CyberPath:

Driving diversity and inclusion

Establishing clear career and education pathways

Creating clear and consistent industry standards