Australian businesses are facing increasing cyber security incidents, resourcing shortages and capabilities to drive long-term success and resileince. To meet this challenge, there comes a critical need for robust cyber security expertise. At Cyber Wyze, we are constantly looking at ways to help Australian businesses and individuals navigate the complexity that these challenges create, and organisations continue to look for internal capability to support oppoerations in partnership with external prividers.
We sat down with Janine from MEGT for a Quick Chat to discuss the future of the Australian workforce, particularly focusing on alternative career pathways and how the Group Training Organisation (GTO) model is stepping up to address the nation’s severe skill shortage in IT and cyber security.
The conversation highlighted a powerful strategy for building a future-ready team: IT & Cyber Traineeships.
The Cyber Security Skill Gap
The scale of this issue is significant. As Australia’s IT sector remains a rapidly expanding industry, the talent pipeline struggles to meet demand. This imbalance creates significant exposure for businesses.
As discussed in our chat:
- The cyber security sector alone faces a shortage of approximately 50,000 people today.
- The broader IT sector requires a sustained increase in skilled professionals to manage capability needs which is expected to grow over 1M vacant positions through 2030.
This is a gap that traditional university pathways cannot fill alone. As Janine explained, businesses must look beyond the typical degree-qualified candidate to build their capability.
The Traineeship Advantage: Risk-Controlled Talent Development
For business owners, especially SMEs, recruiting and managing apprentices and trainees can seem daunting due to the complex industrial relations, payroll, and HR requirements. This is where the GTO model shines.
A Group Training Organisation like MEGT acts as the employer:
Wraparound Support: Trainees receive essential coaching and pastoral care throughout their qualification. This support is crucial, as apprentices and trainees with GTO assistance are 30% more likely to complete their qualification compared to those without it.
Risk Mitigation: The GTO handles all the HR, payroll, and administrative burdens, taking the complexity off the host business’s hands.
Flexibility: If a placement isn’t the right fit, the GTO offers a flexible model that allows the trainee to be re-placed, typically in as little as 14 days.
Tailored Training for Tomorrow’s Cyber Leaders
One of the most exciting takeaways is the highly adaptable training available. MEGT offers a Microsoft Traineeship, which involves a Certificate IV qualification backed by a suite of 21 micro-credentials.
This allows host businesses and trainees to select specialised training that aligns with their needs, moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach. Crucially, these micro-credentials include specific training in in-demand areas like:
- Cyber Security
- AI
- Networking & Database Management
- Cloud Technologies
This model creates a pipeline of qualified talent who are getting paid to learn on the job, ensuring their skills are immediately relevant to your operational needs.
Build Your Future Capability
Whether you are a medium-sized enterprise looking to mature your IT team or a large corporation with Australian Skills Guarantee commitments on federally-funded tenders, investing in a traineeship is an investment in your organisational future.
Furthermore, the talent pool is diverse, including young industry entrants and mature-age career changers who bring immense potential, experience, and critical softer skills to the workplace.
At Cyber Wyze, we believe that taking a strategic, hands-on approach to talent development is the best way to accelerate your organisation’s cyber security maturity. Slow down to build the right foundations, and you will undoubtedly speed up your growth and resilience.
Thanks to Janine from MEGT for coming on the road with us to discuss this important area of resource development, keep an eye out on their socials for more information.