The Department of Human Services is to appoint up to 36 former service men and women to jobs within its Cyber Security Branch.
The Branch defends the welfare system against the threat of online attacks.
Minister for Human Services, Michael Keenan said the recruits had all been hand-picked by training provider, WithYouWithMe as part of a program to assist former Navy, Army and Airforce personnel transition into new careers.
“Veterans often find making the switch to civilian life challenging and this new training partnership will help them build on the valuable skills they have already attained during their military service,” Mr Keenan said.
“Their proven leadership and problem solving skills make them ideal candidates to work within our Cyber Security Branch where they will continue to help defend Australia, albeit against a different type of threat.”
He said that threats would be ever-present and the veterans would gain invaluable experience in a vitally important and growing new industry which was expected to be hit by skill shortages in the not too distant future.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Darren Chester said the partnership between the Departments of Veterans’ Affairs and Defence and the business community would help to make a difference in assisting ex-serving men and women secure meaningful employment on transition.
He said four of the new recruits had already begun work and would undergo extensive on the job training as they learnt to test for vulnerabilities within the Department’s ICT environment.
