Cyber5050: Advancing Gender Equality in Cyber Security
Led by CyberCX, Cyber5050 is a collaborative partnership between Future Women, the Australian Women in Security Network, the Australian Services Union, and the Canberra Institute of Technology. The partnership aims to promote gender equality and remove barriers to women’s participation in the cyber security industry.
Funded by the Australian Federal Government’s Building Women’s Careers Grant, Cyber5050 will deliver a number of initiatives over two years to drive cultural and structural change in the cyber security industry. These initiatives include:
- Industry surveys: Designed to identify and evaluate barriers to women’s participation in cyber security. The results will inform actionable recommendations to increase female and gender diverse representation in the industry.
- Cyber Fundamentals microcredential: An introductory training course providing foundational knowledge of key cyber security concepts and considerations.
- Cyber Accelerator for Women: A 12-month, self-paced online program that helps women and gender diverse people build confidence, leadership, and communication skills. It also offers networking opportunities tailored to participants working in male-dominated fields.
- Change Makers program: A program for male managers to enhance their understanding of inclusive workplaces, drive cultural change, and foster open dialogue around gender equality.
- Job opportunities: Ongoing, paid employment through the CyberCX Academy.
- TAFE education pathway: An opportunity to receive recognition of prior learning credits towards a Certificate IV in Cyber Security, including the chance to receive a fully funded qualification.
Cyber5050: championing change
Cyber5050 is committed to increasing gender diversity in the cyber security workforce. We know that diversity leads to better decision-making, more inclusive teams, increased innovation and better business outcomes. In Australia, women make up 48% of the overall full-time workforce, but only 17% of employees in cyber security.
The cyber security industry has high barriers for entry. Many jobs specify a need for technical, product or subject matter expertise. The financial costs and time commitment involved in cyber security study or certifications can be significant, and these are often barriers for those with parenting and caregiving responsibilities.
What training is available to women?
Cyber Fundamentals Microcredential Training
CyberCX is making our award winning CyberCX Academy training available to 300 Cyber5050 participants over a two year period. CyberCX’s own Academy Associates complete the Cyber Fundamentals microcredential, which provides an introduction to cyber security considerations including:
- The Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability Framework
- Threat actors
- Risk management and privacy
- Data security
- Cryptography
- Security controls
- Operational technology
- Vulnerability management
- Open Source Intelligence
- Social engineering
- Networking
- Cloud security
- Incident response
- Capture The Flag competition
Cyber Fundamentals microcredential participants will also receive:
- Access to the Cyber Accelerator for Women which addresses workplace safety, career rights , confidence building and an opportunity to build supportive networks in the cyber security sector. This is an online, self-paced program with frequent live opt-in sessions, including peer group learning, small group mentoring and masterclasses on specific leadership topics. Participants will also receive a 12 month Australian Women in Security Network membership. Further information on the Cyber Accelerator for Women can be found here.
- Eligibility to be assessed for recognition of prior learning credits towards a unit in Canberra Institute of Technology’s (CIT) Certificate IV in Cyber Security. This will be done virtually and can be completed by participants in Australian cities.
- Eligibility to apply for a scholarship to receive a fully-funded Certificate IV in Cyber Security delivered by CIT (30 scholarships available)* Please see question 15 in the FAQs section below for further information.
Materials, time commitment and delivery
Cyber Fundamentals Microcredential
The Cyber Fundamentals microcredential training is online, facilitated by CyberCX’s experienced cyber security practitioners.
The training is delivered five days a week (Mon-Fri) over four weeks. Participants will need to complete three hours of virtual live facilitated training per day, and up to two hours of self-directed study per day.
Learners will require a computer with a reliable internet connection to participate.
Cyber Fundamentals teaches cyber security from first principles. Participants do not need previous cyber security training, knowledge or work experience.
Cyber Accelerator for Women
Access to the Cyber Accelerator for Women will automatically be given to participants who are selected to complete the Cyber Fundamentals Microcredential. This is an online, self-paced program with frequent live opt-in sessions, including peer group learning, small group mentoring and masterclasses on specific leadership topics. Participants will spend approximately 50 hours across 12 months completing the Cyber Accelerator for Women. The Cyber Accelerator is designed for busy women who need flexibility, and participants can engage with the training at a time convenient for them.
Eligibility
Cyber5050 is for women and gender diverse people passionate about cyber security and seeking to upskill, change careers, re-enter the workforce or undertake training.
To be eligible for Cyber5050 funded training, you must:
- Identify as female or gender diverse
- Be aged 18 years or above;
- Be an Australian citizen; and
- Reside in Australia.
Apply now
Cyber5050 is a national program and eligible women and gender diverse people across all Australian states and territories (including in regional areas) are encouraged to apply.
The Cyber Fundamentals microcredential training will be delivered by geographic region. As detailed in the table below, you must reside in the course’s geographic region to be eligible to apply.
Please see the table below for an overview of the training dates for each geographic region and a link to the application form:
| Geographic region | Cyber Fundamentals microcredential course dates | Applications opening |
| NSW and ACT | 16 June to 11 July 2025 | Applications close at 11:59pm (AEST) on Sunday, 1 June 2025. |
| VIC and TAS | 26 August to 20 September 2025 | Applications will open in June 2025. |
| QLD | 29 September to 24 October 2025 | Applications will open in July 2025. |
| SA | 10 November to 5 December 2025 | Applications will open in September 2025. |
| WA and NT | 23 February to 23 April 2026 | Applications will open in December 2025. |
| NSW and ACT | 11 May to 5 June 2026 | Applications will open in February 2026. |
| VIC and TAS | 6 July to 31 July 2026 | Applications will open in May 2026. |
| QLD | 17 August to 11 September 2026 | Applications will open in June 2026. |
| SA | 21 September to 16 October 2026 | Applications will open in July 2026. |
| WA and NT | 1 March to 29 April 2027 | Applications will open in December 2026. |
Cyber 5050 – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Cyber5050 initiatives are funded by the Australian Government and there are no costs for eligible participants.
The Cyber Fundamentals training is four weeks in duration, Monday to Friday. Participants will need to complete three hours of virtual live facilitated training per day, and up to two hours of self-directed study per day.
The Cyber Accelerator for Women is an online, self-paced program with frequent live opt-in sessions. Participants will spend approximately 50 hours across 12 months completing the Cyber Accelerator for Women. The Cyber Accelerator is designed for busy women and gender diverse people who need flexibility, and participants can engage with the training at a time convenient for them.
The application submission deadline is specified on this webpage and in the application form. Be sure to check for the most up-to-date information.
Late entries won’t be accepted. If you have missed the deadline to submit your application, you will need to apply for the next available opportunity.
Program Details
The Cyber Fundamentals microcredential training will run in various geographic regions between 2025 and 2027. In total, there will be 10 courses across the two year period.
Please refer to this webpage for each geographic region’s course dates.
There are 30 training positions available in each Cyber Fundamentals microcredential course (a total of 300 across the two-year period).
The Cyber Fundamentals microcredential Application and Selection Process
Women and gender diverse people who meet the eligibility criteria specified on this webpage must submit a formal application form via CyberCX’s website to be considered for the Cyber Fundamentals microcredential training. CyberCX will review each application to assess the applicant’s eligibility, motivation and commitment to complete the funded training.
You will receive an email notification from CyberCX offering you a placement in the Cyber Fundamentals microcredential training course and information about the next steps.
You will be notified via email by CyberCX.
Yes, you are welcome to apply again if you are unsuccessful on your first application submission. However, if you are an applicant who is unsuccessful because you do not meet the eligibility criteria and apply again while still ineligible, you will remain unsuccessful until such time that you do meet the eligibility criteria.
No. If you are an Australian permanent resident and in the process of applying for Australian citizenship, we’d love to hear from you once that process is completed.
Support and Accommodations
Yes, applicants can indicate if they require reasonable accommodations to help trainers accommodate physical, cognitive, or other participant requirements.
If you require reasonable training accommodations, please email [email protected] and a CyberCX team member will be in touch to discuss further with you.
Participants can expect support from Cyber5050 program partners including access to mentors, networking opportunities, and learning resources.
Additional Information
Yes, the Cyber5050 program is designed to support women and gender diverse people at various stages of their careers, including those with no prior experience in cyber security.
As part of the application process, individuals are made aware of the time commitment required to participate in the Cyber5050 program and those who have capacity to complete the training are encouraged to apply. Participants who are successful in their application and are offered a place on the Cyber5050 program, however then become unable to complete the training, must provide the training provider as much notice as reasonably possible before withdrawing. Depending on the Cyber5050 training participants are selected for, there may be opportunities to defer which will be discussed with the relevant training provider.
Applicants who apply for the CyberCX Academy and are successful in the merit based recruitment activity will be offered paid, ongoing employment in CyberCX.
Participants who are successful in their application for the Cyber Fundamentals microcredential will automatically receive:
- Access to the Cyber Accelerator for Women.
- Eligibility to be assessed for recognition of prior learning credits towards a unit in Canberra Institute of Technology’s (CIT) Certificate IV in Cyber Security^.
- Eligibility to apply for a scholarship to receive a fully-funded Certificate IV in Cyber Security delivered by CIT^.
Individuals who do not have the time to complete both the Cyber Fundamentals microcredential and the Cyber Accelerator for Women can apply for either program separately.
^ Please note, in order to be eligible for the CIT training funded by the Cyber5050 program, participants must complete the Cyber Fundamentals microcredential.
For more information on each of the initiatives, please send an email to [email protected] and your email may be redirected to the relevant Cyber5050 partner who will then provide you with the information you are seeking on the respective initiative.