Sydney, March 14: In a pioneering initiative aimed at steering young Australians towards positive cyber practices, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) introduced the re_B00TCMP program in Sydney earlier this month.
This program, Australia’s first of its kind, is designed to harness the tech curiosity and impressive IT skills of students aged 14 to 17, guiding them towards careers in cybersecurity within legal boundaries.
Held at the Fortress E-Sports Arena, the AFP-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3), with support from the NSW Department of Education, saw eighteen students participate in this one-day event.
The re_B00TCMP program featured interactive cyber challenges, sessions with industry experts, and discussions on ethical hacking versus non-ethical hacking, emphasizing the importance of digital and social responsibility
The initiative also included a parallel program for parents, carers, and teachers, aimed at fostering understanding and support for the students’ online activities.
Claudia Forsyth, AFP re_B00TCMP Project Lead and Team Leader Cybercrime Prevention, emphasized the importance of guiding young people through the online world’s legal landscape, likening it to teaching road rules before driving.
The program, inspired by a similar initiative from the Dutch National Police, seeks to expand across Australia with the collaboration of state and territory police agencies.
It aims not only to educate on the legal aspects of online behavior but also to inspire a new generation of cybersecurity professionals, addressing the skills gap in the Australian cyber industry.
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