It's widely observed that the Australian security industry is experiencing a skills crisis with diversity being a key area of disparity.
These challenges suggest that the sector is not operating as optimally as it could, given the growing evidence that a more diverse workforce brings greater innovative potential, strategic intellect and problem-solving capacity.
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RMIT University in partnership with the Australian Women in Security Network have explored these diversity challenges by surveying those in the sector. These responses in combination with ABS data from the 2006 – 2021 Census data looks to provide a rich insight into how far the sector has come, and the work still to be done.
This study aims to gain an accurate picture of the security industry workforce in Australia. The goal of this study is to identify practical ways to expand and diversify the industry’s talent pool to best equip it for the growing challenges and demands it faces.
The solutions to achieving gender equity are not clear-cut. Achieving gender equity is not just about striving to attract more women and under-represented cohorts into the sector; it’s about understanding the factors that deter them from joining or cause them to leave the sector. It’s about the sector committing to fostering a workforce culture that is genuinely inclusive and that embraces diversity as a strength and equity as a value.
The Gender Dimensions of the Australian Cyber Security Sector report gives the Australian cyber security sector a clearer picture of women’s representation and an understanding of the factors that enable and impede their career participation and advancement. Its recommendations for action point towards the importance of de-biasing work cultures and adopting evidence-based approaches to enhance inclusivity and diversity in the sector’s broad systems and culture.
The Gender Dimensions of the Cyber Security Sector in Australia report was released on the 3rd of April 2023
Further information on this project and the final report can be found here:
UNDERSTANDING GENDER DIMENSIONS PROJECT STUDY
March 2023: Keynote by Dr Leonora Risse for IWD. Cracking the Code for DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality
March 2023: AWSN-ISACA International Womens Day By Dr Lena Wang. Initial insights from the Gender Dimensions in the security Sector in Australia study
November 2022: AustCyber Cyberweek 2023 - Diversity in Cyber
October 2022: AISA 2022 Cyber Conference Slide Deck
August 2022: Australian Security Sector - Where are the Women
April 2022: RMIT-AWSN Preliminary Insights Report 2022
Women in Australia's Cyber Security Industry Growing
Ground-breaking study to understand the gender dimensions of the security sector in Australia
Survey to measure Australia's cyber gender diversity
Women's employment in the cyber security industry is growing
AustCyber Cyberweek: Diversity in Cyber: Are we the best we can be?
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