GOTAFE Cyber Security students shows WorldSkills they can hack the pressure

While many components of the competition have been postponed, the Cyber Security and IT elements of WorldSkills were held virtually on Thursday, August 26 and Friday, August 27.

From GOTAFE, two students took part in the show over the weekend including Brylee Roberts from Oxley who is currently completing a Certificate IV in Cyber Security (22334VIC).

It was his passion for computers and technology and desire to learn more which steered him towards enrolling in the course with GOTAFE.

“Since I was a teenager one of my hobbies has been breaking computers and finding different ways to access information,” Brylee said.

“While my strength has always been in breaking down systems, it’s been really interesting learning how to defend and stop that from happening.”

Like many students, Brylee wasn’t aware of WorldSkills until his trainer Steve Cranage raised it with him.

“I started my career as a trainer with GOTAFE after taking a few years away from the IT industry to spend time caring for my father who had cancer which eventually took his life,” Steve said.

Steve went on to become a student in the first offering of the Certificate IV in Cybersecurity qualification with GOTAFE.

During this time, he also completed a Certificate III in Information, Digital Media and Technology (ICT30118), and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40116).

He eventually secured employment as trainer and assessor with GOTAFE where he now delivers the Certificate IV in Cyber Security qualification.

“It’s been a wild ride to say the least, but thoroughly enjoyable,” Steve said.

It was Steve who encouraged Certificate IV in Cyber Security student Zach* from Shepparton to take part in WorldSkills.

“I was inspired to start studying at GOTAFE because they had that course,” Zach said.

“I had a very technological background in high school and grew up around computers.”

Zach explained that he quickly got into computers and game hacking, and wanted to further his skills and looking back, felt he has made the right choice for his career.

“I didn’t know about WorldSkills until my trainer (Steve Cranage) said that there was a competition going on and he wanted me to participate in it,” he said.

“I thought this would be a great step to help me learn more about cyber.”

Regarding career pathways, Zach can already see the benefits and opportunities that the cyber security course has provided him with.

“I dropped out of high school in Year 11, so completing this course will help me plan a career and I’m really grateful for that,” he said.

“If Steve hadn’t have come up to me and asked me about joining WorldSkills, I probably wouldn’t have had the confidence to push myself outside my comfort zone. You learn a whole lot.”

Results for WorldSkills are yet to be announced, however, trainer Steve Cranage is extremely proud of those who took part over the weekend.

“We were extremely proud with how they threw everything into it, and also how all of the students from Cert IV Cyber got behind them, and helped make it fun and enjoyable,” he said.