Humans of GOTAFE: Kai Bucktin

IT and Cyber Security student Kai Bucktin was a finalist in the Vocational Student of the Year category at the 2022 Victorian Training Awards.

Over the course of three years, Kai has studied and completed two qualifications including a Certificate III in Information, Digital Media and Technology (ICT301188) and Certificate IV in Cyber Security (22334VIC).

“At the time I began studying with GOTAFE I was homeless,” Kai said.

“I wasn’t sure whether I would be able to handle the demands of the course, along with challenges I was facing in my personal life.”

Kai believes GOTAFE has helped set him up for a successful career, and that by sharing his story he can inspire others to take a chance on themselves.

“I built a lot of confidence in myself during my studies and used this to help work through stressful conditions,” he said.

This was never more evident than when helping to manage a cyber security industry project for a client as part of the unit ‘develop a cyber security industry project.’ During this time, Kai had to collaborate to ensure the client’s service was going to be restored, and on budget.

“I would be lying if I didn’t say this was daunting, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and would love to experience this in a real work environment,” he said.

Kai has dealt with many hurdles during his time studying with GOTAFE, from being a transgender man starting treatment to COVID-19. But he has not let this stop him from achieving his goals and has been able to adjust his mindset to help him navigate challenges.

“I love paying things forward, and really enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with students that are travelling the same road that I went down,” he said.

“I think that although each of these were challenges individually, that combined they all made me who I am, a strong resilient young man, with a bright future working within Information Technology."