2. Improve the diversity of the cyber workforce To create a diverse cyber workforce and tap into the potential of a broader market, the Government will work with industry to promote targeted support and return-to-work programs for women, underrepresented groups and diverse communities. The Government will also issue cyber diversity guidance to help employers attract and retain diverse cohorts into cyber security professions. This guidance will include specific recommendations on how to increase employment of women and First Nations people in cyber roles, acknowledging the major barriers they face to find and maintain jobs in the sector. The Government will continue to consult with industry and work with the Executive Cyber Council to develop whole-of-economy initiatives to improve the diversity of the cyber workforce. The Government’s response to the Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review will provide a further opportunity to consider concerted and systemic action to address this issue in the long term. 3. Professionalise the domestic cyber workforce To support a thriving ecosystem, we will also work with industry to enhance efforts to professionalise the cyber security workforce. This will create clear pathways into cyber security roles, reduce barriers to entry and build greater consistency across the cyber workforce. A clear cyber skills framework will provide assurance to employers that the cyber workforce is appropriately skilled, and will give workers confidence that their qualifications and relevant experience are recognised and fit for purpose. The Government’s reforms to the vocational education and training (VET) system will provide training relevant to Australia’s labour market and keep pace with emerging skills needs, including in critical areas like cyber security. This will be bolstered by a new five-year National Skills Agreement that will ensure a responsive VET sector provides the right training for critical and emerging industries. The Government will further invest in Australia’s cyber security skills by offering ASD’s cyber expertise to leading vocational training pathways and rolling out ASD’s Essential Eight Assessment Course to TAFE’s cyber consortium. The Government has also asked the Australian Universities Accord to examine ways that tertiary qualifications can better align with skills needs – now and in the future. By connecting employers and tertiary institutions, we will promote a dynamic approach to shaping cyber qualifications to ensure graduates and apprentices are job ready and competitive in the workplace. 2023–2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy 49