Emmanuel goes from Podiatry to Cyber Security

“I was working as a podiatrist but was drawn to the business side, so I moved into consulting,” Emmanuel explained.

“As I gained more exposure to the technical aspects of business, I realised how much I enjoyed them and wanted to deepen my knowledge. That’s when I discovered cyber security - an exciting new challenge that combined both areas I wanted to learn more about and specialise in.”

Encouraged by a director at his workplace to pursue practical training, Emmanuel chose TAFE Queensland over a university degree.

“He pointed me towards TAFE because it was more hands-on and pragmatic. Being a trainee, that’s exactly what I needed to be able to study while working,” Emmanuel said.

Studying the Certificate IV in Cyber Security (22603VIC), Emmanuel found that the blend of theory and practice made an immediate impact.

“We’d cover theory and then jump into the associated lab components. You've got to cement where the theory comes into play in the real world. That’s invaluable - you don’t get that many other places without an internship.”

Balancing full-time study while raising three young children wasn’t easy, but Emmanuel managed with discipline, determination, and teacher support, all of which made a big difference.

“It was challenging. Much of it was about good time management, time blocking - and admittedly, a few late nights.”

“I was a very needy student. I asked a lot of questions, and my teachers always bent over backwards to help me. They put time aside in class, after class, and responded quickly to my emails.”

Emmanuel also found the diverse mix of classmates at TAFE Queensland to be one of the unexpected highlights of his study experience.

“My classmates were great. I had one career-changing peer with whom I could have the conversations you have in your 30s and 40s, alongside younger students just starting their journeys,” he explained.

Training in TAFE Queensland's world-class Cyber Security Training Operation Centre and Robotics Lab at the South Bank campus created a dynamic learning environment where perspectives were shared freely, and everyone benefited from various experiences in the room. Being around younger classmates also allowed Emmanuel to mentor and guide others.

“It allowed me to impart a little bit of wisdom. Helping younger students find their path and offering insights from my career became a rewarding part of the course.”

His peers' collaboration, shared challenges, and diverse backgrounds made the classroom an engaging space, reinforcing the practical, real-world learning TAFE Queensland is known for.

By the time Emmanuel completed his course, his practical skills had grown so much that he stepped into a Tier 1 Security Operations Centre (SOC) Analyst role.

“I could go in and investigate alerts and figure out what I didn’t understand quite quickly with the knowledge gained at TAFE Queensland,” he explained.

Today, he works as a Cyber Security Advisor, helping protect complex systems, where he still draws on the hands-on skills he developed at TAFE Queensland.

“I provide insight and advice on everything from governance, compliance and frameworks - and I still get hands-on with routers and firewalls.”

His advice for anyone considering a similar career pivot?

“Get ready to learn and keep learning. Know your transferable skill set, work on your soft skills and build a network.”

“TAFE Queensland helped me do all of that. It gave me the hands-on experience and exposure to pivot quickly and confidently. No questions asked,” concluded Emmanuel.