TAFE Queensland hosts national cyber security challenge across five regions

From Gold Coast to Pimlico, with South Bank, Toowoomba, and Mooloolaba in between, aspiring cyber security experts raced to solve puzzles, crack codes, and uncover hidden digital “flags” — all while learning teamwork, problem-solving, and real-world cyber skills.

“PECAN+ CTF was a hands-on, fast-paced, and fun way to teach teamwork while applying practical cyber security techniques,” said Cristey Gudgeon, Discipline Group Manager at TAFE Queensland.

“Win or lose, this experience sparked the desire to pursue exciting careers in government, defence, and global tech industries.”

The events, hosted in cyber security labs at TAFE Queensland campuses, gave participants the benefit of accessing industry-standard facilities and equipment, combined with expert instruction from ICT sector professionals.

This invaluable exposure to real-world cyber security tools and techniques, in a competitive environment, helped participants gain practical experience to ignite their careers.

PECAN+ began in 2019 as a friendly “Perth versus Canberra” CTF competition established by Edith Cowan University for high school students in Years 10 and above.

Designed to suit everyone from beginners to experienced competitors, it featured challenges of varying types and difficulty levels.

Teams of up to four competed for national awards in Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced divisions, as well as recognition for Top All-Female teams.

Training sessions, mentorship, and access to industry-standard facilities gave students practical experience that complemented classroom learning.

Over the years, the event evolved in both scale and reach, welcoming more schools and locations each year thanks to sponsorship and support from industry and partner organisations.

Their collaboration ensured students tackled real-world challenges under expert guidance while gaining invaluable hands-on experience.

PECAN+ 2025 expanded across Queensland, offering beginner, intermediate, and advanced challenges in cryptography, OSINT, reverse engineering, steganography, and system exploitation.

“Every contest was different, and students never knew exactly what they’d face,” continued Cristey.

“At TAFE Queensland, we wanted to equip young Queenslanders with skills for tomorrow’s careers,” she said.

“Hosting PECAN+ gave participants insights into the training options TAFE Queensland provides that prepare prospective students for a future in cyber security, IT, and beyond.”