Cyber security teacher was Sanjay’s next step

With more than a decade of experience spanning Information and Communications Technology (ICT) support, cloud engineering, infrastructure and teaching, Sanjay had already built a diverse career in technology.

But as cyber threats became more sophisticated and security demands continued to grow, he saw an opportunity to formalise his experience and take the next step professionally.

Today, the TAFE Queensland Graduate Diploma in Cyber Security (HED010 ) student is applying those advanced skills across two roles – as an ICT teacher at TAFE Queensland and as a business owner, delivering cloud, infrastructure and cyber security services to clients.

That broad and evolving career in technology has shaped Sanjay’s path into cyber security.

After completing a Bachelor of Biotechnology and a Master of Information Technology in 2011, he began his ICT career fixing computers before launching his own business supporting small and medium businesses with digital marketing, website development and IT services.

Over time, that work expanded into servers, networks and cloud services, where he gained AWS and Google Cloud certifications and moved further into cloud engineering and systems support.

He also began teaching ICT part-time in 2016 before taking on a full-time role with TAFE Queensland during the COVID-19 pandemic – a move he describes as a turning point in his career.

At the same time, cyber security was becoming a larger part of his daily work, with clients increasingly needing support with firewall deployments, security monitoring and cyber risk management.

“With more than 12 years’ experience across infrastructure, networking and cloud, cyber security was the next logical step,” Sanjay said.

“Demand for cyber skills is growing rapidly, and this qualification allowed me to build on what I already knew and formalise the security work I was already doing for clients.”

Already part of the TAFE Queensland team, Sanjay first learned about the cyber security graduate diploma through colleagues and internal communications.

He said that support from his manager and the course's flexibility made it possible to balance study with full-time work.

For Sanjay, one of the course's biggest strengths was its practical, industry-focused approach to postgraduate training.

“Postgraduate study can be very academic, but TAFE’s culture blends theory with practical, industry-based delivery,” he said.

“The teachers lean toward real-world application, which is exactly what working professionals need.”

He also praised the support of TAFE Queensland teachers, saying their understanding of the demands placed on working professionals made a real difference throughout his studies.

“The teachers are extremely supportive and understand that most of us are working professionals with time constraints,” he said.

“They’re knowledgeable, approachable and always willing to point us toward further resources.”

Studying alongside classmates from government and industry also added another layer to the experience, with students bringing knowledge from a range of ICT specialisations, including networking, infrastructure and business systems.

A major highlight of the course was the opportunity to complete an internship with TAFE Queensland’s cyber security team, where Sanjay worked on projects, including those with the risk management team.

The placement gave him practical insight into how cyber security functions across an organisation and reinforced the importance of communication, collaboration and understanding how different specialist teams work together to keep systems secure.

Combined with the broader course content, including cyber security operations, risk management and real-world security practices, the experience helped strengthen Sanjay’s technical knowledge and confidence in applying cyber security principles in professional environments.

Now, he draws on those skills every day across both of his professional roles.

At TAFE Queensland, Sanjay prepares lectures, practical labs and course materials, while in his business, he supports clients across industries, including automotive and insurance, with Microsoft 365, Azure and AWS services, firewall monitoring, log reviews and cyber security support.

“I was already doing cyber security work, but now I deploy firewalls and testing tools with much more confidence and can advise clients with greater authority,” he explained.

“It has also changed the way I teach. When I’m delivering topics like Domain Name System or Active Directory, I now bring in a cyber security perspective, which adds another layer of relevance for students.”

Looking ahead, Sanjay hopes to continue growing his company’s cyber security capabilities while also helping to train the next generation of professionals through teaching.

His long-term goal is to build a suite of cyber security products and services that provide clients with what he describes as a “365-day cyber security umbrella,” delivering practical, ongoing protection for businesses navigating an increasingly complex digital environment.

For Sanjay, the graduate diploma has delivered the right mix of flexibility, practical experience and industry-aligned learning to help him keep building that future.

“TAFE is the perfect place where academic knowledge and hands-on skills come together. It’s flexible, industry-aligned, and it genuinely works for people already in the workforce who want to upskill,” concluded Sanjay.