Master of Cyber Security helps Andrew build a new career pathway

With a career background in finance and commerce, Andrew had spent years working across commercial analysis, governance and business improvement while maintaining a strong interest in IT, development and cyber security.

When the time came to formalise that interest and work towards a future in the field, he committed fully to building the skills and qualifications needed to make it happen.

Today, the TAFE Queensland Master of Cyber Security (HED009) student is combining his studies with his role at Queensland Treasury, where he works across commercial analysis and strategic initiatives while continuing to build his cyber security capability.

A lifelong Queenslander, Andrew has spent most of his life in the state, apart from a short stint in Sydney in the late 1990s.

While his professional background has traditionally been in finance and commerce, technology has always been a constant interest of his.

In recent years, he decided to act on that passion and take practical steps towards a career in cyber security.

Over the past two years, Andrew has completed a Graduate Diploma in Computer Science at university, attended developer boot camps and Microsoft systems courses, and completed a Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security at TAFE Queensland’s South Bank campus before progressing into the Master of Cyber Security.

“I have always had a passion for tech, IT, security and development, and recently I realised the time had come to formalise my goals,” Andrew said.

For Andrew, TAFE Queensland’s Master of Cyber Security stood out for its flexible delivery, practical learning, industry relevance and the opportunity to learn from experienced teachers.

“I chose TAFE because it offers flexible learning, covers the content I was interested in and has an amazing array of knowledgeable teachers who are subject matter experts,” he said.

“I also rate TAFE highly because it has a mix of practical learning, which is of great benefit, and I saw it as a gateway to further my career.”

Andrew first learned about the course while researching different study pathways into cyber security and said support from his employer gave him additional confidence to take the next step.

Once he started, he found the teaching team to be one of the course's biggest strengths.

“All the teachers are very supportive. They actively help in addressing any concerns or queries, whether that’s online, via email or in person,” he said.

“They go the extra mile in guiding students through assessment and make themselves available for feedback.”

Andrew said he particularly enjoyed the challenge of taking on the course full-time, as well as the opportunity to connect with classmates and build industry networks along the way.

To support collaboration outside the classroom, he set up a Discord study group for classmates, creating a space to share ideas, ask questions and stay connected throughout the course.

He also valued hearing from guest lecturers, who provided insights into the cyber security industry and the career opportunities available to graduates.

Balancing full-time study with work commitments required discipline, planning and more than a few late nights, but Andrew said the effort was worth it.

TAFE Queensland’s flexible learning options and supportive teaching environment helped make that balance manageable.

At the same time, the practical focus of the course gave him confidence that he was building skills aligned to industry needs.

Since beginning the course, Andrew said his skills in networking, cyber applications, governance and risk have grown significantly, with the curriculum helping to sharpen his understanding of the frameworks, security protocols and principles that underpin the profession.

That learning has also complemented his work at Queensland Treasury, where he has spent the past three years working on commercial analysis and financial efficiency initiatives.

While not formally employed in an IT role, Andrew has contributed to a range of technology-related projects and responsibilities, including information privacy reviews, cyber governance and risk, software licensing, Microsoft-based business solutions, and, most recently, the rollout of Artificial Intelligence tools through Copilot.

“My studies have been greatly valuable in developing my skills and knowledge, which will help me work towards a cyber security role,” he said.

Looking ahead, Andrew hopes to build a career as a cyber security cloud architecture specialist, combining his business background with technical expertise in cyber and cloud technologies.

For Andrew, studying the Master of Cyber Security has been an important step towards that goal, giving him the skills, confidence and industry-aligned learning to keep building his future in the field.

“If you have an interest in cyber security, I recommend the course. It provides a robust understanding of the subject matter, with a practical focus that really supports career development,” concluded Andrew.