Minister Clare O'Neil and ESET Australia open the Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship Program

The Minister for home affairs and cyber security, Clare O’Neil and IT security software and services company have launched its third annual Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship program as part of International Women’s Day (IWD). 

O’Neil and ESET Australia have teamed up for the scholarship program aimed at encouraging women to pursue education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) industries. 

Under the commitment, ESET is offering a cybersecurity scholarship of $5000 to a current female student enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate program within the STEM field. 

Applications are now open and are set to close in May with the winner on World Day for Cultural Diversity, 21st May 2024. 

The winner will also be offered an invitation to Parliament House for a meeting during a sitting week as part of the prize. 

O’Neil said, “We are embarking on a new era of cybersecurity capability in this country, and are aiming to be a world leader in cyber security by 2030." 

O’Neil has previously stated that, “Our cybersecurity workforce has never been more important."

"The percentage of women in cybersecurity is growing, and initiatives such as ESET’s scholarships compliment the work the government is doing to support that influx of women.

"Women rising through ranks in cybersecurity will encourage the younger generation into STEM related studies, and into technical roles,” O’Neil said.  

The latest data from STEM Equity Monitor showed women comprise only 15 percent of the STEM-qualified workforce in Australia, however, this is increasing. 

In addition, the Australian Cyber Security Growth Network estimates that Australia will need more than 16,000 skilled workers by 2026 and that encouraging female professionals into the technology space will go some way to fill those roles. 

Last year’s scholarship recipient Shradha Angrish, is undertaking a double degree for a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechanical) and a Bachelor of Mathematical and Computer Sciences at the University of Adelaide.

At the time, Angrish said, “Being awarded this scholarship is an honour and a privilege that inspires me to do more…It’s an incredible reminder that there are people and support systems that want me to succeed.”