CyberTaipan is a national cybersecurity competition based on the CyberPatriot competition, which has been running in the US since 2009. It employs a well-established framework to educate and inspire high school students to pursue further studies and careers in cybersecurity and STEM fields.
The CyberTaipan cybersecurity competition has been sponsored by the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) through the Digital Careers Grant. And with financial support from Northrop Grumman Australia (NGA) and our other partners, CSIRO has proudly delivered the CyberTaipan cyber security competition since 2020.
The Digital Careers funding provided by DISR concludes in January 2024, and unfortunately, CyberTaipan will not be delivered beyond 2023.
What's next?
Although we will not deliver CyberTaipan beyond 2023, our commitment to encouraging STEM career pathways continues through our selection of alternative programs.
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Do you want to bring STEM expertise into your classroom?
If you’re a mentor or registered teacher, you may be interested in:
STEM Professionals in Schools is Australia’s largest national skilled volunteering program for STEM professionals and classroom educators. We individually match teachers and STEM professionals so they can work together to increase teachers’ and students’ STEM skills, knowledge, and confidence through various activities. Each partnership is unique and flexible, as the partners decide for themselves what works best, with support from the national STEM Professionals in Schools team.
STEM Together helps curious Year 5 to 10 students strengthen their confidence, capability, and connection with STEM. Its Future Shapers program recognises students and those that support them.
Are your students interested in a career in the STEM industry?
CSIRO offers Virtual Work Experience to students in years 10 and 11, regardless of location.
If you’re a coach, you may be interested in:
General Stream: Students work on collaborative, group projects linked to real-world CSIRO research and industry challenges. This will be under the guidance of experienced CSIRO staff and STEM professionals.
If you’re a mentor, you may be interested in volunteering as a supervisor:
Defence Industry Stream: This specialised path allows students to immerse themselves in the Defence Industry virtually. They gain first-hand experience and exposure to real-world STEM skills supported by industry professionals.
Both streams offer practical, hands-on experience that aligns well with the skills honed in the CyberTaipan competition. The Defence Industry stream is ideal for students interested in cybersecurity or related fields. Each stream comes with mentorship and an introduction to cutting-edge technology, making them valuable experiences for students eager to make informed choices about future STEM careers.
The opportunity for students to participate in these work experiences could be a natural progression from their involvement in CyberTaipan, allowing them to deepen their expertise and broaden their perspectives in STEM.
External to CSIRO
PECAN+ is an annual Cyber Security Capture the Flag competition for high school students in Year 10 and above, managed by Edith Cowan University. Challenges are aimed at various skill levels, from beginner to expert, and include Steganography, Forensics, and Cryptography.