Autistic talent tapped to help fill growing cybersecurity skills gap

Perth's Curtin University has launched a program designed to bridge the growing cybersecurity skills gap by training and employing autistic individuals. The Autism Academy for Software Quality Assurance (AASQA) offers pathways for people over 18 into tech sectors like cybersecurity, data science, and artificial intelligence.

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It's always a question like, 'Oh, should I tell them that I have autism?'

Program founder Tele Tan highlights that autistic individuals possess systematic and logical thinking skills, making them well-suited for rule-based processes like software testing. He notes their curiosity about how things work and comfort with structured environments as key assets. "They like rules and cybersecurity software testing is a rule‑based process, and they definitely are very good at that at a cognitive level," Tan explained.

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I'm always aware of the stigma against people with autism.

The AASQA program not only focuses on technical training but also on building workplace confidence. Graduates receive industry-recognized certifications, and the program includes a specialist internship initiative developed with the Australian Computer Society Foundation. This internship program provides paid opportunities with various organizations, including banks, mining companies, and government agencies.

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They like rules and cybersecurity software testing is a rule‑based process, and they definitely are very good at that at a cognitive level.

This initiative addresses Australia's significant cybersecurity skills shortage. Projections indicate the nation will need an additional 4,813 dedicated cybersecurity roles annually to meet demand by 2030, requiring approximately 85,000 specialized positions. Software engineer Benjamynn Weber, who has autism, shared his past struggles with disclosing his condition to employers due to stigma, expressing increased confidence after participating in the program.

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In terms of technical skills, they are very curious about how things work and are very comfortable with a very structured environment. And software testing is one of them.