Get a Job, sha na na na, sha na na na na
Hi Henry — here’s a breakdown of good pathways, industries, courses (free, low-cost, and more formal), and methods for entry into the computer/tech sector. If you like, I can also pull together a list specific to your area in Melbourne (TAFE / RTOs etc.).
Best Industries to Enter (Tech-adjacent & Growing Demand)
These are areas that are hiring now, have growth potential, and where people with beginner to advanced skills can find work:
Role / Sector
What You Do Level of Entry / Skills Needed Help Desk / IT Support / Desktop Support Troubleshoot devices, install software, assist non-technical users, manage tickets
Often entry level, you can start with Cert III or a helpdesk skillset, then build up,
Cybersecurity / Information Security Defending systems, monitoring threats, incident response, auditing, penetration testing.
More advanced, but there are entry pathways (awareness, analyst, compliance)
Networking & Systems Administration. Setting up networks, managing servers, cloud services, uptime, infrastructure
Mid to advanced; need strong technical skills and certifications
Web Development / Software Development Front-end / back-end code, building websites/web apps, maybe mobile apps. Beginners can start small (HTML, CSS, JS), then languages & frameworks.
Data / Analytics / Artificial Intelligence / MLGathering data, cleaning, analyzing, applying models, interpreting insights. More advanced, but there are entry-level data roles or junior analyst positions.
Tech + Human Services (Hybrid ideas) e.g. Technical Support + Counselling / User Support. Helping people with tech along with empathy / human-facing skills; accessible/support roles, digital inclusion, training users. Good for someone who likes tech & helping people; some roles are more “soft skills” heavy
Levels & Methods of Entry
Level, What You Can Do / Consider Typical Qualifications /
Learning Beginner / Entry• Cert III in IT / Information Technology Support or Help Desk • Free / very low cost online courses to build basics (computer literacy, networking, security awareness) • Skill sets or short courses • Volunteering, internships, help desk roles to build experience,
Certificates (TAFE or RTO), free MOOCs, vendor-certs (Cisco, Microsoft), short online courses
Intermediate• Cert IV or Diploma in IT areas (Networking, Cybersecurity, Systems Admin) • More specialized online courses • Junior roles, project work, building portfolio (for web dev / software) • Certifications (CompTIA, Cisco CCNA, Microsoft, etc.)Diplomas / advanced certs / vendor certs + hands-on experience.
Advanced• Degree level or advanced diplomas • Specialist certifications (e.g. ethical hacking, cloud architect, devops) • Lead roles, senior support, network/security architecture etc. • Possibly combining tech with counselling/human services (e.g. digital mental health, autism tech support)Formal higher education / long courses, strong portfolio, perhaps work experience, ongoing learning
Examples of Courses in Australia (TAFE etc.)
These are some real, available courses in and out of TAFE, especially in ICT / IT, helpdesk, cybersecurity:
Course Provider Cost / Fee Info What You’ll Learn / Outcomes
Certificate III in Information Technology (ICT30120)TAFE Queensland etc.
Subsidised if eligible; in QLD ~ A$2,090 concession, ~ A$3,170full fee. (TAFE Queensland)
Basic foundational IT skills; you can later specialise; roles like general IT support, helpdesk etc. (TAFE Queensland)
Certificate II Applied Digital Technologies (ICT20120-01)
TAFE NSW Likely heavily subsidis ed or low fee; this is entry level. (TAFE NSW)Digital literacy, basic computing, spreadsheets, OS, identifying security threats, etc. (TAFE NSW)Diploma of Information Technology (ICT50220)TAFE NSW
Higher level; check funding/loans; more cost than Cert III/IV. (TAFE NSW)Prepares for roles like junior programmers, web developers, L2 support etc. (TAFE NSW)TAFE SA / Online IT Courses
TAFE SA Delivered online; fees vary; often part funding / subsidies for eligible students. (tafesa.edu.au)
Range of ICT skills; probably includes Cert III/IV, systems admin, maybe networking. (tafesa.edu.au)
Introductory Help Desk Skill Set (ICTSS00107)Academy IT (Adelaide)Fee: ~ A$1,450 (full fee); good for a 6-12 week program. (academyit.com.au)
Focus is narrow: help desk skills, customer support, basics of hardware/software, communication, ticketing etc. (academyit.com.au)
Free or Low-Cost / Online Resources
Good ones you can use to start without large costs:
Resource What They Offer Level / Usefulness Coursera Free c ourses in cybersecurity etc, many with audit-option or financial aid; full certificates sometimes paid.
Coursera Beginner through intermediate edX
Similar model: free audit, may pay for certificate.
Courses in network security, ethical hacking etc.
edX Good for foundational theory & exposure
Alison Free cybersecurity, network security, ethical hacking etc with certifications.
alison.com Good for building knowledge; certificate may help for entry roles Cisco NetAcad“Introduction to Cybersecurity” among other courses.
Free. netacad.com Good to get basic understanding of cyber threats, terminology etc.
Palo Alto Networks Free Courses Free cybersecurity education, inexpensive certification paths.
Palo Alto Networks Useful if you want vendor understanding / specialization NIST / NICE online learning content Free / low cost modules in cybersecurity, cloud, etc.
NIST Good for self-paced learning and getting prepared for certification
Cybersecurity Options
If you’re interested in cybersecurity specifically, here’s how to build a path:
Start with awareness / foundational courses
Basics of networking, how computers/web works, understand what threats are (phishing, malware etc.). Use free modules (NetAcad, edX, Alison).Entry-level certifications / short courses
E.g. “Cybersecurity Awareness”, or short skill sets or Cert III/Cert IV in ICT with cybersecurity specialization. Many TAFE’s Cert III in IT offers cyber awareness as a component. (TAFE NSW)Hands-on practice
Labs (virtual machines), capture the flag, sandboxing, small projects (set up your own home lab). Try free platforms (TryHackMe, Cybrary etc though I didn’t list those from your search but they are known).Certifications
Vendor ones or popular industry ones: CompTIA Security+, CISSP (later), CISCO’s certs, etc.Higher qualifications / Roles
Diploma / advanced Diploma, maybe degree depending on how far you want to go. Roles: SOC analyst, penetration tester, threat intelligence, etc.
Marrying Tech + Counselling / Help & Support Roles
If you like tech and helping people, some viable hybrids:
Tech support / helpdesk for aged care, disability sector, or mental health organisations — many organisations need tech support people who are patient, good communicators, often training non-tech users.
Digital inclusion / community programs — teaching people (older, low income, etc) how to use computers, internet safety, mobile devices etc.
Online counselling + tech facilitation — maybe teaching via online platforms, or using tech tools to deliver counselling, needing both counselling qualifications and tech literacy.
EdTech / Training / Instructional Designers — designing online resources, training people in software, which needs both human skills and tech skills.
You may need a dual qualification / certificate: a counselling/studies certificate + IT or support cert.
Some Good “Low-Cost / Entry” Plans
Here are a few example pathways you could take, depending on your starting point:
Starting Point Steps Estimated Cost / Time Possible Job / Wage Outcomes Little/no tech background
1. Free online course (e.g. NetAcad Intro to Cybersecurity + basic computer literacy)
2. Cert II or III in IT (TAFE)
3. Short help-desk / tech support training
4. Get a junior helpdesk roleTime: ~6 months to a year Cost: free → a few thousand dollars depending on subsidies
Online & TAFE mix~$50-65k/year in Australia maybe for helpdesk / IT support, depending on location & employer
Some tech exposure / intermediate1. Cert IV or Diploma in a specialization (e.g. networking or cybersecurity)
2. Vendor certs (CompTIA, Cisco)
3. Projects / portfolio
4. Apply for junior analyst / junior sysadmin roles
Time: ~1-2 years Cost: perhaps several thousand (fees + certs)Upwards of ~$70-90k depending on role & employer
Combining with counselling / support
1. Cert in counselling / mental health first aid / help sector
2. Cert III/IV in IT support or cyber awareness
3. Work in roles that combine these (e.g. tech support in community services, helplines, digital inclusion programs)Time: ~1-2 years; cost varies depending on counselling qualification
Often lower wage initially, but meaningful work and increases as technical skills grow; plus you may find niche roles with higher pay
Specific TAFE / Course Suggestions (Melbourne / Victoria area) — to check
These aren’t all Melbourne-specific, but TAFE SA, TAFE NSW etc show what to look for. In Victoria, do check:
TAFE Victoria: Cert III / IV in IT, Information Technology, Cyber Security.
Skill sets in IT support, helpdesk.
Check for Fee-Free / Subsidised programs (Victoria often has these for priority courses).
If you like, I can pull together a curated list of free / low cost Victoria-based courses right now, with providers, costs, dates. Do you want me to do that?
