The PECAN+ CTF challenge will also give students a taste of what to expect with a career in the booming cyber security industry.
High school students from around Australia will go head-to-head in a large-scale digital competition this month, putting their cyber security skills to the test.
Teams in states and territories across the country will be taking part in PECAN+ Capture The Flag (CTF) – where participants compete to solve exciting cyber security challenges and correctly uncover digital "flags" (strings of text).
Developed and led by Edith Cowan University's (ECU) School of Science, PECAN+ CTF is a free, collaborative initiative for students in years 10 to 12, with the aim of raising cyber security awareness and skills.
ECU School of Science Outreach and Engagement Coordinator Karina Price said the competition brought together higher education institutions, the cyber security industry, government, teachers and students in an engaging and industry-relevant way.
"PECAN+ tests problem solving and teamwork, as well as cyber security and computing skills," Ms Price said.
"Challenges range from beginner through to advanced, making this a competition for competitors at every skill level.
"While we draw in first-timers, we also see many students with an early interest in computing, coding and cyber taking the opportunity to immerse themselves in something exciting and relevant to future pursuits in this field.
"It gives students a taste of what's to come with a career in cyber security."
What began in 2019 as a friendly battle with teams from Perth and Canberra – hence the name PECAN – the annual competition has grown to be Australia-wide, with more than 400 competitors.
"Cyber security is a booming industry, with Australia needing thousands of extra cyber security workers each year," Professor Paul Haskell-Dowland, Associate Dean for Computing and Security in ECU's School of Science said.
"ECU has the largest cyber security research and education program in the nation, so it is a great opportunity for high school students to give it a try and experience this exciting industry."
Participants in WA will take part in a training day on Saturday, 23 August prior to the competition day on Sunday, 24 August.
There will be national awards for beginner, intermediate and advanced divisions, as well as top all female teams. For more information and to register, visit PECAN+ CTF.
