Some of Canberra’s most talented tech students have been shown the world of ethical hacking at re_B00TCMP – a cyber program designed to educate young people about online boundaries.The AFP-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3) hosted re_B00TCMP at the University of NSW’s Canberra City campus on Wednesday (28 October, 2026).The re_B00TCMP program encourages students to explore their passion for technology, understand the boundaries between ethical hacking and cybercrime, and discover how their cyber skills can be used for good.Supported by industry and cybersecurity experts from the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), SANS Institute and UNSW, the program provided participants with direct mentorship, engagement and firsthand insights into a range of real-world cyber career pathways and opportunities.Students also competed in a ‘Capture the Flag’ competition, where they solved a series of puzzles and challenges which mimic real-world cyber incidents, from cracking codes and finding hidden messages, to spotting vulnerabilities and thinking like an ethical hacker or cybercrime investigator.Thirty-five high school students, aged between 12 and 18, were selected by the JPC3 for their standout IT skills and tech curiosity.Recognising the crucial importance of a positive support network, a parallel program for parents, carers, and teachers offered practical guidance on how to stay engaged with young people’s online activities and support the ethical use of their digital skills.Re_B00TCMP also provides awareness for parents about dangers online such as cybercrime, the dark web, common risks for teens on social media and gaming platforms, sadistic online child exploitation and online hacking groups/forums.Re_B00TCMP has now been delivered in Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Hobart and Melbourne, with early results demonstrating a positive impact. Post-program evaluations revealed a significant increase in participants’ understanding of appropriate online boundaries, with 98 per cent reporting they understood legal boundaries online after attending the program.More than 90 per cent of participants also expressed an interest in pursuing a career in cyber security or learning more about the industry.AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner Cyber and Special Investigations, Matthew Gale, said young people are naturally curious about the online world and re_B00TCMP fulfils an important obligation to educate our youth.”re_B00TCMP is an opportunity to educate talented young people and expose them to positive cyber career opportunities that exist when they use their skills within the boundaries of the law, such as cybercrime investigations and the cyber security industry,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Gale said.”You would never teach a young person to drive without first teaching them the road rules. re_B00TCMP is unique in Australia as an educational intervention program to inspire young minds to channel their passion for IT into positive, lawful and socially-beneficial activities.”The Australian Signals Directorate said programs like re_B00TCMP are integral to educating young people.”Diversity powers our mission. To achieve our goals, we require people with strong integrity and a mix of skills, passion, adaptability, resilience, curiosity and fresh thinking,” an Australian Signals Directorate spokesperson said.ANZ Country Director at the SANS Institute, Colin Brading, said their involvement reflects their commitment to develop young cyber talent.”The curiosity to understand how technology works is a strong foundation for a career in cybersecurity, and we have a responsibility to help young people develop that curiosity into capability grounded in ethical judgement.”SANS NetWars gives young people a safe environment to put their problem-solving skills to the test while developing a responsible approach to cybersecurity.University of NSW Rector and Dean Professor, Emma Sparks, said Australia’s demand for cyber security and digital technology professionals continues to grow and it’s vital that students can see the pathways available to them.”Bringing together education, industry and law enforcement creates powerful opportunities to engage students with real-world cyber challenges and showcase the positive impact they can have through technology,” Professor Sparks said.”At UNSW, our goal is to inspire young people not only to become skilled technology users, but also the innovators, problem-solvers and cyber leaders of the future. Hosting re_B00tCMP alongside the AFP allows students to see firsthand how cyber skills can be used to protect communities, strengthen organisations and contribute to Australia’s national resilience.”Originally developed by the Dutch National Police in 2021, re_B00TCMP has since expanded internationally and is now delivered in the Netherlands, Australia and Portugal.The program’s growth has been supported through the International Cyber Offender Prevention (InterCOP) network, a collaboration of 44 countries dedicated to preventing young people from becoming involved in cybercrime. Australia is proud to co-lead this global network alongside international partners.The JPC3 brings together Australian law enforcement and key industry and international partners to fight cybercrime and prevent harm and financial loss to the Australian community.The AFP is committed to equipping all Australians with the knowledge and resources to protect themselves against cybercrime.Watch our cybercrime prevention videos and protect yourself from being a victim of cybercrime.If there is an immediate threat to life or risk of harm, call Triple Zero (000).If you are a victim of cybercrime, report it to police using Report Cyber.
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