Curtin University program helps connect young autistic people to cyber security industry Sun 28 Jun 2026 at 10:10am Software engineer Benjamynn Weber has always struggled whether to disclose his autism to potential employers. "It's always a question like, 'Oh, should I tell them that I have autism?'" he said. "I'm always aware of the stigma against people with autism." But it's not something he has had to grapple with since he completed a program at Perth's Curtin University aimed at preparing young autistic people for a career in one of Australia's most critical industries. The Autism Academy for Software Quality Assurance (AASQA) program provides training and pathways for autistic people aged over 18 to pursue careers in a variety of tech industries such as robotics, automation, cyber security, data science and artificial intelligence. Program founder Tele Tan says autistic people well-suited to cyber security jobs because they are systematic, logical thinkers. "They like rules and cybersecurity software testing is a rule‑based process, and they definitely are very good at that at a cognitive level," he said. "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." Internships and more In addition to highlighting the strengths to its students to employers, the program helps participants build confidence in the workplace. Graduates gain industry recognised-certification and students can pursue tertiary study if they wish. "The certification also provides a pathway into university for students who have been told they can't do ATAR," Dr Tan said. The program also includes access to a specialist internship program created in conjunction with the Australian Computer Society Foundation, as well as personal support. "We want to take special care in the internship program for the individuals and