Five years ago, the global COVID pandemic led to widespread job losses as economies around the world tightened.

For Madeleine McCarthy, it became the catalyst for a life-changing career shift.

At just 26, she had a clear path ahead of her having completed a university qualification and worked for several years in Australia before securing a paid internship with a major company.

But when the pandemic struck, sales slumped. Permanent staff kept their jobs, but the internship scheme Madeleine was on became a casualty of the downturn. Job hunting proved fruitless—most companies had frozen hiring.

A future in cybersecurity had always been in the back of Madeleine’s mind, having taken a third-year cybersecurity paper during her degree and even experimented with security tools as a teenager.

With no job prospects on the horizon, Madeleine enrolled in Unitec’s new one-year Diploma in Cybersecurity, introduced in early 2020. It was a solely cybersecurity-focused qualification and offered something particularly valuable—an internship with industry.

The diploma delivered. Madeleine gained solid foundational knowledge across the broad cybersecurity landscape, from technical concepts to industry best practices. She credits the small, close-knit classes, exceptional lecturers, and structured learning for making the experience both effective and enjoyable. The internship placement at Spark provided real-world exposure, networking opportunities, and a direct link to potential employers.

“Market needs and industry engagement were key drivers in the development of the diploma,” says Dr Bashar Barmada, course coordinator and academic programme manager.

“The internship component provides students with hands-on and real-life experience, ensuring they’re well positioned for their first entry job in cybersecurity.

Shortly after graduating, Madeleine landed her first cybersecurity role at Southern Cross Health Insurance as a junior cybersecurity analyst. Over three years, she built her technical skills, gained hands-on experience, and developed a deep understanding of the field.

The opportunity led to a move into a cyber threat intelligence role with another organisation - monitoring and analysing global cyber activity, profiling threat actors, studying their methods and converting insights into actionable defensive strategies.

“With her passion and dedication to learn more, Madeleine has enjoyed a rapid career trajectory,” says Dr Bashar. “It’s very rewarding to see her exceeding in a senior position in the cybersecurity world.”

 There is enormous growth potential in the industry with cyberattacks becoming larger, more sophisticated and increasingly state-sponsored or politically motivated. Emerging technologies introduce new vulnerabilities, requiring defences to continually evolve making the work both urgent and rewarding.

Reflecting on her journey, Madeleine highlights the value of Unitec’s diploma not just for its curriculum, but for the industry connections and career guidance it provides.

“There are so many online courses in cybersecurity, but they can be overwhelming, and they don’t connect you with people in the industry,” she explains. “What made the difference for me was having lecturers and coordinators who really knew their stuff, cared about our success, and actively helped us network and find opportunities.”

Today, the 31-year-old actively recommends the diploma to anyone serious about cybersecurity as a career, believing it bridges the gap between being a student and becoming an industry professional, combining technical training, real-world experience, and invaluable mentorship.

Looking ahead, Madeleine sees herself remaining in the cyber threat intelligence space, honing her skills and working toward a senior analyst role—leading high-impact investigations or conducting in-depth research at a global vendor.

“Either way,” she says, “I’m committed to staying in cyber threat intelligence and continuing to grow. This is exactly where I want to be.”

Explore how a diploma in cybersecurity can be your launchpad to a thriving career.