Queensland students put cyber skills to the test at ANZ Hackathon
More than 100 students, academics and industry experts are gathering in Brisbane on 19 and 20 October for the second ANZ Cybercrime Hackathon, an event designed to give participants practical experience in cyber and financial crime scenarios.
The hackathon is being delivered by ANZ in partnership with Griffith University and Google Cloud, with mentors also drawn from the Queensland Police Service. Organisers said students will work in a simulated financial crime task force, investigating suspicious financial and digital activity, analysing cyber and fraud intelligence, and developing potential solutions aimed at improving cyber resilience.
Hackathon winners will be eligible for internship opportunities with ANZ. According to the organisers, Griffith University student and 2025 ANZ Cybercrime Hackathon winner Radhika Agarwal secured a paid internship after taking part in last year’s event as a first-year student.
ANZ Managing Director Queensland Bruce Rush said the hackathon was intended to support Queensland talent and build capability to respond to cybercrime and financial crime.
“Queensland is home to world-class universities and a growing technology sector. By bringing together students, academics and industry experts, we’re helping create pathways into the workforce while showcasing the incredible talent and innovation emerging across the sunshine state.
“Following the success of last year’s inaugural ANZ Hackathon, we’re proud to once again bring this event to Queensland. By partnering with Griffith University and Google Cloud, we’re investing in local talent, strengthening cyber capability and helping unlock the state’s potential as a centre for innovation and future workforce development.”
Agarwal said the event provided exposure to how cyber security skills are applied in practice.
“I signed up for the ANZ Hackathon as a first-year university student looking to challenge myself, gain hands-on experience and learn something new. Working alongside industry experts on a realistic cybercrime investigation gave me a completely new perspective on cyber security and showed me how the skills we learn at university are applied to solving complex problems impacting millions of people around the world.
“Winning the Hackathon and completing an internship at ANZ gave me the opportunity to build real-world experience, learn from experienced professionals, develop confidence in my skills and better understand the wide range of career opportunities available in cyber security.
“My biggest piece of advice for students considering the Hackathon is not to be intimidated if you’re still learning. You don’t need to have all the answers before putting yourself forward for opportunities like this – some of the most valuable learning comes from simply participating.”
The event follows the Australian Signals Directorate’s Annual Cyber Threat Report 2024-25, which ANZ cited as reporting more than 84,700 cybercrime reports nationally and an average of one report every six minutes. ANZ said Queensland accounted for 28 per cent of cybercrime reports, the largest share of any state or territory.
Griffith University Vice President – Industry and External Engagement Professor Bronwyn Harch said the hackathon provides students with an invaluable opportunity to apply their knowledge in a realistic, high-pressure environment and learn directly from industry experts.
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