Australia’s ability to defend military networks and operate in a contested digital environment depends on access to specialist cyber skills that extend beyond the permanent ADF workforce. Defence’s new direct-entry Cyber Reserve Force aims to draw expertise from industry, government and academia, while the history of earlier cyber reserve initiatives raises questions about what has changed under the latest model.
Defence has launched a new Cyber Reserve Force to recruit civilian cyber specialists directly into its part-time ranks in the Australian Defence Force, with its first member recruited under a new direct-entry pathway.
The concept of recruiting civilian cyber experts into the ADF is not new, with similar proposals discussed more than a decade ago, and the ADF reported to be operating a Cyber Reserve scheme in 2020, raising questions about how the new force differs from the previous one.
Defence says the new Cyber Reserve Force was established in 12 months and is designed to bring cyber professionals from industry, government and academia into the ADF without having to follow traditional military career pathways.
The force is seeking specialists across areas including cyber operations, artificial intelligence, cloud security, network engineering, digital forensics, incident response, threat intelligence and cyber strategy.
Acting Commander Cyber Command Air Commodore Michael Reidy said cyber power was an essential element of Australia’s national defence.
“The Cyber Reserve Force enables Defence to access highly specialised expertise, strengthening our ability to defend, fight and prevail in an increasingly contested and complex digital battlespace,” he said.
“Through this new entry pathway, the Cyber Reserve Force broadens access to Australia’s cyber talent, recognising the diverse ways expertise is developed and harnessing those skills to build a more capable, resilient and agile force prepared to meet future challenges.”
The latest iteration follows the Strategic Review of the Australian Defence Force Reserves, which recommended developing a Reserve Cyber Response Unit adapted from the United Kingdom’s Cyber Reserve model and creating a pathway for those with specialist skills.
Defence subsequently announced the concept in July 2025 as part of broader reforms to modernise the ADF Reserves.
Attempts to harness civilian cyber expertise through the ADF Reserves pre-date the review, with the first idea of an Australian version of the UK model floated in a parliamentary inquiry in 2014, before the government outlined plans to recruit civilian cyber specialists into the Reserves in 2017. By 2020, the ADF was reported to have 77 cyber reservists against its 110 allocated positions, while Defence was still referring publicly to its ADF “cyber reserve manager” in 2024.
Defence says the latest model will enable cyber specialists to continue their civilian careers while contributing their expertise to Defence.
