PECAN+ 2025: A whole Weekend of Cybersecurity Challenge

August 23rd and 24th saw 550+ students, industry representatives and volunteers give up their weekends to participate in the nation’s largest education focused cybersecurity event. PECAN+ is a national 'capture the flag' competition founded and led by Edith Cowan University’s School of Science, and convenor Karena Price, that has now spread around Australia. 

First held in Queensland in 2023, an amazing group of volunteers, industry and cyber specialists, including from ACS, have together grown the state effort to run in Brisbane, Townsville, Gold Coast and Toowoomba at local TAFE Queensland campuses.

In total, 31 student teams registered across these Queensland venues, which was the highest of any state. Queensland took out 2nd Place in the Beginners level and 3rd Place in the Advance level nationally. In addition, Townsville’s Cathedral School of St Anne and St James, took the State winners position, even though they had never done a ‘capture the flag’ cybersecurity challenge before. 

ACS’s ICT Gateway to Industry Schools project was a key supporter and saw several schools in the program such as the Cathedral School of St Anne and St James, Brisbane South Secondary College, Caloundra City Private School, Merrimac State High School, Kelvin Grove State College and St Patricks Shorncliffe competing. Teams from these schools included a previous state winner from St Patrick’s Shorncliffe, and a student from Kelvin Grove State College that was returning for their 3rd year in a row of competing.