Australia’s intelligence workforce plays a critical role across defence, policing, border security, emergency services, humanitarian response, and environmental protection. Yet despite this diversity and importance, there is no nationally accredited pathway for intelligence training.

This gap creates uneven outcomes. Some analysts receive excellent in-house instruction, while others have little structured preparation. Foundational skills such as tradecraft, structured reasoning, and source validation are taught inconsistently. Without a shared standard, quality varies, skills are not easily portable across agencies, and accountability is harder to maintain.

Nationally accredited training can address these challenges. It would set a consistent benchmark, provide professional recognition for practitioners, and ensure qualifications are portable across sectors. Most importantly, it would make sure training is designed to meet the real needs of practitioners rather than being shaped by a single agency or employer.

What is Accredited Training?

In Australia, nationally accredited training refers to qualifications that are formally recognised under the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). This means they meet nationally agreed standards, are portable across industries and sectors, and provide learners with credentials that are recognised wherever they work.

For intelligence professionals, this would ensure consistent benchmarks, create clearer career pathways, and open access to government-supported training programs. For employers, accredited training provides assurance that staff are equipped to a nationally recognised standard, improving interoperability across agencies and sectors.

Launching the IIP Training Needs Survey

To build this foundation, the Institute for Intelligence Professionalisation (IIP) is undertaking an industry-wide survey. The goal is to gather evidence of sector demand, identify skills gaps, and ensure that any future qualifications are practical, well-designed, and fit-for-purpose.

The survey is open to anyone working in or alongside intelligence, including defence, law enforcement, border security, emergency services, humanitarian and NGO sectors, and climate or environment fields. It should take about 10 minutes to complete, depending on how much detail participants wish to provide.

What the Survey Covers

The questionnaire is structured around four areas:

• About You – Your sector, role, and level of experience.
• Current Training – What training you or your staff have undertaken, how effective it has been, and where the gaps are.
• Future Needs – Your views on nationally accredited training, benefits, and priority areas.
• Support for Accreditation – Whether your organisation would back IIP-led qualifications.

While we encourage open engagement, we also recognise that some participants may be unable or reluctant to share personal details such as name or email. For that reason, the survey allows you to remain anonymous if you prefer. The only information required relates to your sector, role, and level of experience, as these details are essential to understanding the needs of the workforce.

Why Your Input Matters

Accreditation will only be possible with clear evidence of industry demand. The insights of practitioners and leaders across sectors are vital. Each response helps demonstrate the need for consistent, professional training standards and ensures the qualifications reflect the realities of intelligence work in Australia.

IIP is also keen to engage with, and where possible partner with, organisations that already deliver intelligence or related training. Collaboration of this kind ensures that existing expertise is recognised and that future qualifications benefit both providers and practitioners. By working together, we can create a training system that raises standards across the sector while supporting those who are already contributing to professional development.

Take Part

The survey is now open and can be completed here: https://intelprofession.com/intelligence-training-needs-survey.

Every response adds weight to this effort. By taking part, you will help shape the future of intelligence training and contribute to building a professional, highly trained, and connected intelligence community.

Publication Statement

AI tools were used to assist with structuring and editing for clarity. All views expressed are those of the author(s) and are offered to support open, respectful discussion. The Institute for Intelligence Professionalisation values independent and alternative perspectives, provided safety, privacy, and dignity are upheld.