Subject Spotlight – ITE526 Practical Internetworking

In today’s fast-paced IT landscape, strong networking skills are essential for managing and securing modern infrastructures. ITE526 Practical Internetworking is a core subject in the Graduate Certificate and Master of Cloud Computing and Virtualisation, as well as the Master of Networking and Systems Administration at Charles Sturt University. This subject is designed to equip students with the hands-on experience needed to design, configure, and troubleshoot networks in real-world scenarios.

Practical, Industry-Aligned Learning

ITE526 embodies IT Masters’ approach to education—industry-aligned, certification-ready, and highly practical. The subject is closely mapped to the Cisco CCNA and CompTIA Network+ certifications, ensuring that students gain real-world skills that are immediately applicable in their careers.

What You’ll Learn

Throughout the course, students will cover fundamental and advanced networking concepts, including:

• Building a Simple Network – Understanding basic networking principles and foundational configurations.
• Ethernet Local Area Networks (LAN) – Exploring how LANs operate and how to optimise their performance.
• Routing Functions and Concepts – Learning how routers facilitate communication across networks.
• Wide Area Networks (WANs) – Examining the role of WANs in large-scale infrastructure.
• Network Environment Management & Troubleshooting – Gaining hands-on experience with diagnosing and resolving network issues.
• Expanding Switched Networks – Diving into VLANs, spanning tree protocols, and scalable network design.
• Access Control Lists (ACLs) – Implementing security measures to manage traffic flow and access control.
• Address Space Management – Learning about IPv4 and IPv6 addressing strategies.
• LAN Extensions – Exploring techniques for extending and optimising LAN environments.

Career Outcomes & Industry Demand

ITE526 is a crucial subject for professionals aiming for high-demand networking roles, including:

✅ Network Engineer – Median earnings: $115,000 per annum
✅ Systems Administrator – Median earnings: $105,000 per annum
✅ Cybersecurity Engineer – Median earnings: $160,000 per annum
✅ Cloud Architect – Median earnings: $190,000 per annum

(Salary data from Morgan McKinley Salary Guide 2025)

With cloud computing adoption accelerating and AI-driven infrastructures becoming the norm, skilled network professionals will remain in high demand for the foreseeable future.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of ITE526, students will be able to:

• Evaluate and analyse operational characteristics and design considerations for contemporary hierarchical networks.
• Implement and troubleshoot LAN switching, routing, and WAN technologies across various deployments.
• Assess and implement security and service technologies in diverse environments.
• Utilise infrastructure management technologies effectively across different network contexts.

Certification Preparation

ITE526 provides extensive preparation for Cisco CCNA and CompTIA Network+ certifications. Students enrolled in IT Masters courses can also access discounted training materials and exam vouchers through the IT Masters Store.

Meet Your Mentor: Matt Constable

ITE526 is developed and delivered by Matt Constable, a veteran IT professional with over 30 years of industry experience. Matt holds qualifications in Computing, Psychology, and Exercise Science, as well as Masters degrees in Computer Security and Exercise Physiology. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Sports Biomechanics.

Matt has worked extensively across various IT domains, including network engineering, cybersecurity, VoIP, contact centres, and wireless technologies. He has held professional certifications with major vendors, including Cisco, Juniper, Checkpoint, ISC2, Novell, Microsoft, SANS, F5, and Radware.

Beyond his expertise, Matt is a highly regarded educator and presenter, known for delivering engaging and practical learning experiences that receive excellent student feedback.

Take the Next Step

If you’re looking to advance your networking expertise and gain hands-on experience with industry-standard technologies, ITE526 Practical Internetworking is the ideal choice.

Explore how this subject fits into IT Masters and Charles Sturt University’s postgraduate IT programs and take a proactive step toward securing your future in networking and cloud computing.

Get Started Today

📌 Eligible for Subsidised Fees? If you’re an Australian or New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident, you may qualify for Commonwealth Supported Places, significantly reducing your course fees!

🔗 Graduate Certificate in Cloud Computing & Virtualisation

🔗 Graduate Certificate in Networking & Systems Administration

Enrol Now for Session 1, 2025

📅 Term 2, 2025 begins on May 26. Don’t wait—take the first step toward your future in IT today!