MOREE’S Tijari Tighe has been named a finalist for the 2025 New England Regional Training Awards.

Ms Tighe, now working at Narrabri, is a finalist in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year category.

The New England Regional Training Awards recognises accomplished and passionate people who are making outstanding contributions to their workplaces and industries.

“When I was selected as a finalist, I was very happy and am very proud to represent my family and community at the awards,” Ms Tighe said.

Ms Tighe is a youth consultant at Joblink Plus in Narrabri, and grew up in Moree with parents Matthew Tighe and Brenda Tyson.

Her role as a youth consultant consists of supporting participants in a Transition to Work program at Joblink Plus in Narrabri, where she’s been working for nearly two years.

“My role allows me to inspire other young people to achieve their goals,” Ms Tighe said.

“I am passionate about this because I grew up in the same communities, schools and neighbourhoods as some of our participants in Moree.

“I understand first-hand the struggles and many barriers that go with living in such a rural and troubled community.

“I know that some of our participants in Moree may not have the right amount of support – or any – around them at times, and to be a voice encouraging every last client we work with has shown that one voice can make such a big impact on a young person’s life.

“My goal for my clients is to gain the understanding that you are capable of anything you put your mind too, and hard work does pay off in the end,” she said.

Tijari Tighe has been named a finalist for 2025 New England Regional Training Awards.

After schooling at Caloundra in Queensland, Ms Tighe returned to Moree and started Year 9 at Moree Secondary College. She completed Year 11 in 2022.

“I decided to leave school and completed my Certificate III in Business online, delivered by Australian Training Plus,” Ms Tighe said.

She started her career at Joblink Plus as a business administration trainee, in November, 2023.

“I began as a participant in the Transition to Work program when I left school, and my youth consultant asked if I would be interested in the business admin traineeship position at Joblink Plus,” she said.

“I continued in that role until March this year, when I entered a youth consultant role at the Narrabri site.”

Ms Tighe’s main objective is to support and assist participants, and help them gain full time employment or study.

“In my role, I service the Narrabri and Coonabarabran sites. Our program is designed for participants aged 15-24, who have left school and are looking for work or study,” Ms Tighe said.

“The best part of my role is getting to work alongside and inspire people who are maybe in the same boat I was a few years ago – not knowing what to do after leaving school – and seeing them achieve each goal we set is such a wonderful thing, especially the participants who I was working with in Moree.

“It’s great to see the same kids I grew up with, achieve their goals, too,” she said.

The NSW Training Awards are conducted annually by Training Services within the NSW Department of Education.

The awards, now in their 70th year, recognise outstanding achievement in the vocational education and training sector and honour and reward the achievements of students, trainers and teachers, and registered training organisations and employers.

Ms Tighe, who enjoys netball, going to the gym and spending time with family when not working or studying, has completed her Certificate III in Business.

“I am not studying at the moment, but I’m planning to do further study in the youth and community services industry,” she said.

The 2025 New England Regional Training Awards presentation will be held at 6pm this Friday, June 13, at Tamworth Town Hall.