LAST month, Connect and Thrive Pathways brought together 46 young people from across the Moree region for a full-day youth engagement session.

Held at the Moree Services Club auditorium, the event involved young people aged 15 to 18 from four schools across the Moree region.

One of the attending principals shared that this was the best they had seen some of their students engaged.

This was the fifth Connect and Thrive Pathways event delivered by the NSW Office for Youth as part of a broader approach to helping young people build confidence, develop communication and networking skills, connect with peers, and explore their community vision and priorities.

The program offered workshops on building positive relationships and community networks, helping young people link with opportunities for leadership, skills development, and future pathways in the region.

Connect and Thrive Pathways brought together 46 young people from across the Moree region for a full-day youth engagement session.

During the year, events were also held in Parkes, Albury, Kempsey, Murwillumbah and Tamworth.

Connect and Thrive Pathways gave youth opportunities throughout the year to connect with peers, get involved in their communities and access local hubs and activities.

Moree youth connected with local young leaders and professionals, learned to build leadership and networking skills, shared ideas for community improvements, and heard from businesses, organisations and government agencies to support young people in finding their path.

NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s director for regional youth, Julia Ryan, said Connect and Thrive enabled youth to be seen and heard.

“These events are about more than skills and jobs, they’re about creating a space where young people feel seen, heard and supported to lead positive change in their own communities,” Ms Ryan said.