I rise today to recognise an inspiring young Novocastrian, Tilley Murgatroyd, who is charting an exciting course in Australia's maritime industry. A proud Novocastrian, Tilley has recently stepped into a role as port officer with the Port Authority of New South Wales, an achievement built on her dedication, skill and hands-on training in Newcastle. Through a unique traineeship where the Port of Newcastle and Svitzer combine to develop skills around towage, pilotage support, on-water safety and port operations, Tilley has gained the kind of real-world experience that sets her up for a strong and lasting career on the harbour and at sea. This is exactly what we mean when we talk about creating effective employment pathways-giving young people the opportunity to learn, to train on the job and to step confidently into secure, skilled jobs in their own communities.
Tilley's journey also speaks to something bigger: the importance of opening doors for more women in traditionally male dominated industries like maritime. Programs like this don't just build careers; they build the future workforce of our region, which needs support in a growing economy and thriving port. For Newcastle, a city defined by our working harbour, there is something especially powerful about seeing the next generation stepping forward to keep that legacy strong. To Tilley and to all the young people of Newcastle considering a career on the water, I say this: there is a place for you and a future that is worth pursuing.
