Mid-Year Momentum with Tyler
Moving to a new city and starting a new job at the same time can be daunting, but for Regional Advisor Tyler, it has become one of the most rewarding chapters of her journey so far.
After relocating from Palmerston North to Auckland late last year, Tyler joined the Halberg team and has spent the past eight months building connections, learning from communities and helping create inclusive opportunities for tamariki and rangatahi across the region.
Reflecting on her first few months, Tyler says the transition couldn’t have gone much better.
“It has been a breath of fresh air. I’ve learnt so much already and have felt incredibly welcome.”
Although arriving in a completely new region initially felt like a challenge, Tyler now sees it as one of her greatest strengths. Exploring Auckland with fresh eyes has allowed her to build genuine relationships with schools, clubs and community organisations while discovering just how passionate people are about creating opportunities for young people with disabilities.
One of the biggest surprises has been the joy she found in the role. Every day brings new experiences and the chance to meet inspiring people whose resilience and outlook on life continue to leave a lasting impression. Those moments have helped shape not only her understanding of inclusion, but also her own perspective on gratitude and the impact that meaningful connections can have.
As July marks the halfway point of the year, the theme of Mid-Year Momentum resonates strongly with Tyler. Looking back, she can see just how far she’s come since those first weeks in Auckland.
“I feel like I’m now taking the driver’s seat rather than being the passenger. Personally, it’s about reflecting on my own goals, while professionally it’s about asking how I can put more smiles on other people’s faces.”
That growing confidence has been fuelled by moments that remind her why she chose this role.
One of those moments came during this year’s Halberg Games, when a young athlete asked Tyler to guide him during a running event. His trust and excitement created a memory she’ll never forget. Another highlight was supporting Halberg Youth Council Member Natalie as she prepared for her speech at the Games. Being able to help behind the scenes and watch Natalie confidently share her story reinforced one of Tyler’s core values – helping others to shine.
For Tyler, some of her proudest achievements aren’t measured by events or milestones, but by becoming someone participants and families recognise and trust.
Creating inclusive opportunities has also reminded her of the power sport has to change lives. Growing up, many of Tyler’s closest friendships were formed through sport, and she knows firsthand the confidence, belonging, and lifelong connections that participation can bring. Seeing young people step outside their comfort zones, try something new and build friendships of their own is one of the most rewarding parts of her role.
Living away from home has made those community connections even more meaningful. Through her work, Tyler has found not only welcoming schools and organisations, but also a supportive Halberg team that has become a second family.
Among the many people she’s met, Michael from Functional Adaptive Movement (FAM) has left a lasting impression. Watching his passion and dedication to creating opportunities every day has been both inpsiring and motivating.
That same passion is what keeps Tyler motivated. Whether she’s visiting a school, attending a community activity or seeing other organisations in action, it’s the smiles, laughter and confidence of young people that continually remind her why inclusive opportunities matter.
To Tyler, meaningful inclusion is about much more than adapting activities – it’s about creating environments where everyone feels valued and belongs.
“Sometimes it doesn’t matter if the game doesn’t get finished or if the rules aren’t followed perfectly. What matters is that every young person goes home excited to tell someone about their day.”
For those wondering how they can be more inclusive, Tyler believes the first step is surprisingly simple.
“Just say ‘hi’. A simple conversation opens the door to learning, understanding different perspectives and making someone feel welcome.”
Eight months into her Halberg journey, Tyler has already made a meaningful impact across her region. As she continues building momentum through the second half of the year, her enthusiasm, kindness and genuine passion for creating belonging are helping ensure more tamariki and rangatahi have the opportunity to experience the joy of sport, recreation and play.
