WARWICK'S Julie Dixon has found herself on the right path and is making strides in her education, receiving an award at the 2018 TAFE NSW Excellence Awards.

The single mother completed a diploma in youth work with TAFE digital and was surprised to be honoured with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Award.

"It's a sense of relief knowing my hard work had finally been recognised,” Ms Dixon said.

Having faced difficulties in her childhood, Ms Dixon turned to support services for help and has used her experience to shape her future.

"There are standards accepted as a teenager and, if you don't meet them, you get bullied,” Ms Dixon said.

"The help I've received has motivated me to make a bigger contribution to the community.”

When her son Jyrell Teer started school, Ms Dixon took the opportunity to focus on her own education.

She applied herself to her studies and received top results, TAFE digital general manager Megan Aitken said.

"During Ms Dixon's time studying, she applied herself diligently and achieved distinctions in units focused on analysing the impacts of sociological factors on clients in community work and services in support of youth programs,” Ms Aitken said.

For her final placement, Ms Dixon worked with Southern Downs Industry Education Association.

In that role, she mentored a group of teenage girls at Warwick State High School.

"Our aim was to find things for the girls to engage with and keep them away from trouble,” Ms Dixon said.

The young mother is currently enrolled in a psychological science degree to further her knowledge in children's social services.