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New driving program the wheel deal

29 August 2012
New driving program the wheel deal

Major Gavin Watts, Newcastle & Central NSW Divisional Commander, Robyn Bust, Manager, Oasis Youth Centre, Wyong and Naomi Goddard, Drive For Life student at the launch of the new program. (Photo supplied by Oasis Youth Centre, Wyong)


The Salvation Army’s Oasis Youth Support Network on the NSW Central Coast has launched a driver-training program designed to help disadvantaged young people access transport and job opportunities.

Many young people don’t have family or other social support to help them to accumulate the required hours behind the wheel to gain their provisional driver’s licence. Robyn Bust, manager of the Oasis Youth Centre in Wyong, believes many doors will be opened to the young people who complete the Drive For Life program.

“Research tells us that a lack of access to a driving licence severely limits young people’s employment opportunities and impacts their sense of belonging and connection to the community,” she says.

“The aim of the program is to help disadvantaged young people on the Central Coast get their driver’s licence so they are more employable and able to apply for jobs that require personal transport.”

Naomi Goddard, 18, is about to start the program and says it will be a life-changer for her. “It will give me a sense of independence, I will be able to go where I want when I want.”

After the death of her mother 18 months ago, Naomi was struggling to cope. She connected with Oasis in Wyong and through the youth centre has been studying a Certificate III in Business Administration for the past year.

She’s excited about the opportunities that having a driver’s licence will give her. “I’ll be able to apply for more jobs that need licences so it will help dramatically,” she says.

The Drive For Life program will pair young people with a trained volunteer mentor who will support them through a series of driving lessons.

“The experience of having a driving mentor provides an immense amount of support for the young drivers who greatly benefit from the relationship that is formed during the program,” says Robyn.

The program is being supported by Skoda, EFTPOS and Carsguide.com

Comments

  1. susan wareham
    susan wareham

    Sounds great . How do we access this service?

  2. Your Mum would be so proud of you Naomi- good girl. go for it!!!

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