Sarah Wardman and Christine Hillis from the NRMA Safer Driving School with Mount Austin High School students Yazmin Gambold and Rosa Knapp. Photo: Wagga City Council.
A group of Mount Austin High School seniors are set to get their provisional licence as part of the ‘We’ve got the drive!’ program.
The program is a partnership project between Wagga City Council, NRMA Safer Driving School and Mount Austin High School to aid and support student learners.
Council secured $50,000 in funds in the Youth Opportunities program and is using the grant to purchase driver vouchers to access the Safer Drivers Course directly from NRMA, along with other resources to support the student learners.
Council’s social planning coordinator Sarah Lehman said the Mount Austin High School community identified licensing as the largest obstacle for young people to gain employment or undertake further education opportunities.
Ms Lehman said the challenges for students on their post-high school pathway were due to issues of access and affordability.
“‘We’ve got the drive!’ is designed to support up to 50 local young people from Mount Austin High School to gain their learner licence, through to obtaining their provisional licence,” Ms Lehman said.
“It improves young people’s access by bringing the program directly to the students, using identified support networks that they trust, and minimising as many barriers as possible to being able to participate in something like this.”
Mount Austin High School principal Michelle Waugh said that when students transitioned from high school to the workforce, their ability to drive was a critical skill.
“The cost of lessons is prohibitive and sometimes there are other factors that might mean that students are unable to access all the hours they need to do while on their L plates,” Ms Waugh said.
“‘We’ve got the drive!’ has been amazing. The students have high attendance rates in order to participate, so it’s about engaging young people in learning and supporting their education and employment pathways for the future, so they are well prepared for when they leave high school.”
NRMA Safer Driving School’s Christine Hillis and Sarah Wardman said they were pleased to work with the students to prepare them for the driving test and build their confidence behind the wheel.
“We think it’s a really important program for the Mount Austin High School community and particularly for the students as it’s about more than just the skill of driving,” Ms Hillis said.
“When you see young people at this age and they’re struggling to get their licence, this program can be that sliding door moment when you know it’s going to make a difference, they’re going to get their licence and it will change their lives.”
The program commenced in term two at Mount Austin High School and is already achieving success, with several students getting their provisional licence and others passing their driver knowledge test and now building up their driving hours on their L plates through the support of the program.
Council secured the funding from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice.
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