Media Release

Wednesday, 18 November 2009

A new and innovative program, Driving the Community will soon commence in Swan Hill and Robinvale and aims to assist 10 Aboriginal youth gain 120 hrs of driving experience, prior to applying for their probationary licence.

Driving the Community will also mentor youth on other community matters and opportunities, such as career pathways, the community, training and education.

The program is also building strong relationships within the community, with a number of local organisations indicating they would like to partner Council and assist with the supervision of the learner drivers.

Swan Hill Rural City Council's Aboriginal Affairs Manager Rob Connelly said Driving the Community was a great program for younger Aboriginal community members.

“I think the program will be an exciting opportunity for Aboriginal youth to obtain their P-plate license, which will improve access to employment opportunities and also to social events including sports as well as community participation and involvement,” Mr Connelly said.

“The project not only allows youth to obtain a license, but enables project partners the opportunity to engage and talk about career pathways and allows both parties to interact, breaking down barriers and providing youth with the confidence to access community services from relationships formed within the program.

“Council's proud to take the initiative to implement this program and is overwhelmed by the support and enthusiasm from the program's partners within the community,” Mr Connelly said.

Swan Hill Police Inspector Garry Bennett also praised the program.

“We see this as a great partnership in helping our local Aboriginal people gain their drivers license. This is something we want to see our local police engage in and the benefits of all participants will be huge,” Inspector Bennett said.

“From a road safety perspective, having our people gain a minimum 120 hours driving experience before they get their license is crucial and I'm proud that Victoria Police will be a part of this program.”

A Driving the Community committee has been established to assist in the management of the program, which will support the co-ordinator to identify participants from the Swan Hill and Robinvale communities.

Council has appointed Shane Kelly as Driving Program Officer. Shane's experience with youth and the education sector make him well suited to this role.

“I am approaching this role with great enthusiasm, particularly given the level of community support for the program already evident,” Mr Kelly said.

Council, the committee, program partners and the co-ordinator will also make endeavours to open the program to other members of the community in the future.

The program is the result of funding from the Federal Government's Family and Housing Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) and will allow the program to run for 11 months with an employed co-ordinator two days per week. The co-ordinator will also seek to achieve a continuation of the program following the expenditure of the current funds.