Volunteer program driving success in rural SA
A volunteer driver mentor program in the Mid North is helping young people gain their driving licence, and also skills and confidence to drive forward a positive future.
The Wheels in Motion initiative, based in Clare, assists young, disadvantaged learner drivers by matching them with a mentor to help them achieve the required 75 supervised hours of driving to gain a probationary driver’s licence.
The program, which was launched in February 2024 through the not-for-profit organisation Employment Directions, is modelled on a similar program running at Gawler and others around Australia.
Wheels in Motion coordinator Christina Underdown said that because public transport is not available in the town, having a driver’s licence is crucial for helping young people gain employment, further education and training, and become independent and active members of the community.
“The program is aimed at young people, aged 16-24, who have no or limited access to a fully-licenced supervising driver,” she said.
“Wheels in Motion is a program aimed at bridging this gap for disadvantaged young people in our community.
“Due to no fault of their own, these young people are stuck. They often don’t have the support they need to get a licence, which means the hopes and dreams they have for a bright future seem futile.”
Mentors are carefully matched with participants, and already the outcomes are showing the connection is far greater than assisting in gaining a driver’s licence.
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“The role of the mentor is not one of a driving instructor, but more like a parent, safely guiding learner drivers on the road to gain driving hours,” Christina said.
“Mentors are matched to learner drivers to help foster positive outcomes – positive connections lead to positive outcomes.
“Mentors are in the unique position to be able to peak into the lives of the young people in our program.
“For some, it will be words of encouragement, for others it will be pointing them in the right direction, and for others, it’s just listening and caring, helping them to become ‘unstuck’.”
There are currently 10 mentors involved in the Mid North driving program, all offering a range of life experience with backgrounds in education, management, farming, banking, hospitality and nursing.
Christina said they all had a common aim to help young people achieve their goals, and the program was helping build networks and connection between young people and their community.
“Driving with a learner driver may seem challenging, but seeing a young person’s confidence grow and their hope restored is a beautiful reward,” she said.
Wheels in Motion volunteer mentor Amy Gogoll.
Volunteer mentor Kerry Amundsen said as a mother herself, she understood the need to support young people to gain a driving licence.
However, once involved, she quickly discovered just how impactful the program is.
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“You realise it’s more than just a driving program,” she said.
“It’s about building a rapport with a young person so you can help guide them to make decisions in life.
“Mentoring starts with driving but grows to help them find their own path in life, work, relationships, family and ultimately, independence.”
Fellow volunteer Amy Gogoll said it had been a great way to connect and support young people in her local community.
“I’ve found while spending time with the young people on the road it also gives opportunities to be a listening ear and offer some encouragement and advice when needed,” she said.
“It’s a wonderful program and very much needed in rural areas.”
The feedback from participants has also been positive, and young driver Sarah agreed the program extended far beyond accruing driving hours.
“The program has helped me with getting my (driving) hours up and also helped me grow as a person, develop new friendships and the ability to drive,” she said.
“If it wasn’t for the Wheels in Motion program, I would never have been able to get my hours and develop the skills I have learned in the program.
“It has also helped my mum in being a confident passenger with a new driver.”
Such has been the need for the Wheels in Motion program, there is a waitlist of participants from Clare and surrounding areas wanting to be involved.
Learner drivers pay $15/hour per session to cover a small portion of the on-road costs for the Wheels in Motion vehicle provided, with sponsorship and donations from local clubs, businesses and community members keeping the service on the road.
More volunteers, and financial support, is being sought to keep driving the initiative forward.
“The more mentors we have, and the more financial support we have, the more young people we can help,” Christina said.
