PCYC Mount Isa is seeking volunteers to help turn young peoples lives around by helping them obtain driving experience and hours.
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Braking the Cycle is a state-wide initiative that focuses on assisting young people who are facing barriers or disadvantages in gathering their 100 hours of learner driving experience, by providing a vehicle and mentors.
Mount Isa PCYC Braking the Cycle program coordinator Claudia Davy said the program was a vehicle to turn someone's life around.
"This program create access to employment and social inclusion. This program is open to all young people in the community and also creates safer drivers so we can reduce Queensland's road toll and increase opportunities and independence," Ms Davy said.
"Braking the Cycle matches young drivers with a volunteer mentor, and provides a safe vehicle to support participants to achieve their licence.
"Mentors not only provide practical instruction to help participants develop positive road safety attitudes and safe driving behaviours, they offer encouragement, positive support and community connection."
With 14 active program participants in Mount Isa and healthy waiting list, Ms Davy said PCYC needed more volunteer mentors.
"At the moment we have three volunteers who are active in the program, but a couple of those have really busy lives so have limited availability. This means that the 14 active program participants are not getting as many lessons so without volunteers these kids are just waiting and therefore still facing those barriers." she said.
"The only prerequisites required to become a mentor includes an open licensed for at least 12 months, a Blue Card and an RDA (Restricted Drivers Authority), which is essentially a Blue Card for driving.
"So we assist with the Blue Card and RDA if needed and we go through a coaching session to make sure all the mentors are on the same page and then they do online training modules as well."
Ms Davy said an automatic vehicle was supplied by PCYC and a manual vehicle could be organised through a new partnership with Anderson Driving School, who also conducts the driving assessments.
If you're interested in becoming a driving mentor, contact Mount Isa PCYC on (07) 4743 0400.
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Samantha Campbell
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
