Mikayla Milner is among 33 youths to graduate from the Rotary Club of Gawler Light’s Wheels in Motion driving program. She is pictured with driving instructor Keith Scott. PHOTO: Sara Gilligan
UNABLE to operate during the recent COVID-19 restrictions, Wheels in Motion Gawler, a program of the Rotary Club of Gawler Light, returned to the streets on Monday.
A number of participants were able to complete some hours before the closure, but the majority will be returning and eager to finish their 75 hours of supervised driving.
Wheels in Motion allows young people (17-25) in Gawler the opportunity to overcome a major barrier to employment and further education, by assisting them to access driver experience, enabling them to qualify for their Ps.
This program targets young people who live/work/study in the Gawler and Light area:
- Without an accessible, appropriate vehicle in the household where they live.
- Without access to a licensed supervising driver.
- Those who can demonstrate that being P licensed would immediately improve their employment or education opportunities will receive some priority.
Participants pay a small fee to help the club offset costs. So far 33 people have successfully completed the program.
The mentors, who freely give their time, with many of them members of the Rotary Club of Gawler Light, sit in the vehicle and supervise the learner driver as they undertake these hours. They are a vital part of the service.
Our wonderful mentors are volunteers from the community, who do not need to be members of Rotary, but who understand the need for a licence. They are not driving instructors, they act as a parent would in guiding the learner's driving.
Our mentors are vetted, have DCSI clearance and undergo an evaluation from our driving instructor, with continued support and guidance from him.
We have both male and female mentors.
Wheels in Motion is always on the lookout for any person willing to give a few hours to help and encourage these young people.
For details please visit our website (www.wheelsinmotiongawler.org.au).
At this stage we have not programed another forum. Attendance at a forum is needed to be accepted into the program, however, we are still taking registrations of interest and will then communicate with each potential participant details of the program.
To register visit the website or call Kirsten on 0406 819 001.
Wheels in Motion would like to acknowledge the support it receives from Peter Kittle, Café Nova, APM, RAA, Symes Accounting and The Bunyip.
