IT’S a privilege many take for granted – putting the keys in the car and hitting the road.
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A car is the key to freedom, and for 50 participants in the Road2Wheels program, yesterday marked the culmination of a year of work.
The program is designed to help people seeking employment obtain their driver’s licence and gain the knowledge required to save up for and purchase a car, as well as job skills.
Road2Wheels is the result of a successful tender by ATEL, and is funded through the federal Department of Jobs and Small Business’ ‘Empowering YOUth’ initiative.
Students in the program receive assistance with financial planning, as well as having someone to help them complete the requisite 120 hours of L-plate driving before being eligible for P-plates.
ATEL acting CEO Kellie Howard said being able to drive was especially crucial for job-seekers in regional areas.
“In regional areas, it is so important to be able to drive,” she said.
“This program has really highlighted that.
“We’re quite spread out, we have a participant who is based in Beechworth, and a lot of the things they need to do are based in Wodonga.
“If they weren’t able to drive, they wouldn’t be able to access those opportunities.
“We’re very lucky we were able to get the project off the ground and show how important it has been.”
One of the participants, Albury’s Tegan Winter, said the program had made her life easier.
Fittingly, she was able to find work – with ATEL.
“I live by myself, I didn’t have my P-plates and needed to get the hours up,” she said.
“I heard about the program through E-Works and just got in.
“It’s taken the pressure off so much, it’s made life a lot easier.
“It’s given me freedom and changed so much in my life.”
Mrs Howard said mentors Garry Brook and Gavin Comtesse’s work in helping students navigate how to select and purchase a car had also been vital.
“It’s extremely important to have that support, they’ve talked to them about safety, maintenance, how much it costs to keep a car on the road as well as buying one to begin with,” she said.
Another 50 people will participate in the program from Monday, from the Border and Wagga.
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