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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-05-29 Daily Xml
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Wheels in Motion

Ms BETTISON (Ramsay) (15:40): I rise today to talk about Wheels in Motion. Wheels in Motion is a volunteer mentor learn to drive program for people who have barriers to getting their licence. This can include things like having no access to a vehicle, having no family support, financial hardship or having English as a second language. When talking about the costs of getting a driver's licence, people involved in this industry have told me it can cost more than $4,000 if you look at the number of lessons required and the cost of privately run lessons. This is simply out of reach for many vulnerable people in our community, and Wheels in Motion provides a fantastic alternative.

Wheels in Motion is coordinated across the local government areas of the City of Salisbury and the City of Playford and operates from the Twelve25 Salisbury Youth Enterprise Centre and the Bagster Road Community Centre. Fifteen volunteer mentor drivers donate 55 hours of mentor-supported driving each week using three vehicles to teach some of the most vulnerable in our community to get their licence.

As I am sure you can appreciate, obtaining a driver's licence is a significant enabler to employment participation. Volunteer drivers report that many of their students go on to further study or employment opportunities, opportunities that open up by simply having a driver's licence. The program proactively supports people who were previously in the justice system, were under guardianship when under 18 or are isolated refugees without support mechanisms. Many of the volunteer mentor drivers are bilingual to reduce barriers to participation, and three have gone on to become licensed driving instructors who continue to volunteer some time every week to the program.

The program is a fantastic opportunity for both the learners and the volunteer mentor drivers. This program is a true collaboration with many partner organisations, including the soon to be unfunded Northern Connections, the Rotary clubs of Playford, Elizabeth and Salisbury, the Australian Refugee Association and InComPro Inc. In-kind support is provided by Peter Page Holden and the RAA. Whilst initially focused on young people aged between 16 and 25 years, Wheels in Motion has now expanded, with the Bagster Road Community Centre service helping adults 26 years of age and above.

All participants in Wheels in Motion are required to attend a six-hour specially developed road safety course utilising a representative from SAPOL and a presentation from an accident victim. This gives all participants the opportunity to be educated about safe and responsible driving principles from the very beginning of their journey as a licensed driver. Not only has Wheels in Motion assisted hundreds of vulnerable people in the northern suburbs since its inception six years ago but it has stimulated other programs across the state. By sharing intellectual property and systems, Wheels in Motion has helped to establish Geared to Drive, a YMCA-auspiced model.

Wheels in Motion also has two cars operating in Port Pirie, Port Augusta and Whyalla. A Wheels in Motion in Gawler is about to launch shortly, and start-up groups have formed in the Barossa and Port Adelaide. Having just celebrated National Volunteer Week, it is a fitting time for me to recognise the fantastic achievements of Wheels in Motion, a program that continues to grow from strength to strength.

As the local member of parliament for the Salisbury area, I am incredibly proud that the Wheels in Motion program, which began right in my home patch of Salisbury, has now expanded across the state. Well done to all the individual organisations that have contributed to this fantastic volunteer program that is helping vulnerable people to upskill and improve their lives in the most practical of ways.

It was very interesting this morning, when I was listening to the ABC, to hear that Business SA has just made a submission to a federal Senate committee. They were talking about one of the barriers more vulnerable people in regional areas face to get their driver's licence. If you are listening, Nigel McBride, we have a program developed in Salisbury. We might auspice it to you—I will take that on notice. There is an opportunity here.

I can say to the Marshall Liberal government: why is it that Business SA had to go to a Senate inquiry to talk about this barrier? If we are all about jobs, jobs, jobs here, note that this is one of the things that stops people from getting employment. So let's get on board and support people in Wheels in Motion and extend it into regional areas.

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