By Dominique Tassell
The PCYC Braking the Cycle program has expanded to Stanthorpe, providing an opportunity for locals young and old to get assistance with driving.
Launching earlier this month, the program is free and mainly targeted at people aged between 16 and 25 years of age.
For thousands of young Queenslanders, completing their mandatory 100 hours of supervised driving in a safe and suitable vehicle is a major obstacle. That is where the Braking the Cycle program comes in, supporting young people’s personal development.
Braking the Cycle is a statewide learner driver mentor program that empowers young people who, due to financial hardship or social barriers, would otherwise be unable to achieve the mandatory 100 logbook hours of supervised driving.
The aim of the program is to provide young people with increased employment opportunities, community connection and driver education.
Maritta Hutley from Granite Belt Neighbourhood Centre is involved in the Braking The Cycle program and said that participants are taken through a comprehensive three-step process.
“We teach everything from basics up to advanced things like parallel parking,“ she said.
But more than that, the program teaches participants things like how to change their oil and other driving necessities.
The program has had an 80 per cent success date in Warwick for participants getting their licence on the first try.
Participants are required to have 10 hours of driving practice and undergo a driving assessment.
Maritta said the program is for people from any background, with any reason for needing assistance.
She said the Neighbourhood Centre does have spare funds to help if people are at the stage where they can’t get their learners due to financials, and can work through the required ten hours if necessary.
The centre also has computer access to help people practice for their learners’ test.
Once in the program, participants are matched with volunteer mentors, who provide encouragement and help young people improve their self-esteem and develop positive road safety attitudes.
Would you like to support young people to learn to drive? Can you spare 90 minutes or more a week? If so, we’d love you
The program is currently looking for people to join its team of volunteer driver mentors. You will need to hold an open licence, and have done so for a minimum of 12 months, and have or be willing to obtain a Blue Card.
A vehicle and comprehensive training are also provided for mentors.
If you would like to get involved as a participant or mentor, please contact the Granite Belt Neighbourhood Centre.
