By KATRINA BRANDON
GETTING people ready to hit the road, the Gippsland Trades and Labour Council recently completed another round of courses.
The third and final course of the year, Let’s Get Driving Program, celebrated another round of graduates who are road-ready.
Instilling confidence in newer citizens to drive on local roads with ease, the program is taught and led by local police.
As Gippsland Trades and Labour Council Community Project Officer, Kellie Bertrand explained, the program was aimed at assisting multicultural residents.
“The heart of this program is the participants, the women who showed determination, courage and a willingness to step outside their comfort zone,” she said.
“This program is about so much more than getting a licence. It’s about creating opportunities, strengthening families and helping multicultural community members feel connected and supported in their everyday lives.”
“Learning to drive in a new country, with new rules, new roads, and often a new language, is not an easy task. Yet they all embraced this challenge with strength and determination, supported by the camaraderie and friendships they built along the way.
“Congratulations to all participants, and thank you to everyone who made this program possible. Our collective efforts are helping create a more inclusive and supportive Gippsland.”
Participant Aida Osman was among the many students in this round who had previously driven outside the country.
She told the Express that, despite her previous experience, driving in rural Victoria had seemed daunting before the course, but she now had a good knowledge of road rules and expectations.
“It gives me confidence,” she said.
“In Malaysia, I was a good driver, and I hope that, thanks to this program, I will be able to be a good one here, too. I am very thankful for this program.”
During the course, the group also learned about the signs and common faults drivers may encounter.
The Let’s Get Driving program is also being held in Warragul and Wonthaggi. The Warragul program runs from February 3 to March 3 at the Warragul Community House, and the Wonthaggi program runs from late April to late May at Bass Coast Adult Learning.
Upon stepping into the program, a local police spokesperson said it went quite well.
“The program has been a great opportunity for participants from different multicultural backgrounds within the local community to be educated in road safety and road rules relevant to driving on our roads in Victoria,” they told the Express.
“Although some participants may have had many years of driving experience in other countries, they are very new and inexperienced on Victorian roads.
“Over the past five weeks, we have been able to discuss and educate participants who have been very engaged on all aspects of road safety, sharing our roads with other road users and the impacts of speed, distraction, and impaired driving.
“It has also been a great opportunity to discuss any misconceptions and provide the participants with an understanding of our role within road safety and the enforcement of road rules.”
