DRIVE FOR EMPLOYMENT

The main inhibitor to young people in Frankston North getting quality employment is that they don’t have enough practice hours to get their drivers licence. The wait on the Community Programme is currently 18 months. These Young people have to pay $60 per hour to driving schools to get their 120 hours, $7,200. Many of their parents don’t have licences, cars or the money to afford the petrol to drive the distances needed to accrue the hours. In the end it means only the “rich” kids can get the apprenticeships, poor kids don’t even get a chance to get ahead.

Driving without license is a big problem in this community but it's hard to blame the kids when a licence “costs” $7,200 in driving practice hours.
Apprenticeships now advertise MUST HAVE LICENCE even to be considered. This money would fund engagement of a driving school on a full time basis to ensure all eligible students leaving year 12 at Monterey Secondary College or eligible young people in the local area recommended by the Frankston North Community Centre Youth Engagement Officers, would receive 100 hours of driving practice. The young people would be expected to fund the rest of the practice.