Young people living in Bunbury will be among those put on the road to employment through a reinvigorated youth driver program announced today by Premier Mark McGowan.
The initiative will give participants aged 16 to 25 years who are based in the South-West city, the mentorship and supervised driving practice necessary to get their provisional licence starting with obtaining a learner's permit.
A dedicated co-ordinator will oversee the program, which is designed to remove barriers to getting a driver's licence.
The program is targeted to disadvantaged youth living in Bunbury and participants will be referred to the program via partner agencies.
It is expected the program will increase employment prospects, with additional support to be provided to help participants secure jobs.
The end-to-end driver licensing program is supported by the McGowan Government through the Department of Justice and South West Development Commission, and delivered by local community organisation Investing In Our Youth.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"Getting your P-plates can be challenging, and we want to remove the extra barriers some people face when they don't have support at home or in the community to help them.
"This program will provide young people with crucial help to get their driver's licence, opening up more opportunities for education and employment."
As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
"Being able to drive can sometimes mean the difference between getting a job and not getting a job: the job prospects of locals will be improved through this program."
As stated by Attorney General John Quigley:
"A driver's licence is more than simply a plastic card which enables a person to drive.
"It is one of the main forms of identification we use regularly in a variety of ways, and a gateway to many of the opportunities and services we often take for granted."
As stated by Bunbury MLA Don Punch:
"This is a great initiative that will help to fulfil the potential of our local young people.
"I look forward to seeing young people from all over Bunbury making use of the support provided through this program."
