Not only does Carinity Education Rockhampton support students in the classroom, they help young people to achieve goals such as gaining their learners license and learning important driving and road safety skills.
The initiative is steered by Sian Fullagar, who teaches part-time at the school and also operates A+ Drivers Academy. She helps students to pass their PrepL assessment and teaches them how to drive.
“I have helped students to get their learners licence and I helped with a few students to pass their practical test. Driving is a skill that gives a young person so much more freedom in their lives,” Sian said.
“Having a driving licence is virtually essential for young adults living and working in our region, and it is a privilege to support our students to safely operate a motor vehicle.”
Sian said helping students to acquire a driving licence is “the most rewarding kind of teaching that I have done in 35 years of teaching”.
“I love having such engaged students and to make a real difference in someone’s life is a very rewarding and fulfilling experience,” Sian said.
“They are always so excited and so grateful to learn a life skill that adds so much value to their lives. It helps with freedom and in getting a job.”
Principal Lyn Harland said the driving program was helping to ease time constraints and financial burdens faced by some students’ parents and guardians.
“The process of obtaining a driver’s license takes considerable time and it isn’t cheap, especially given the cost of driving lessons and the price of purchasing a license itself,” Lyn said.
“Some families can’t support their young person with the cost of petrol and don’t always have time to supervise them when they are behind the wheel.”