Improving youth employability with a life-changing programme
When assessing the main barriers for youth employment in the Porirua region, the same challenge arose time after time – the mandatory requirement for a driver’s licence.
With an up-to-date full licence required for the majority of jobs, Porirua Partners aims to address this issue by offering a variety of driving courses, including a free community mentor driving programme.
Established in 2000, Porirua Partners is a community organisation founded to promote the interests of youth in the region. Offering a range of services to facilitate personal and professional growth, Porirua Partners creates opportunities for youth to upskill and improve their employability.
The Drive4Life programme was launched in 2010 and is now a core part of Porirua Partners’ offering. Executive Director Michelle Robinson says, “A driver’s licence is a core requirement for around 70% of jobs. However, for a lot of people, there are many barriers to securing a licence, such as the high cost of lessons or lack of access to a roadworthy vehicle. Drive4Life aims to remove these barriers to maximise employment opportunities for youth.”
A dual purpose
The programme focuses not only on promoting safe driving practices but also on building confidence. “Gaining a driver’s licence is a huge life accomplishment for the students,” Michelle says. “For some of them, it is their first qualification and it is a hugely meaningful achievement that has a lifelong impact for all participants.”
As well as qualifying the students for a wider pool of employment opportunities, taking part in the course is also a testament to the reliability of the student and displays their ability to commit to a goal. This provides a solid point of reference for a prospective employer. Initially established through a partnership with the New Zealand Transport Agency and New Zealand Police, Drive4Life, with an initial intake of just 15 students, has now supported more than 2,000 young people to get their licence.
Michelle has a few standout moments, which include helping a young mother to secure her learner and restricted licences followed by getting a full-time job. “Seeing the progress this young lady made was really moving,” Michelle says. “She realised how important it was to learn to drive, and securing her licence really made a difference to her and her sons’ lives.”
Expanding their reach
Primarily relying on grant funding, keeping up with demand is a huge challenge for Drive4Life. With grant funding, Nikau provided salary support for an expanded programme coordinator role. Liaising between programme participants and volunteers, this position will serve an important role in widening the reach of this service.
