Strive to Drive supporting young people in Tasmania to gain driving independence

Recently, CVGT Employment had the pleasure of meeting with 2024 Community Grant recipient Circular Head Aboriginal Corporation in Smithton, Tasmania. Since 1994 Circular Head Aboriginal Corporation has grown from a small group to an organisation that employs 58 staff across 21 programs as well as administration staff and eight volunteers, to support community need and opportunity.

Most people in the Smithton area are absolutely reliant on car transport to gain access to education, training and employment opportunities. The Strive to Drive program has been able to make a real difference in people’s lives by giving young people in the region the chance to get their license and travel to explore career opportunities.
Hannah Boatwright
Circular Head Aboriginal Corporation

This Community Benefit fund grant from CVGT Employment will assist young people gain access to professional driving lessons which are a requirement of the Strive2Drive program, which requires each Participant to have a minimum of 2x professional driving lessons in order to start in the program. This requirement has been identified as a barrier for many of Participants wanting to join the program with the rising cost of living. Not having these lesson prevents young people from coming into the program, hence limiting where they can gain the 80 hours required by the State.

According to CVGT Branch Manager Maria Barnard:

This impediment, combined with less than optimal public transport availability, reduces opportunities such as employment and study, and the young people in the region struggle to progress and reach their full potential.
Maria Barnard
Burnie Branch Manager, CVGT Employment

Get involved

Through supporting initiatives such as the Strive to Drive program, the CVGT Community Grants Program is helping young people shape a brighter future for themselves.

If you live in Burnie and are interested in getting involved in the program, find out more here.

For more information on the CVGT Employment 2024 Community Grants program and full list of Grant Recipients , visit our 2024 Community Grants page.