28 March 2008
Hundreds of Melbourne secondary students are adding a practical skill to their class work by learning to drive with professional driving teachers on Victoria University's (VU) driver training track, at Werribee Campus.
Driver education for teenagers has been offered at VU as part of its Industry Skills Training for more than a decade.
Allen Black, VU's driver education coordinator, said several secondary schools from Melbourne's western region have already enrolled their students either for eight-hours of practical driver training, or for a 15-hour program, which adds classroom theory.
Students are taught in four-cylinder manual sedans.
He said: "We do this program as a basic pre-learner course so the students have some idea of what to do before they get in the car with mum or dad. It probably prevents a lot of yelling and screaming."
Students are generally in Years 10 or 11, and come from as far away as Melton and Bacchus Marsh to participate in the programs.
A 1.2-kilometre track, purpose-built for driver training, simulates a real road. It includes regulatory signs, white marker lines, hills, corners, and areas for reversing, parallel parking, hand brake starts, and angle parking.
Allen said: "Other driving schools may teach students to drive, but no one has this kind of track facility to teach in a safe environment before the learner gets out on the road."
Permanent Industry Skills Training staff and qualified driving instructor casuals teach the courses.
Secondary schools currently participating in the program this term are: Mary MacKillop; Keilor Downs; Deer Park; Mount St Joseph's; and Laverton Colleges.
Simon Caras, a Year 11 student at Mary MacKillop Secondary College, said the program gave him a good start in learning to drive.
The cost for the course is about $115-a-student for the 15-hour program, and $95-a-student for the eight-hour program, depending on the number of students participating.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITY: Journalists and photographers are welcome to test-drive VU's Industrial Skills Training track, or receive a free driving lesson from a qualified driving instructor.
Allen Black is available for interview: (03) 9919 7600
Media Contact:
Ms Christine White, Media Manager,
Marketing & Communications Department
, Victoria
University
Ph: (03) 9919 4322; mobile: 0434 602 884
