Announcing Shift, A Benevolent Fund Making Driver Education Accessible

We are so excited to let you in on what we have been working on for the last several months. You all know how passionate and serious we are here at Roadcraft about driver education and reducing road trauma, and with our latest project finally ready to launch we can take that education to some of our most vulnerable drivers on the roads.

“Shift facilitates important learning early on among young people who otherwise wouldn’t have access to a Roadcraft course. Every person that comes through our courses makes all the difference to the safety of our roads,” – CEO of Roadcraft, Sharlene Makin.

Shift – Our Purpose and Goals

Our purpose at Roadcraft is to make sure that every driver has the education to help them stay safe on roads, and Shift’s purpose is to ensure that education is accessible to some of our most at risk drivers. 

Over 2022 we are set to provide potentially life-saving driver education courses to over 100 disadvantaged youths aged between 16 and 24. 

“1200 lives are lost on Australian roads every year, with 17-24 year olds the most at-risk group. We get a lot of young people coming through our program, but we thought, what about those who aren’t in a position to freely access our courses?”  – CEO of Roadcraft, Sharlene Makin.

Partnering Locally and Catering For Local Needs

We are thrilled to be working with Community Action Gympie to help provide a pathway for the young people they work with to access Roadcraft student, learner, or P-plater courses which they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.

Community Action is a local not-for-profit (PBI) organisation. They work with young people who need help with community housing, support services, financial counselling and multicultural services.

Murray Benton, the Youth Service Manager from Community Action Gympie, says they have a large number of young people at risk in our community – for a number of reasons – but they believe that a Roadcraft course will help some of them feel safer in more ways than one. 

The courses we are helping these nominated young people through are specific to their needs, for example our Little Beginnings program is tailored to support young women who are pregnant or in the first year of motherhood. By ensuring that young mums have the confidence and education they need to drive safely on the roads, they not only make everyone safer out there but also set the pattern for the next generation of drivers from the get go.  

How Shift is Funded

Shift is being given a kick-start with a $10,000 donation from Roadcraft, to be topped up by optional donations from course participants and the generosity of corporate sponsors.

When you book a Roadcraft course, you are invited to donate $3 – which is matched by us at Roadcraft – which is put towards the fund. 

Businesses and other organisations can support Shift and the work we do through corporate sponsorship packages. 

If you’d like to get involved click here.

Looking Forward To a Safer Future

We believe that road trauma is avoidable with the right education, and through Shift’s partnership with Community Action Gympie we are looking forward to helping as many people as possible.