Can you imagine how exhausting it would be for a pregnant student trying to complete year twelve without family support?

That was the struggle Alex Scott faced. Rising at 5.30am each day while pregnant with her first child, she caught two buses from her home in Morphett Vale to Seaton High School.

Licence to Work, a partnership between RAA and Western Futures helping high school students get their provisional licence, changed Alex‘s life.

“I was homeless when I joined the (Licence to Work) program,” she said.

“I had no home, no family and my parents have never been in my life, so I had no one to teach me to drive.

“I didn’t have the funds to pay for driving lessons at $100 an hour – not having my licence was the biggest hurdle.”

The Licence to Work program helps students complete the mandatory 75 hours of supervised driving with a fully qualified instructor.

Once Alex got her driver’s licence, she landed her dream job as an employment consultant – a field she wants to work in for the rest of her life.

“I wouldn’t have ever got my job if I didn’t have my licence as part of my role is to transport clients to and from appointments and interviews,” she says.

Now I can help people because I can drive – it makes me feel good. Having a driver’s licence has completely changed my life.”

Seaton High School Senior Youth Worker Ashleigh Brauer works with students who are disengaged from mainstream school and helps guide them towards meaningful employment or further education.

“Getting your licence is something most people take for granted,” Ms Brauer says.

“Not having access to a car or supervised driver can be massive barriers for young people. Not having the funds to sit the test or even pay for petrol are big obstacles too.”

Sitting the test can be challenging for some students, so the school puts them through TAFE courses to help navigate both the practical and theoretical components.

Ms Brauer says Licence to Work helps the students transition from school into adulthood and build their confidence.

“Being involved in the program has also helped improve their school attendance,” Ms Brauer says. “Once they come in (to school) for their driving lessons, they’re more likely to come in for their subjects as well.

By having these small little wins, our students can see that they’re actually progressing and achieving things, which is amazing to see.”

Ms Brauer is a strong advocate for Licence to Work and urges other schools to introduce the initiative to the curriculum if given the chance.

“This is an amazing opportunity,” she says. “Some of our students wouldn’t get their licence without this program.”