TRACQS Activity Supervisor Chris: Paving the way for participant success

Having the ability to drive is a key step in accessing many important aspects of daily life, such as supporting family members, obtaining necessities such as groceries and medical aids, and securing employment opportunities. To support the continued growth of our community, TRACQS Kuranda developed the Driving Activity, run by TRACQS Activity Supervisor Chris Long. As a qualified Driving Instructor, Chris provides practical driver training, aimed at achieving the 100 hours of driving required for the provisional driving test.  TRACQS provides both manual and automatic training vehicles to meet the varied needs of participants, and offers additional support to help them become road ready.

TRACQS’ Driving Activity operates in collaboration with Ngoonbi Community Services Indigenous Corporation and the Queensland Transport and Main Roads Indigenous Drivers Licensing Unit (IDLU). Chris, who has been employed in this role for two years, has participated in five IDLU events held at the Kuranda CWA Hall. To date, TRACQS can proudly report that every participant who has attended at least one lesson with Chris has passed a practical driving test.

Following a highly successful return visit from IDLU in March, which saw nearly twice the attendance of previous events, TRACQS once again achieved a 100% success rate for participants obtaining their licences, serving as a testament to the efforts Chris puts in supporting new drivers and contributing to the growth of TRACQS’s driving activity. As the community hears and sees more success stories, many participants find employment soon after passing their tests.

TRACQS participant Russell (pictured below) is one of many driving students who have benefited from Chris’s support in gaining their Drivers Licence. Supported by TRACQS through the Community Project as part of the Community Development Program (CDP) Trial, Russell currently works as a Trainee Ranger at Buda-Dji, and being able to drive for work has made a big difference in his ability to commute.

Another participant, Shane, passed his Provisional License Test in June with a perfect 100% score, thanks to the twelve months of dedicated mentorship from Chris.

Shane is currently employed with Frogs Restaurant under the TRACQS Community Projects – Trialling Pathways to Real Jobs initiative. Learning to drive has opened up new opportunities for him to upskill and advance his career in hospitality.

Much of the success of the driving activity is due to the confidence Chris instills through the extensive time he spends with each participant on the road. With experience across various industries, Chris understands the challenges participants face, and uses this knowledge to provide motivation and dispel doubts.

Chris has recently taken a new approach, encouraging the family members and close friends of his driving pupils to assist in building up and completing logbook hours. This approach, which was not utilised previously, has significantly contributed to the completion of logbook hours, often through Chris’s support. It helps the driver to become used to different passengers and has shortened the time needed for a driver to be ready for their provisional licence.

Chris shared his pride in his position and the achievements of his students, “I am proud to say that the activity is running smoothly and efficiently. The success of this activity can be judged by how many hours are spent on the road, either in building logbook hours or detailed driving instruction. My workload is constantly regenerating, and I continue to look forward to work every day.”

TRACQS is committed to supporting the driving journeys of our participants through our driving activity initiative, and we are very proud to have Chris leading at the forefront, transforming their driving abilities and future opportunities.