The Western Bulldogs community division SpiritWest Services has again initiated a valuable development course to benefit those new to the West.

What started off as a vision to teach a small group of newly arrived refugee youth about road safety, has turned into an 18 month project reaching over 500 newly arrived families, through SpiritWest’s Settlement Grants Program. These programs include, bike education, translated information brochures and a soon to be released Karen Bike Safety DVD – the first of its kind in Australia.
   
The project has received funding from various sources including TAC Community Road Safety Grants, DIAC Settlement Grants Program, VicHealth Sports Safety Grant as well as, kind support from organisations including Victoria Police, Cycle Sport Victoria, Footscray Primary School, Glen Orden Primary School, Bicycle Superstore Hoppers Crossing, Beasley Cycles and Roadsafe Westgate.
 
Over the last five weeks the SpiritWest bike education program, (“No Crash Course”) has taught 17 secondary students at the Western English Language School (WELS) as well as 16 Karen/Chin young people from across the western suburbs, all there is to know about bike riding and bicycle care. Beginning from the most basic techniques ‘balancing’ and ‘braking’ right through to ‘bicycle maintenance’ and ‘on-road’, the program well and truly establishes the students skills and builds confidence.

As part of the No Crash Course, 15 of the students from the WELS and Karen/Chin Bike Programs attended a 3-day Bike Leadership Camp in the old goldmining town of Maldon, 2 hours North West of Melbourne.  The camp was led by SpiritWest Services Engaged Communities team, WELS teacher Laurence Guttmann and Footscray Police Youth Resource Officer, James Ridsdale, as well as three Karen youth leaders, all trained in the Vic Roads Bike Ed Instructor Course.
 
Not only did the Camp reinforce the road rules and provide practical on-road bike riding experience, it also exposed the young people to Australian culture and history through visits to Carmen’s Tunnel (an old Quartz mine) and Porcupine Village (a replica of the gold mining days) as well as new cultures and experiences including eating ‘Australian’ food for the first time.
 
Of the 16 young people participating in the Karen/Chin Bike Program, 5 girls had never ridden a bike before and all did not own their own bikes prior to the program.  As part of the No Crash Course, the participants received their own bike, helmet and bike safety kit.  It is hoped that the young people will use their bikes as a main mode of transportation whereas previously they had to rely on walking and public transport since there are very few people from the Karen/Chin communities who have their full driver’s licence.  Despite all of the young people being aged between 16 and 24 years, only 3 have passed their Learner Drivers test.  It is hoped that from gaining on-road experience through bike riding, the young people will also become safer drivers on Australian roads.
 
For many, the Camp provided their first experience of living away from home with people from other cultures since arriving in Australia.  Another outcome from the Bike Program was the invaluable relationship made between the young people and Victoria Police through Footscray Police Youth Resource Officer and the Victoria Police Blue Light Youth Camp.
 
The aim of the project is to engage newly arrived refugee students, teaching them the essentials of safe riding on Australian roads, to reduce the incidence of non-compliance of road/bike rules and accidents related to bike riding amongst newly arrived communities.   The project also aims to build self-esteem, confidence, develop social skills, including teamwork and also importantly to enhance mental and physical health and wellbeing.

Due to the great success of the No Crash Course thus far, SpiritWest Services is already planning for the next Bike Education Program in the Western Region and would welcome any support to provide more newly arrived young people with their own bicycles and helmets.

If you can help please contact SpiritWest services by calling the Club on 1300 GO DOGS (46 36 47).