MIYAD Wheels Program
MIYAD Wheels
MIYAD Wheels is a community-based program delivered by Umbrella Group Great Southern that helps people who face barriers to gaining their driver’s licence. The program supports individuals who may experience financial hardship, limited access to driving supervision, or other challenges that make learning to drive difficult.
MIYAD stands for Migrants, Indigenous peoples, Youth, Adults and people with Disabilities. The program provides practical support such as access to supervised driving hours, assistance with lesson costs, and guidance throughout the licensing process. The aim is to help participants build confidence, independence and greater access to education, employment and community life.
As part of the MIYAD Wheels pathway, participants are supported to engage in Keys for Life, Umbrella Group’s free pre-driver education program. Keys for Life helps learners build road rule knowledge and prepare for the Learner’s Permit Theory Test in a supportive and accessible environment.
Together, MIYAD Wheels and Keys for Life work to remove barriers to mobility and support people to take important steps toward independence and participation in the community.
MIYAD Wheels – Helping Disadvantaged Individuals Get Their Driver’s Licence
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve conditions. Your generous donation will fund our mission.
*Please note that donations above $2 are tax deductible.
Meet our MIYAD Wheels Team
Suz - Project Coordinator & Driving Instructor
Suz is our Project Coordinator and a skilled Driving Instructor.
With nerves of steel and the patience of a saint, Suz is an incredible instructor who helps our learners feel confident behind the wheel. She brings nearly 20 years of customer service experience from the Department of Transport, where she also worked as a driving assessor.
Since May 2021, Suz has been our dedicated Project Coordinator, and as a qualified driving instructor, she has logged over 800 instructional hours. Her expertise has helped at least 90 people successfully pass their driving tests and obtain their licenses.
Cam Mitchell - Driving Instructor
Cam is an ex-policeman who undertook Advance Driving Classes through the Police Force. He began as a driving supervisor with MIYAD and then became a qualified Driving Instructor. He is a huge benefit to the team and his students as he brings a wealth of experience to his work.
John Browne - Driving Instructor
John is an ex-policeman who began driving buses for the Mt Barker and Kendenup communities. He became involved with supervising learner drivers through a connection with Suzanne. He has now become a qualified instructor and works primarily in the Mt Barker area.
Stephen Evans - Driving Supervisor
Stephen is an ex-bricklayer by trade, but due to injury he now works in disability support and gets great satisfaction from encouraging and helping clients achieve their driving goals.
Volunteers
We’re grateful for our incredible volunteers who help our clients complete their logbook hours. Committed volunteer supervisors have the opportunity to become qualified instructors in the future. Their dedication makes a huge difference in supporting our learners on the road to getting their licences!
Stories of Change
“Living 50kms out of town, having two young kids and a hubby who works full time, coming out of maternity leave I was desperate and determined to be able to get my licence, so I could get to work and my two little ones to where they needed to be.
My instructor was so kind and compassionate, taught me some new things and ways to help me in areas I was struggling with. Especially those tricky little manoeuvres that are in the(PDA test), that I had not been shown before, or explained in the way I needed to hear it so I could understand the (instruction) better.
The mock tests that Suz went through, gave me so much more confidence for my upcoming PDA. Her(tips and tricks) made me feel more comfortable driving around town as well. I cannot thank the MIYAD Wheels Program and DAEP enough for helping me obtain my licence, especially in a time I really needed it!”
Angel-Skye Bocian“Helped me brush up my skills, and learn correct technique.Not dependant on family to get me to work and can apply for a promotion now I have licence.
Great to work with and have high level of knowledge, learnt things I did not know after many hours of driving.”
Chance Andrews“Independence Keys for Life program helped - me to be more prepared for the theory test, the MIYAD team helped me to go through the process of gaining my learners permit, as I am out of school, I wanted to go for my learners permit but I never got the opportunity before this.
I can drive myself; Dad will not have to take time off work to help me out.”
Emily Oreo
Join Us on the Journey
If you have a current licence, more than four years driving experience, a clean driving record and would like to support our mission, we’d love to hear from you.
Together, we can help more people take the wheel and drive toward a brighter future.