visit raa.com.au
Catherine House is South Australia’s only homelessness and recovery service for women, with many of their clients facing significant barriers to gaining their driver’s licence which can make it harder to care for their children and secure ongoing employment.
Through the partnership, RAA will provide driving lessons, pre-purchase vehicle inspections, vehicle registration support and car care workshops, alongside funding for Catherine House’s crisis accommodation service.
It is expected the new three-year partnership will support hundreds of women each year, through crisis accommodation services, helping them work towards their driver’s licence, purchasing a new vehicle or caring for their existing vehicle.
RAA General Manager Community and Corporate Affairs Emily Perry said the new partnership was made possible through RAA’s new Community Impact Fund.
“Supporting women at a vulnerable time of their lives is exactly the kind of difference our Community Impact Fund is there to make,” Ms Perry said.
“Having a driver’s licence is something many of us take for granted – but for many of the women Catherine House support, getting a driver’s licence can be too costly or time consuming.
“Not having a licence can make it harder to care for children, get to and from work and just manage running around required for the day to day of life.
“At RAA, road safety is at our heart and helping women experiencing homelessness to get back on the road safely is such a worthwhile cause and speaks to our core values as an organisation.
“Through this partnership we’ll be supporting vulnerable women to gain back the independence that comes with a driver’s licence and help get them back on their feet.”
Catherine House Manager of Philanthropy and Engagement Jaylee Cooper said Catherine House is facing unprecedented demand driven by domestic and family violence, mental health challenges, and the ongoing housing crisis.
“At Catherine House, we work with women in a unique and holistic way, looking at every aspect of their lives,” Ms Cooper said.
“For many of the women we support, a significant barrier to independence, particularly employment, can often be not having their driver’s licence.
“This partnership will help remove that barrier – helping these women regain their independence.”
For current Catherine House client, Jane, the news of the partnership is welcomed.
“I am looking forward to getting on the road and feeling confident through my driver’s licence, but I am most looking forward to being able to see my children and grandchildren more regularly,” Jane said.
The Catherine House partnership is part of RAA’s Community Impact Fund, which commits up to $5 million per year to causes that matter to South Australians, including road safety response, education and advocacy, local grassroots and regional programs, and major partnerships.
It comes as the number of motorists checking live fuel prices on the RAA app…
RAA has welcomed the State Government’s commitment to preserve a rail corridor to Adelaide’s north…
RAA is calling on the State Government to mandate the disclosure of energy efficiency ratings…