Call for car donations

By Lia Bichel
LEARNING at Hand Brake Turn may have hit a red light as students do not have any cars to work on.
Hand BrakeTurn (HBT) Dandenong is a not-for-profit automotive training program which provides at-risk youth with a chance to get their life on track through Australian Apprenticeships Access Program.
Rebecca Kats from HBT said staff were calling on the community to help by donating old cars to worthy cause.
“We are running really short on donated cars,” she said.
“We need cars that can be repaired. We can come and pick them up.
“Students who are doing their certificate one in automotive learn to panel beat, spray paint or fix the cars mechanically. We run five courses a year and each graduation we donate a repaired car to a worthy recipient.”
Ms Kats said there were 18 students currently at HBT, aged 15 to 20, from Greater Dandenong and City of Casey.
She said HBT was extremely important for youth in the community.
“A lot of the students were not successful in secondary school, but do really well with hands on learning,” she said.
“At HBT, it’s 90 per cent hands on learning.”
Anyone who wants to donate a car can contact HBT on 9793 1466.