By CASEY NEILL
Getting behind the wheel through a Dandenong program is driving up confidence in refugee women.
CatholicCare is providing a driving program with funding from the RACV Good Citizen program.
The first group of 20 women is about to complete the program, thanks to instructor Shirin Safi, who speaks five languages.
“I’m really interested in making women independent,” she said.
She told the Journal she felt a sense of achievement when she saw them driving.
Interest has exceeded expectations, so there’s a waiting list with close to two full groups of participants.
Some of the women are relatively recent arrivals to Australia while others have lived here for a number of years.
CatholicCare Dandenong settlement support worker Gula Bezhan was a doctor in her homeland.
“I changed my career because of women, to empower women,” she said.
“I was a gynaecologist in Afghanistan.
“It’s very good when you make women confident and they can stand up on their feet.
“With driving, they get this opportunity.”
Ms Bezhan said many were single mothers or on visas and without their husband around to teach them to drive.
“They were not allowed to drive in Afghanistan,” she said.
“When they’ve got power, they use it.”
Victoria Police and Greater Dandenong Council representatives attended a session with the women on Wednesday 27 July to provide information on road rules and parking signage.
Sima Yaghoubi started driving one month ago.
Through Ms Behzan, she told the Journal she was scared to drive before she joined the CatholicCare program.
“I have a very good instructor who helped me to be confident,” she said.
