The next Queensland Chapter seminar will be held on Thursday 12th December. Multiple options are available to join the seminar: in-person, either at the University of the Sunshine Coast Sippy Downs campus, room E.1.20, or at the Queensland University of Technology Kelvin Grove campus, K block, room K.430. The meeting will start at 11:30 am, with a lunch provided. The presentation will start at 12:00 pm. The seminar can also be attended online through Zoom from 12:00 pm.

We will have two presenters for this Seminar. Stuart Gardner and Karen Schoots. They will present on Braking the Cycle, the PCYC volunteer driver mentor program designed to support learner drivers without access to a supervisor or registered vehicle to complete their logbook hours.

Stuart is the Manager Road Safety – SEQ North for the Department of Transport and Main Roads. He has been in the role since 2010 and, as a part of the Customer Services Branch Road Safety team, manages the ongoing operations of the School Crossing Supervisor (SCS) scheme by using Safe School Travel (SafeST) resources, ensuring student safety and efficient travel.

Karen is about to complete her PhD at CARRS-Q, and has been evaluating the BTC as part of her research. Her research focus on novice driver safety began in 2019 through her research into Learner Driver Mentoring Programs (LDMPs). Building on her honours research, she explored how these programs influence participants' risky driving behaviours, their perceptions of police and procedural justice, and broader psychosocial outcomes. Her hands-on experience with LDMPs started as the first voluntary driving mentor for the Transport and Main Roads-funded Braking the Cycle schools pilot program at Hervey Bay PCYC. Two years later, she advanced to coordinate the expanded, MAIC-funded community-based program.

The seminar will be followed by the Queensland Chapter committee meeting, which is also open for attendance.

If you plan an attending in person, please RSVP by the 5th of December for catering purposes.