16-year-old Nate* has spent months studying to get his Learner plates and is about to sit the exam for the third time. It’s a big deal for Nate whose family has been part of MacKillop’s Functional Family Therapy-Child Welfare (FFT) program for a number of years. FFT works to keep families together, and where possible, prevent children from entering out of home care.
The FFT team saw that Nate would be a great candidate for MacKillop’s Targeted Early Intervention program. This program works with at-risk young people and their families living in Sydney’s western metropolitan region.
Nate developed a great rapport with his case worker, Ian Matuzich, who built up trust between them and soon worked out that Nate desperately wanted to learn to drive. But with no family car or anyone who could coach him, his chances were slim.
Ian encouraged Nate to study for the test but it was discouraging for Nate when he didn’t pass on his first two attempts. Ian worked hard with him to rebuild his confidence and was impressed by Nate’s perseverance.
“I saw great determination and resilience in Nate and to his credit, he kept positive and ready to try again,” said Ian. “With each unsuccessful attempt we were able to talk through the emotions around feeling deflated and frustrated when things don’t go to plan and that regaining perspective and dusting yourself off to try again is the true measure of toughness. And there’s no question that he’s tough,” Ian added.
Unfortunately it was not to be third time lucky and Ian could see the dejection Nate felt. Worried that this might be the final straw and that Nate might give up, Ian spoke to the receptionist at the test centre to see if Nate could retake the test. The Centre’s policy is for people to rebook online, but when Ian explained Nate’s case, the Centre agreed to let him retake the test immediately.
This time, Nate overcame his nerves and successfully passed the test.
“I knew immediately the moment I saw his beaming smile that he’d nailed it,” Ian laughed. “We talked all the way home about the opportunities that having a driving licence could bring for Nate.”
Nate is rightly proud of his perseverance.
“Ian helped me to see that if something doesn’t work first time, you keep on working at it.
“He’s helping me learn to drive now and once I get my licence, it will really help me to get a job. If I can drive, it will also be a great help to my family. I love driving and wouldn’t have the chance to learn to drive without Ian. I don’t have to worry about being pulled over by the cops as Ian is helping me.”
Ian is very impressed by Nate’s emerging driving skills but says the most impressive thing about this young man is his determination and will to succeed.
“Nate’s a great kid, and it’s fantastic to see him start to believe in himself and realise his own potential. This guy will achieve a lot in his future and learning to overcome disappointment and keep trying is a great lesson for him.”
*Name changed and stock photography used to protect privacy
