Keys to freedom

More than 3,800 Aboriginal and disadvantaged Australians now have a driver’s license, thanks to a Transport funded Driver Licensing Access Program.

Rod Simpson is an Aboriginal Project Officer based in Transport’s Wagga Wagga office, and supervises Transport’s driver licensing access program (DLAP). He explains why getting a driver’s license is sometimes much harder than you’d think, and how this innovative program is changing lives for the better.

What are some of the barriers to people being able to get a driver’s license?

There are the obvious ones, like not having access to a registered and roadworthy vehicle or having a licensed driver to take you for lessons. But there are a lot of others that are less obvious. There’s financial capacity, because you have to pay to apply for a learner’s permit and driver’s test. There’s literacy and numeracy challenges, because you have to take the driver’s knowledge test online. You need to have proof of identity to apply for a permit. And if you’ve got any outstanding fines, you’ve got to clear them first (or have arrangements in place to pay them off). That’s a lot of potential barriers for Aboriginal and disadvantaged people.

Why is fines such a problem?

You can be fined for not wearing a helmet when riding a bicycle, driving while disqualified, driving an unregistered vehicle, failing to vote, all sorts of things, especially when you live in regional and remote areas where there’s not regular public transport or it doesn’t exist. If you don’t have the capacity to pay your fines, they can accumulate. It’s not uncommon for a person to accumulate fines of $2,000, $3,000, even $10,000 or more. And once it gets to that point, the person’s likely to say, ‘Oh I’ve got no chance of paying that off.” And they give up and drive unlicensed.

How does DLAP work?

It’s a funded program that supports participants through the licensing process to gain their learner’s permit, help them address any outstanding fines, get proof of ID, give them access to professional driving lessons and a registered and roadworthy vehicle to attempt the driving test. We have 14 service providers who provide the support either via one-on-one or in group classes with others working towards their license, so often participants are learning with other relatives and family members in a relaxed classroom environment. The classes break down the road user handbook into simple terms to assist people with literacy and numeracy problems. By attending and completing the classes they are exempt from the driver’s knowledge test fee and they are able to work off their fines through the Work Development Order program. The DLAP program has helped more than 3,800 people get their P license since it started in 2015, and provided more than 21,000 hours of driver instruction.

How can the DLAP program change lives?

We had one young Aboriginal client, who was just about to go into the justice system, who signed up for DLAP. The service provider talked to his probation and parole officer, who agreed to hold off on his sentencing while he did the course. He got his Ls, then his Ps. Based on his performance, he avoided sentencing. He’s now got a car, a new baby and he is actively looking for employment and getting on with his life. A driver’s license is much more than the legal permission to drive – it’s really a key to freedom to look for and travel to work, to support your family, to live a normal life. It’s life changing.

Who is eligible for the program?

DLAP is offered to Aboriginal and disadvantaged community members who have an eligible pension or health card.

https://www.youngwitness.com.au/story/6657996/drivers-now-on-the-road-after-course-end/