Getting a driver’s licence is a rite of passage for many young people. It opens up opportunities for further education, employment, training, health care, family and independence. However, getting a licence isn’t easy for some young people.

Parents and carers have a key responsibility for helping their young person get:

• a learner’s licence
• 120 hours of supervised behind the wheel driver training
• a provisional licence

The following resources may help a young person move through the steps to successfully pass the provisional driver’s licence test. Schools can share this information with their students and families.

NB: NSW public schools are not required to provide behind the wheel driver training to students

More information about getting your licence can be found on Service NSW

• Driver licences | NSW Government
• Driver licence support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

Getting a NSW driver licence -Service NSW

• assists anyone who is at least 16 years of age work through the steps of getting a NSW driver licence.

Proof of identity support - Service NSW

• supports those without a birth certificate to confirm their identity, which is needed to apply for a learner driver’s licence

Difficulty with payment - Revenue NSW

• having an unpaid fine is a barrier to getting a learner driver licence. Revenue NSW gives options for managing fines such as payment plans, work and development order, 50% reduction in the fine amount, writing off debt.

Safer Drivers Course - Transport for NSW

• helps learner drivers prepare for driving solo through practical advice and safety strategies such as speed management, gap selection, hazard awareness, safe following distances, managing passengers, running late.

NB: young people experiencing disadvantage can apply to do the course for free by completing a Safer Drivers Course Concession Application form

Used car safety ratings - Transport for NSW

• helps buyers find the safest models among second hand vehicles

Keys 2 drive - Australian Government

• an Australian government-funded program for learner drivers and their parents/supervisors to get a free driving lesson with a qualified driving instructor
• provides extensive information on the website.

Driver Licensing Access Program (DLAP) - Transport for NSW

• helps remove the barriers that prevent some people in NSW from entering the driver licensing system. Service providers help individuals:
• get a learner licence
• gain on-road driving experience
• progress to a provisional licence
• regain a licence

It is open to the following groups:

• Aboriginal communities
• refugee and resettlement communities
• communities with limited access to transport options or who are geographically disadvantaged
• vulnerable young people

Work and development order - Revenue NSW

Assists students who are unable to pay a penalty notice, court fine or a victim's restitution order, and meet the eligibility criteria. Revenue NSW can issue a work and development order (WDO).

A WDO enables people to reduce their fine by up to $1000 a month, by allowing them to participate in unpaid work, courses, counselling or treatment programs.

Barabarang - The Driving Program

The Barabarang delivers specialised services to empower Aboriginal young people.

Drive for Life - Salvation Army

(western and southern Sydney areas only)

• provides supervised driving instruction, life mentoring, positive role models and needs-based support to help participants overcome life barriers by helping them:
  • get a learner driver licence
  • learn to drive in a safe, maintained, insured vehicle

It is open to 16-25-year-olds who are experiencing, or have experienced:

• difficulty accessing a vehicle or licensed supervising driver
• long term unemployment
• numeracy and/or literacy concerns
• mental illness
• physical disabilities.

Driving change - Weave

(City of Sydney suburbs, Marrickville, Maroubra, La Perouse, Woolloomooloo, Glebe and surrounds only)

Helps young people overcome barriers to getting a driving licence to open up new opportunities in their lives

It is open to those under 25 years of age who:

• are Centrelink customers and/or be experiencing financial hardship
• don’t have someone with a full driver’s licence and a registered car
• can’t afford to pay for driving lessons
• have no other means of getting the 120 hours of supervised driving practice to get a driver’s licence

Learner driver program - Birrang Enterprise Development Company

• works with those needing assistance in working out the finances of getting a licence to helping master the driver knowledge test and helping to accrue the driving hours needed to finalise getting a provisional driver licence.
• training and support is delivered in a culturally appropriate setting and manner

Licensed and on the road - Ace Community College

(NSW mid north coast and north coast areas, and Glen Innes only)

• provides wrap-around support for students through their journey of becoming licensed drivers, from learners to provisional

It offers several programs:

• online or face to face L program- learn NSW road rules, why they apply and practice learner test questions
• hazard perception test-online resource to practice for the test
• P program- up to 10 free behind the wheel driving lessons for eligible Aboriginal drivers and disadvantaged drivers.