INSTITUTE FOR ABORIGINAL DEVELOPMENT

 

 


News Room

Institute for Aboriginal Development Gets Behind The Wheel Of Driver Education

5 August 2004
The Institute for Aboriginal Development (IAD) is giving prospective drivers a head start with a free theory course for Indigenous people trying to obtain a learner driver’s licence. 

The IAD began running driver education in October last year in response to community demand. Since the beginning of this year, more than 140 students have successfully obtained their learners’ licence through the IAD. To qualify for the student driver education course, participants must be 16 years and three months or over. 

The course is also being offered to inmates at the Alice Springs jail, many of whom are serving sentences for traffic offences including not holding a licence.  

After gaining a learner’s licence, students have the option to take practical driving lessons through the IAD on a fee-for-service basis and about 30 students have obtained their provisional licence through IAD so far this year.  

Lecturer and Driving Instructor Heather Anderson is accredited by the Motor Vehicle Registry to administer theory tests for the learner’s licence and driving tests for the provisional licence. The Motor Vehicle Registry completes a criminal record check before licences are issued, following successful completion of the test. 

“Some Aboriginal people avoid obtaining a licence because the formal environment at the Motor Vehicle Registry can seem intimidating. At the IAD we can offer people a very supportive, very thorough learning environment, where toy cars, model road maps and videos using Aboriginal actors are used to provide well-rounded preparation for driving,” she said.

The theory test can be offered orally or in written form and interpreters can be used to overcome language barriers, with a focus on the recognition of signs. 

Driver education or practical driving lesson bookings can be made with Heather Anderson or Janis Stanton on 8951 1407.

For media enquiries, please contact Kirsty Nancarrow on 08 8951 1379 or 0439 999 862. For more information about IAD courses, language programmes, publications or cultural awareness initiatives, please contact the reception on 08 8951 1311.

                                                                                                            


 

Copyright © Institute for Aboriginal Development 2004                               

IAD is a registered training organisation (National code: 0167)

3 South Terrace Alice Springs  phone: 08 8951 1311  fax: 08 8953 1884  Email: general.info@iad.edu.au
 

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