“The program was set up by the Northern Territory (NT) Government in 2012 across 23 remote communities to address the barriers that prevent Aboriginal people living in remote communities from accessing the licensing system.
“In the NT, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 84 per cent of the prison population.
Driving and vehicle regulatory offences account for a quarter of the entire population being in jail.
Northern Territory Indigenous Road Safety Program takes out Premier Australasian Road Safety Award
“A program to enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to obtain their drivers licence can help reduce incarceration and injury rates and improve the health of communities, a new report has found.
Researchers at The George Institute for Global Health analysed DriveSafe NT Remote, which as of July 2016, has seen more than 4,000 people gain a learner or provisional licence.
Over the past year alone the service delivery footprint increased from 42 remote communities to 74 remote and dispersed communities receiving driver education and licensing services.”
The findings were presented (Sept 8) at the 2016 Australasian Road Safety Conference (ARSC) in Canberra.
” Our corrections systems are at a crisis point and a smarter approach urgently is needed nationally.
The overall prison population and over-representation of Aboriginal people in our prisons are increasing, while recently released statistics show that property and violent crime rates are falling. Something isn’t working.
Next Monday, the ABC’s Four Corners program will report the Maranguka Justice Reinvestment Project in Bourke in northwest NSW.
This is the first major justice reinvestment project in Australia and aims to provide a demonstration of how justice reinvestment can work here.
The time has come for a smarter approach. We need a dedicated focus on reducing incarceration from all levels of government, and done so in real partnership with communities. The time has come for a roll out of Justice Reinvestment initiatives across Australia.”
Tom Calma is chancellor of the University of Canberra; a champion of independent non-profit group Just Reinvest NSW and chief investigator for a justice reinvestment initiative in Cowra, NSW.
Over a two year period, DriveSafe workers aided with the process of applying for licences, taking theory tests and providing driving lessons. It led to a 24 per cent increase in the amount of people having a learner licence in the regions taking part.
The findings were presented (Sept 8) at the 2016 Australasian Road Safety Conference (ARSC) in Canberra.
Lead investigator Rebecca Ivers said: “There are multiple barriers to licensing that this program has successfully overcome in partnership with remote communities all over the NT. Having a driver licence opens the door to better opportunities for education and employment as well as reduced road deaths.”
Professor Ivers, of The George Institute for Global Health, added that current low rates of licensing was contributing to the high numbers of Aboriginal people in prison.
Professor Ivers said: “There is a huge need for programs like this all over Australia. Having a licence can be transformative. It can help with getting an education, holding down a job, and accessing healthcare.
“But licensing offences and other driving offences also contribute to high rates of incarceration for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people in the NT. DriveSafe NT Remote therefore has the potential to deliver real and lasting change in communities across the NT and reduce the amount of people in our prisons.”
Wayne Buckley, manager of DriveSafe NT Remote said: “DriveSafe NT Remote’s approach to a flexible service delivery model is working in partnership with locally based third parties. We develop innovative and unique educational resources to address environmental and cultural attributes that might impact on Indigenous learning styles, particularly for those with low levels of English literacy this underpins the sustainability of the program.
Visit the DriveSafe NT Remote website.
Northern Territory Indigenous Road Safety Program takes out Premier Australasian Road Safety Award
A program to enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to obtain their drivers licence has taken out Australasia’s premier road safety award recognising exemplary innovation and effectiveness to save lives and injuries on roads. The DriveSafe NT Remote project, led by Team Leader Wayne Buckley, is being delivered by the Northern Territory Government to expedite road trauma reductions among indigenous communities.
The award was presented by the Hon Darren Chester MP, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Mr Lauchlan McIntosh AM, President of the Australasian College of Road Safety, and Mr Cade Turner representing 3M Australasia. The award ceremony was attended by over 550 of Australasia’s foremost road safety professionals and advocates last night at Australia’s Parliament House.
Minister Chester congratulated this year’s award winners on their contribution to improving driver safety around the nation. “This year’s winners and finalists are doing an incredible job of reducing the national road toll and deserve our sincere congratulations on the valuable work they are doing every day,” Mr Chester said.
“There are many elements which must be brought together if we are to achieve a reduction in our national road toll – everything from new vehicle technology and improved driver education and skills, through to better road design and more investment in our infrastructure.
“Each of this year’s finalists and winners demonstrate the personal commitment we so badly need to help bring down the rate of death and injury happening on our roads every year. Their contribution is valuable – and above all – valued.”
ACRS President, Mr Lauchlan McIntosh AM, said “Our 2016 winner, represented by Wayne Buckley from the Northern Territory Government, demonstrates an effective and innovative approach to a complex issue – in this specific case road trauma reduction among our indigenous communities.
“DriveSafe NT Remote is a fresh policy perspective on driver education. The program provides an innovative and sustainable solution to the complex, multi-causal and interdependent barriers to getting a driver licence in the bush.
“Since the inception of the program in 2012, the small team of five dedicated officers from the Department of Transport has delivered 3433 learner licences, 1086 provisional licences, 1164 birth certificates and 2103 driving lessons.
Over the past year alone the service delivery footprint increased from 42 remote communities to 74 remote and dispersed communities receiving driver education and licensing services.
Judges considered the specific features of the many projects submitted, particularly in terms of innovation in thinking and technology, problem-solving as well as the real benefits in reducing trauma. Cost-effectiveness and transferability to other areas were other key criteria.
Finalists for this hotly-contested award came from many areas.