An initiative backing First Nations driving instructors in NSW is hoping not only to increase access to culturally-safe guidance behind the wheel, but create long-term employment opportunities.
A cohort of 20 participants from regional areas across the state will take part in the effort, supporting Aboriginal drivers to gain their instructor qualification, and to in turn support their communities.
Murri woman Jaymee Beveridge is the Director of Aboriginal Outcomes at state government agency Transport for NSW.
The agency differs from NSW's Department of Transport.
"By supporting Aboriginal people to become qualified driving instructors, we're creating meaningful employment opportunities while ensuring communities have trusted local people delivering culturally informed driver education," Ms Beveridge said.
"These instructors won't just be teaching people how to drive. They'll become mentors, role models and leaders who are creating opportunities for others while building stronger communities for the future."
The initiative comes as part of the state's Driver Licensing Access Program (DLAP), which is funded by NSW's Community Road Safety Fund and has facilitated more than 258,000 hours of free supervised driving lessons and close to 27,000 obtaining their license.
DLAP has operated for more than a decade and extending into 19 community-based providers.
It services Aboriginal communities, refugee and resettlement communities and others.
Being called an Australian-first initiative, the new training is hoped to boost accessibility to culturally-safe driving support for learning drivers embedded with local knowledge, cultural understanding, and trusted relationships from within their own communities.
The program also offers potential long-term employment opportunities.
NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, David Harris, said it's an empowering step which will enable more people to be independently mobile.
"By training Aboriginal driving instructors, we're investing in local leaders, employment and helping break down barriers that prevent people from getting their licence," state Minister for Roads and Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison added.
Once the first round of training is complete, it will expand into more communities.
Similar programs have already seen success.
Recently, NSW-Victoria border region-based non-profit On-Country Pathways celebrated their 200th L-plater passing their driving test through their own driving instructor service.
Their free Driver-Mentor Program is open to 16-24 year-olds, and addresses what general manager Jebb Hutchison said can be a significant barrier to employment outside of major cities.
"The driver mentor program is single-handedly alleviating the biggest barrier to employment. In a regional setting, having a driver's licence is a prerequisite for a job," he told National Indigenous Times.
