- More than $15 million injected into landmark Driving Access and Equity Program
- Funding will support 28 community organisations across the State
- Program to be launched in Great Southern and South West for first time
- $26 million in grant support has now been invested into the program across the State
- Program has helped more than 1,100 disadvantaged people obtain a driver’s licence
Thousands of additional disadvantaged community members will now be able to obtain a driver’s licence thanks to a major funding injection towards the State Government’s landmark Driving Access and Equity Program (DAEP).
The State Government has today announced a further $15.5 million in additional grants for the program, taking overall investment since it was launched in 2022 to $26 million.
In response to high demand for the grants, the total funding amount was boosted by the inclusion of an additional $4.2 million from the Road Trauma Trust Account.
The additional funding will be provided to 28 organisations across the State, including in the Great Southern and South West for the first time, where eight community organisations will share in $3.2 million worth of grants.
DAEP was created by the State Labor Government to support disadvantaged community members overcome barriers and access a driver’s licence.
Access to a safe vehicle, as well as professional driving instruction and supervision is not possible for everyone in the community, with DAEP supporting community organisations to deliver these critical services.
The funding from the DAEP grants helps community organisations with the cost of things such as new vehicles and employing driving instructors.
Obtaining a driver’s licence is a key way of enhancing life outcomes for disadvantaged community members by improving access to things like employment, training and education.
Since establishment, the program has provided more than 3,500 participants with around 16,000 hours of driving supervision and instruction, while more than 1,100 people have now obtained their driver’s licence.
For the full list of grant recipients visit .
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
“Not everyone in the community has access to a safe vehicle and someone to teach them how to drive, and we know how life changing a driver’s licence can be for someone’s employment, training and educational opportunities.
“The Driving Access and Equity Program is already helping thousands of disadvantaged people across Western Australia on their journey to accessing a driver’s licence.
“The $15.5 million in grants will not only help us to continue this program in existing regions, but also extend this support into more corners of our State including in the Great Southern and South West for the first time.
“This significant funding injection is expected to help more than 4,000 disadvantaged learner drivers receive licensing support, 2,400 obtain their driver’s licence and around 1,000 securing employment as a result.”
As stated by Road Safety Minister David Michael:
“Road trauma is one of the biggest causes of death and injury in our community and young people in our regional areas are one of the cohorts most at risk.
“The additional funding from the Road Trauma Trust Account, through the Road Safety Commission, is supporting projects that engage with this cohort so when they achieve their licence and get behind the wheel they have the skills and knowledge to drive safely and responsibly.”
As stated by Albany MLA Rebecca Stephens:
“We know how important access to a driver’s licence is for improving outcomes for people in the community and I am thrilled to see this program launch in the Great Southern for the first time.
“The funding being provided to Great Southern and Albany organisations is expected to help more 200 disadvantaged community members access a driver’s licence, which is a game changer for those people as they seek to access employment, training and education.”
Driving Access and Equity Program grant recipients
Gascoyne region
Organisation | Project name | Project location | Funding |
Real Futures Pty Ltd | Real Futures Driver Support Program | Carnarvon, Coral Bay, Denham (Shark Bay), Exmouth, Gascoyne Junction, Burringurrah | $710,000 |
TOTAL | $710,000 |
Goldfields-Esperance region
Organisation | Project name | Project location | Funding |
Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation | Changing Lanes Changing Lives: Driver Education for Success and Empowerment | Esperance | $621,417 |
Western Australian Police and Community Youth Centres Inc (Kalgoorlie) | Drive to the Future – Kalgoorlie PCYC | Kalgoorlie | $389,491 |
The Salvation Army (WA) Property Trust | Drive for Life | Coolgardie, Kalgoorlie, Kambalda, Leonora | $295,000 |
Warakurna Local Drug Action Group | Nintirriwa yurritjingalKitjalu mutuka (NYM Project) | Warakurna | $270,000 |
Judumul Aboriginal Corporation | Judumul Drives | Coolgardie, Kambalda, Kurrawang, Norseman | $265,000 |
Shire of Leonora | Leonora Drive Program | Leonora, Leinster | $217,000 |
TOTAL | $2,057,908 |
Great Southern region
Organisation | Project name | Project location | Funding |
Umbrella Group Great Southern | MIYAD Wheels | Mount Barker, Denmark, Albany, Porongurups, Jerramungup, Walpole, Kendenup | $533,431 |
Community Living Association | Driving Access and Equity in the Great Southern | Lower Great Southern | $527,000 |
Southern Aboriginal Corporation | Wanderer Program Partnership for the Great Southern | Albany | $510,266 |
Gnowangerup Aboriginal Corporation | Noongar managed driver licensing facilitation program | Gnowangerup and Tambellup | $250,000 |
TOTAL | $1,820,697 |
Kimberley region
Organisation | Project name | Project location | Funding |
Nirrumbuk Aboriginal Corporation | NAC Driver Training & Licensing Program | Broome | $741,000 |
Wunan Foundation | Wunan Driver Training Program | Kununurra, Wyndham, Halls Creek, Balgo, Billiluna, Kalumburu, Kundat Djaru | $715,000 |
Western Australian Police and Community Youth Centres Inc (Broome) | Drive to the Future – Broome PCYC | Broome | $487,000 |
Kullarri Regional Communities Indigenous Corporation | Driving Access & Equity – Kullarri Region | Broome, Ardyaloon, Beagle Bay, Bidyadanga, Djarindjin, Lombadina | $436,400 |
Kimberley Group Training (KGT) Employment | Road Ready | Kununurra, Wyndham | $130,000 |
TOTAL | $2,509,400 |
Mid West region
Organisation | Project name | Project location | Funding |
Midwest Aboriginal Employment and Economic Development Incorporated (MEEDAC) | Driving Access and Equity Program | Carnamah, Coorow, Dongara, Eneabba, Geraldton, Green Head, Kalbarri, Leeman, Mingenew, Morawa, Mullewa, Northampton, Tardun, Three Springs, Yalgoo, Perenjori, Shire of Irwin, Chapman Valley | $560,000 |
Western Australian Police and Community Youth Centres Inc (Geraldton) | Drive to the Future – Geraldton PCYC | Geraldton | $440,000 |
Yulella Aboriginal Corporation | Yulella Driver Access & Equity Program | Cue, Meekatharra, Mount Magnet | $270,000 |
Yamatji Southern Regional Corporation | Yamatji Road Ready Program | Geraldton, Yamatji Nation ILUA area | $90,250 |
TOTAL | $1,360,250 |
Pilbara region
Organisation | Project name | Project location | Funding |
Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation | Learn 2 Drive | Karratha, Marble Bar, Newman, Nullagine, Onslow, Port Hedland, Roebourne, South Hedland, Tom Price, Wickham, Bellary, Jigalong, Jinparinya, Kunawarritji, Marta Marta, Parnngurr, Pippingarra, Punja Njamal, Punmu, Strelley, Wakathuni, Warralong, Yandeyarra, Youngaleena Bunlima | $750,000 |
Bloodwood Tree Association | Enhanced Driver Training and Education for the East Pilbara | Newman, Port Hedland, South Hedland, Tom Price, Wakathuni, Warralong, Yandeyarra | $551,000 |
Youth Involvement Council Inc | Drive 2 Thrive | Port Hedland | $441,000 |
Robe River Kuruma Aboriginal Corporation | Pilbara RYDE Program | Karratha, Roebourne, Wickham, Dampier | $350,000 |
Punmu Aboriginal Corporation | Punmu Martu licence access program | Kunawarritji, Punmu, Kiwirrkurra | $265,000 |
Ngarliyarndu Bindirri Aboriginal Corporation | Supporting our community to be safe, responsible drivers | Karratha, Roebourne, Wickham | $214,085 |
TOTAL | $2,571,085 |
South West region
Organisation | Project name | Project location | Funding |
Investing in Our Youth | End to End Driving Program | Bunbury, Collie, Capel, Dardanup, Harvey, Busselton, Donnybrook, Margaret River | $486,930 |
Western Australian Police and Community Youth Centres Inc (Collie) | Drive to the Future – Collie PCYC | Collie, Allanson, Worsley | $387,000 |
Blackwood Youth Action Inc | Driving Positive Change in the Warren Blackwood | Bridgetown, Manjimup, Boyup Brook, Pemberton, Northcliffe, Greenbushes and Nannup | $250,000 |
Karri Karrak Aboriginal Corporation | Karri Karrak Driving Forward | Busselton, Capel, Manjimup and Margaret River | $250,000 |
TOTAL | $1,373,930 |
Delivering Community Services in Partnership pilot program
Organisation | Project name | Project location | Funding |
McGovern Foundation | Wanderer Program | Perth, Kalgoorlie, Narrogin, Katanning | $3,149,118 |
TOTAL | $3,149,118 |
