State Government share grants to Indigenous corporations to boost licence owners in the Mid West-Gascoyne

Four community organisations in the Mid West-Gascoyne will share more than $3.3 million in grants through the Driving Access and Equity Program, helping disadvantaged drivers through licensing programs.

The State Government program, which has so far enabled 50 people to get their P-plates and 143 people their learner’s permit in the Kimberley and Pilbara, will provide financial support to organisations helping disadvantaged drivers gain their licence.

Midwest Employment and Economic Development Aboriginal Corporation (MEEDAC) received $450,000 in funding for their driving access and equity program and WA Police and Community Youth Centres received $247,224.

Real Futures in the Gascoyne region received $645,150 to deliver a driver support program led by local Indigenous people to support learner drivers in Carnarvon, Exmouth, Denham, Coral Bay, Gascoyne Junction and Burringurrah.

Yulella Aboriginal Corporation, covering Meekatharra, Cue and Mt Magnet, received $294,986.

The grant will support the purchase of 16 vehicles and aims to help more than 800 disadvantaged people complete their supervised driving hours, receive instruction or attempt their driving assessment.

Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton thanked community organisations for their efforts.

“I recently supported my daughter in obtaining her driver’s licence, so I am aware of the costs faced by new learner drivers, the need of a suitable vehicle and time that is required to log their hours — it is something that not everyone has available to them,” she said.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the organisations had strong connections to disadvantaged people in their area and could tailor programs to achieve positive results.

“We know this program has the potential to change lives and we’re seeing this happen in the Kimberley and Pilbara where the program rolled out last year, resulting in hundreds of people being supported through the licensing process,” she said.