Welcome to the first edition of the On the Right Track newsletter. In 2016 this newsletter will be published quarterly and include information on our programs, initiatives and involvement in Aboriginal community activities.
As we near the end of the year, we’d like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very safe and happy Christmas and New Year.
Our role is to improve road safety and driver licensing outcomes for South Australian Aboriginal people. We run two main programs - On the Right Track and On the Right Track Remote. On the Right Track provides Aboriginal people, families and communities with education, resources and practical support to help get a driver's licence and to be safer drivers and passengers. For Aboriginal people living in remote South Australia, where it can be difficult to get a licence we offer driver licensing services through On the Right Track Remote. On the Right Track Remote regularly visits the APY and MT Lands along with a team of Motor Driving Instructors to provide driving lessons, practical driving tests, help with getting a learner’s permit and information about how to deal with fines.
2015 has been a busy year for On the Right Track and On the Right Track Remote.
In July, the On the Right Track website was launched in NAIDOC Week by the Hon. Kyam Maher, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation who spoke about its importance to Aboriginal people, families and communities. At the same event, a second On the Right Track resource was launched by Aboriginal Elder Mr Murray George. The resource, a 4 part animated series about child restraint use, stars an Aboriginal family and aims to encourage families to make better informed decisions when it comes to restraining their children and travelling safely. The videos are available in English and Pitjantjatjara and can be viewed on the On the Right Track website www.dpti.sa.gov.au/ontherighttrack.
2015 proved to be a big first year for On the Right Track Remote's driving licensing program in the APY and MT Lands. In 10 months the team made 17 trips to the APY and MT Lands and had over 650 people sign up to program. Through the program, 46 people passed their Learner's (L) permit theory test, 30 had been issued with a 'Certificate of Competency' by passing a Vehicle On Road Test, with 23 of those issued with a Provisional (P) Licence, and a further 7 to complete required driving hours or pay a licensing fee.
11 people were granted exemptions by the Minister for Road Safety with two people being issued a Provisional (P) Licence through ministerial exemption.
To find out more about On The Right Track Remote, download HOW’S IT TRACKING? here.
Next year will see a greater emphasis on community engagement, an increase in driving licensing services to the APY and MT Lands, the roll-out of a new program which provides education and support to parents and families about being a good Qualified Supervising Driver, the development of road safety education material for Aboriginal school children, and much more.
Have you checked out the On the Right Track website yet? The website provides information on driver licensing, road safety and how to support family members to get a licence and to be safer drivers.
The On the Right Track website has been designed specifically with Aboriginal people in mind and is responsive to the needs of Aboriginal people, drawing upon both visuals and simple language to convey important messages, further it revolves around key themes such as love and care for family and community. The website has also taken into account that for people living in our Aboriginal communities their first language is their Aboriginal language, with English a second or sometimes third language by providing several resources in the Pitjantjara language, with the aim to make more resources available in Pitjantjatjara and other South Australian Aboriginal languages in the future.
For more information, visit the On the Right Track website http://dpti.sa.gov.au/ontherighttrack/resources/child_restraint_videos.
On the Right Track Remote is excited to welcome Nathan Ahmat-Watkins who joins the team as a Program Support Officer. Nathan’s role sees him work as part of the team to provide driver licensing services to people living in the APY and MT Lands. Before working with On the Remote Track Remote Nathan worked as a mentor to young Aboriginal people.
Nathan is an Arrernte man from Alice Springs. He moved to Adelaide with his family when he was 14 years old and attended Sacred Heart College. Since starting in the team six weeks ago Nathan has joined team members Shane Pilot, Caroline Kanja and Dawn Kanofski on 2 trips to the APY Lands and 1 trip to MT Lands.
Speaking of his experience so far in the role, Nathan says "What I find most rewarding in my role is helping people achieve their goal of getting a driver’s licence. It’s been great to be able to meet so many people and to talk to people about what has motivated them to want to get a driver’s licence. It’s also been great to see family members come down and see us and go through the process of getting a licence together”.
On the Right Track Remote recently had its last trips to the APY and MT Lands with what has been a very positive first year for the program. In the 10 months that the team has been delivering services over 650 people have signed up to the program. A number of these people have gone on to achieve their Provisional Licence including Wally Jacob and Albert Portaminni. Through the program we've also had people regain their Full C-Class licence including Valerie Claude.
Albert Portaminni of Kaltjiti was excited about being issued with his P licence saying "I finally got my licence. It took me a long time. I feel much happier". Albert said how expanding his family and setting a good example for his older children were a motivator to him wanting to get his licence. Further he spoke about how having a licence would help with employment "For most jobs you need a licence. That’s why this licence was my main goal, for all the jobs I’ve been putting in for. With job interviews before it was all good, then at the end the fellow says, ‘Excuse me, I forgot to ask: do you have a licence?’ I’d have to say no. That always failed me for a job".
As the first person to be issued a ministerial exemption, Wally Jacob of Amata received his P2 licence. On having his licence, Wally said that he was looking forward to driving to Port Augusta over Christmas to visit his family.
Valerie Claude of Pukatja who has regained her Full C-Class Licence through the program said it felt good to have her licence back and know that she could drive to visit family.
Keep an eye out for On the Right Track in Service SA centres throughout February and March 2016. We’ve teamed up with Service SA to generate awareness of our programs and to encourage Aboriginal people doing business in Service SA to access our website for information on road safety and driver licencing.