Addressing the barriers to driver licensing for Aboriginal people in New South Wales and South Australia
Abstract Objective: Low rates of driver licensing have been linked to increased risk of transport‐related injury, and reduced access to health services, employment and educational opportunities in the Aboriginal population. This paper reports on how barriers to obtaining a driver licence are being a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2017-06-01
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| Series: | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12654 |
| _version_ | 1827851345792598016 |
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| author | Kathleen Clapham Kate Hunter Patricia Cullen Yvonne Helps Teresa Senserrick Jake Byrne James E. Harrison Rebecca Q. Ivers |
| author_facet | Kathleen Clapham Kate Hunter Patricia Cullen Yvonne Helps Teresa Senserrick Jake Byrne James E. Harrison Rebecca Q. Ivers |
| author_sort | Kathleen Clapham |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective: Low rates of driver licensing have been linked to increased risk of transport‐related injury, and reduced access to health services, employment and educational opportunities in the Aboriginal population. This paper reports on how barriers to obtaining a driver licence are being addressed in four Aboriginal communities in New South Wales and South Australia. Methods: Qualitative data were collected over a four‐month period in 2013. Interviews with Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal stakeholders (n=31) and 11 focus groups with Aboriginal participants (n=46) were analysed thematically using a framework approach. Results: Factors facilitating licensing included: family support, professional lessons, alternative testing and programs that assist with literacy, fines management, financial assistance and access to a supervising driver. Stakeholders recommended raising awareness of existing services and funding community‐based service provision to promote access to licensing. Discussion: Facilitating licence participation requires systemic change and long‐term investment to ensure interagency collaboration, service use and sustainability of relevant programs, including job search agencies. Implications for public health: The disadvantage faced by Aboriginal people in driver licensing is a fundamental barrier to participation and a social determinant of health. Understanding the factors that promote licensing is crucial to improving access for under‐serviced populations; recommendations provide pragmatic solutions to address licensing disadvantage. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T10:30:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7ecb7fde7de945a5a94b181039e683a3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1326-0200 1753-6405 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T10:30:49Z |
| publishDate | 2017-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-7ecb7fde7de945a5a94b181039e683a32023-09-02T09:12:25ZengElsevierAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health1326-02001753-64052017-06-0141328028610.1111/1753-6405.12654Addressing the barriers to driver licensing for Aboriginal people in New South Wales and South AustraliaKathleen Clapham0Kate Hunter1Patricia Cullen2Yvonne Helps3Teresa Senserrick4Jake Byrne5James E. Harrison6Rebecca Q. Ivers7Australian Health Services Research Institute University of Wollongong New South WalesThe George Institute for Global Health University of Sydney New South WalesThe George Institute for Global Health University of Sydney New South WalesFlinders University South AustraliaTransport and Road Safety Research University of New South Wales New South WalesThe George Institute for Global Health University of Sydney New South WalesFlinders University South AustraliaThe George Institute for Global Health University of Sydney New South WalesAbstract Objective: Low rates of driver licensing have been linked to increased risk of transport‐related injury, and reduced access to health services, employment and educational opportunities in the Aboriginal population. This paper reports on how barriers to obtaining a driver licence are being addressed in four Aboriginal communities in New South Wales and South Australia. Methods: Qualitative data were collected over a four‐month period in 2013. Interviews with Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal stakeholders (n=31) and 11 focus groups with Aboriginal participants (n=46) were analysed thematically using a framework approach. Results: Factors facilitating licensing included: family support, professional lessons, alternative testing and programs that assist with literacy, fines management, financial assistance and access to a supervising driver. Stakeholders recommended raising awareness of existing services and funding community‐based service provision to promote access to licensing. Discussion: Facilitating licence participation requires systemic change and long‐term investment to ensure interagency collaboration, service use and sustainability of relevant programs, including job search agencies. Implications for public health: The disadvantage faced by Aboriginal people in driver licensing is a fundamental barrier to participation and a social determinant of health. Understanding the factors that promote licensing is crucial to improving access for under‐serviced populations; recommendations provide pragmatic solutions to address licensing disadvantage.https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12654Aboriginaldriver licensingNSWSAAustralia |
| spellingShingle | Kathleen Clapham Kate Hunter Patricia Cullen Yvonne Helps Teresa Senserrick Jake Byrne James E. Harrison Rebecca Q. Ivers Addressing the barriers to driver licensing for Aboriginal people in New South Wales and South Australia Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health Aboriginal driver licensing NSW SA Australia |
| title | Addressing the barriers to driver licensing for Aboriginal people in New South Wales and South Australia |
| title_full | Addressing the barriers to driver licensing for Aboriginal people in New South Wales and South Australia |
| title_fullStr | Addressing the barriers to driver licensing for Aboriginal people in New South Wales and South Australia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Addressing the barriers to driver licensing for Aboriginal people in New South Wales and South Australia |
| title_short | Addressing the barriers to driver licensing for Aboriginal people in New South Wales and South Australia |
| title_sort | addressing the barriers to driver licensing for aboriginal people in new south wales and south australia |
| topic | Aboriginal driver licensing NSW SA Australia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12654 |
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