Young novice drivers tend to need a longer period to get their license, whereas mature drivers or those with an existing overseas license can often speed up the process.
Getting a driver’s license in Australia can be a lengthy and costly exercise.
This normally starts with an eyesight test when applying for a test or license, followed by a Driver’s Knowledge Test.
New South Wales residents can sit the Driver’s Knowledge Test in Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Greek, Korean, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese.
If your language is not in the list, you may be able to request an interpreter service for the test. New South Wales driving instructor George Hany explains.
Drivers are issued with an L-plate after passing the Driver’s Knowledge Test.
This allows drivers to start taking lessons on the road.
Hany says the number of lessons required depends on how quickly a person can learn.
“From my experience between 5 and 15 lessons and it would make it shorter if they have someone at home who have a full license and who can help.”
Before progressing to a practical test to obtain a restricted or probationary license – learners are required to pass a Hazard Perception Test that judges their ability to recognise potentially dangerous situations.
Most states and territories need young drivers under 25 to log between 50 – 120 hours of supervised driving by an instructor or a person with a full license.
The number of driving hours required vary in different states and territories.
Drivers are then able to apply for their full license after the specified probationary period.
Foreign nationals holding a current license from a recognised country or an experienced driver recognised country can convert their overseas license to an Australian driver’s license usually within three months after arriving in Australia.
The only exceptions are Tasmania where drivers will need to apply for an Australian license within three months from the date when their visa is granted, and Victoria, within six months from entry into the country or from the date the visa is issued.
Drivers holding a full license from ineligible countries are required to sit a driving test generally within their first three months in Australia.
Not everyone can afford driving lessons nor find friends or family to practise driving with.
Logan-based Access Community Services has come up with an innovative Women at the Wheel program with funding from Queensland road toll company Transurban.
The program teaches theory and offers between 10 to 20 practical lessons for women from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
Whilst programs like Women at the Wheel are rare, Gail Kerr, the CEO of Access Community Services, says there may be other support services available in different states and territories for those who cannot afford lessons.
“If people went onto the department of social services to their website they would be able to see who the federal government funds as settlement service providers. They would be able to work with you and talk you through what’s available in your state, in your community with other services, other programs, and then often, local councils are also great places to find support, and FECCA - the Federation of Ethnic Communities Council Australia would have a website that can also link you to their state agencies.”
