Yvonne HelpsResearch Centre for Injury Studies

Population Health Congress 2008, July 6-9, Brisbane

Travelling Well:Driver Licensing, Social Capital and Aboriginal Health in South Australia

Yvonne HelpsResearch Centre for Injury Studies

Contributors: Aboriginal community members from Yalata and Ceduna Port Adelaide and Gilles Plains and agency representatives in SA

Researchers: Dr Inge Kowanko Assoc. Prof. James Harrison Ms Kim O’Donnell Prof. Charlotte de Crespigny

Mr Jerry Moller

Aboriginal People Travelling Well

Population Health Congress 2008, July 6-9, Brisbane

AcknowledgementsThe project was funded by:

A seeding grant from Flinders UniversityA research grant from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).

The Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health (CRCAH) is producing a printed report for communities and agencies

www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/safety

Population Health Congress 2008, July 6-9, Brisbane

Aboriginal health Health in the Indigenous context

encompasses the physical, social, emotional and cultural wellbeing of the individual and their community, and the ability of both to reach their full potential through the ongoing cycle of life, death and new life. (NAHSWP 1989).

Population Health Congress 2008, July 6-9, Brisbane

Aboriginal safety

The Aboriginal concept of safety is not

only to be at no risk, or least risk of

actual injury, but also to live with a

feeling of safety

(National Public Health Partnership 2005)

Population Health Congress 2008, July 6-9, Brisbane

Social capital

Acquired through engagement in social

structures and networks

Membership affords opportunity to benefit

from these constructs (physical and social)

Benefits the individual and the community

Can have negative effects

Population Health Congress 2008, July 6-9, Brisbane

Driver licensingEducational outcome

Establishes identity and is a mechanism to:

Achieve levels of social capital

Assist social cohesion, cultural

connectedness and assists access to:

Health choices to enhance wellbeing

Licensing can be assisted by the state

Population Health Congress 2008, July 6-9, Brisbane

Barriers to licensing

Literacy

Language and learning differences

Gender sensitivities

Cost and failure rate

Lack of identification

Reluctance to deal with government depts

Population Health Congress 2008, July 6-9, Brisbane

Repercussions

Unlicenced driver

Unregistered vehicle

No driver education and training

Accidents rarely affect only one person

Effects on family and community

Population Health Congress 2008, July 6-9, Brisbane

Novice driver example

Transition from school to work

L licence

50 hours supervised driving

Probationary licence

Unrestricted licence after 2 years no

penalties

Population Health Congress 2008, July 6-9, Brisbane

Collective use of a licensed driver

Drivers transport members to the Zebra

Finch Men’s Group

Supports members with disabilities

through safe and sufficient transport

Supports members in varying degrees of

health

Population Health Congress 2008, July 6-9, Brisbane

Adelaide Thinkers in Residence Program 2007

Invitation to convene a workshop on

Mobility, Health and Equity

Highlighted PATS and driver licensing

Forum members and a community

member participated

Government representatives attended

Population Health Congress 2008, July 6-9, Brisbane

Health, wellbeing and equity: Aboriginal health Recommendation:

• Develop alternative pathways for Aboriginal people to obtain a driver's licence.

• A target for this should be included in South Australia’s Strategic Plan when it is reviewed. This recommendation is in line with Recommendation 13 in the Aboriginal People Travelling Well report:

TiR Program 2007 outcome

“A system of improving access to licensing for Aboriginal people is recommended. The system should offset literacy and language barriers, and difficulties in obtaining access to instruction, including difficulties in obtaining the necessary practice experience before obtaining a provisional license. Attention should be paid to increasing access to heavy vehicle and bus licensing and accreditation”

TiR Program 2007 outcome

Baum F. Social capital: is it good for your health? Issues for a public health agenda. Journal of Epidemiology of Community Health 1999;53;195-196

Brough MK, Henderson G, Foster R, Douglas H. Social Capital and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health: Problems and Possibilities. In Beyond Bandaids: Exploring the Underlying Social Determinants of Aboriginal Health. Edited by Ian Anderson, Fran Baum, Michael Bentley. 2007, Casuarina NT.

Currie G and Senbergs Z. Indigenous Communities: Transport Disadvantage and Aboriginal Communities. In No Way To Go. 2007 Monash University Press.

Grieco M, Turner J, Hine J. Transport, employment and social exclusion: changing the contours through information technology. Local Work 2000.

Bibliography

Richard Williams with tjitji, Yalata

“From little things, big things grow”Vincent Lingiari Wave Hill walk off 1966

Population Health Congress 2008, July 6-9, Brisbane