MCCI’s L2P program helps provide valuable driving experience for former refugees in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region. Photo: MCCI.
Independence and employability come at a high price in the Shoalhaven, with the region toting the dubious honour of ranking third highest in prices for driving lessons.
New EzLicence data has revealed how much it costs to get your driver’s licence across Australia, with NSW ranking as the third most expensive state overall. Driving lessons make up a significant part of that upfront cost, but prices vary widely depending on where learners live.
Analysis of hourly lesson rates across the country revealed the Shoalhaven was the third most expensive area in the country for driving lessons, with learners paying an average of $87.76 an hour.
The region sits just behind Adelaide ($113.58) and Newcastle ($88.01), highlighting the higher cost of lessons in regional coastal areas compared to many capital cities.
By comparison, learners in nearby Sydney are paying significantly less, with the average hourly lesson rate sitting at $77.55. The difference is likely driven by instructor availability, with larger cities typically having more driving schools and higher competition, which can help keep prices lower.
Driving plays a key role in independence and capacity, particularly for vulnerable demographics, according to Allyson Pazos, General Manager of Settlement & Youth Services at the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (MCCI).
“At MCCI, we see transport and the ability to access places as a determinant of social and physical wellbeing, and a key factor in a migrant’s settlement outcome,” she said.
“The ability to reach places can determine connection, employment and economic participation, access support services like medical appointments and civic participation activities, such as at your local football club.
“Parts of the Illawarra and Shoalhaven continue to be settlement areas for at-risk women, and that means many women with caring responsibilities might be on their own when they arrive. Upskilling them with skills like driving empowers them to do that, and that capability has flow-on benefits for their children and the wider community.”
In NSW, a learner driver under the age of 25 must log 120 supervised driving hours (including 20 hours of night driving) before attempting the practical driving test to get their provisional licence, with certain concessions under the accelerated hours scheme that make driving lessons highly valuable.
Even older demographics, who have no logbook requirements, often need lessons before they hit the road.
But for many, driving lessons are cost-prohibitive.
“For a lot of people, gaining the experience you need to be confident on the road is really expensive,” Allyson said.
“Often a person needs several lessons to gain the experience they need to feel confident on the road.”
“At almost $88 an hour in the Shoalhaven, it’s an expensive exercise for your average person. Many of the people we work with come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and simply can’t spend that kind of money.”
To help bridge the gap, MCCI’s L2P program engages volunteers to upskill former refugees in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.
At $20 a lesson to help cover costs such as fuel and maintenance of the L2P vehicle, it places independence in reach of former refugees.
In the face of the rising cost of driving lessons, the organisation is calling for more volunteers to help mentor its community.
For more information, visit MCCI.
