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

Travelling Well:Driver Licensing, Social Capital and Aboriginal Health in South Australia Yvonne Helps Research Centre for Injury Studies Yvonne Helps Research Centre for Injury Studies Population Health Congress 2008, July 6-9, Brisbane

Aboriginal People TravellingWell 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 Population Health Congress 2008, July 6-9, Brisbane

Acknowledgements The project was funded by: A seeding grant from Flinders University A 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 licensing Educational 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

TiR Program 2007 outcome 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”

Bibliography 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.

“From little things, big things grow” Vincent Lingiari Wave Hill walk off 1966 Richard Williams with tjitji, Yalata Population Health Congress 2008, July 6-9, Brisbane

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