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