Grant FAQs

What are the Driving Access and Equity grants?

The The Driving Access and Equity grants are a major component of the larger Driving Access and Equity Program, a State Government initiative managed by the Department of Transport to help disadvantaged people, particularly those in regional WA, obtain their driver’s licence and become safe, employable drivers.

What can the grants be used for?

Funding can be used for projects and initiatives that achieve the following four objectives:

Objective 1: Provide access to appropriately licensed vehicles to allow learner drivers to complete supervised driving hours, receive professional instruction or attempt a practical driving assessment. 

Objective 2: Provide access to suitably licensed driving supervisors and instructors.  

Objective 3: Deliver program/s that help overcome local issues and costs that prevent people from obtaining their driver’s licence. 

Objective 4: Provide improved access to driver licensing services. 

Who is eligible for the grants?

The following organisations in the Goldfields-Esperance region are eligible to apply for this latest round of grants:

• Local Government Authorities
• Community organisations
• Educational Institutions
• Not for profit organisations
• Corporations, including Aboriginal Corporations
• Businesses or organisations that provide access to driving supervision or instruction. 

Note: Joint proposals from organisations to deliver project/s that assist beneficiaries to complete all six steps to get their licence will be viewed favourably.

If your organisation does not fit within one of the categories listed above, please contact the program team to discuss options.

How are the grants assessed?

The Department of Transport, in consultation with the Driving Access and Equity Program Grants Assessment Committee, will evaluate applications and make recommendations for approval to the Minister of Transport. 

The Driving Access and Equity Program Grants Committee consists of representatives from:

• State Government agencies including the Department of Transport and the Department of Justice; and
• A representative outside of government.

Applications will be assessed against selection criteria including the proposal’s ability to deliver on the program’s objectives and value for money.

Will the grants be available to other regions?

The Driving Access and Equity grants have been made available to the Kimberley and Pilbara, Mid West and Gascoyne and Goldfields-Esperance regions.

Further regions to be supported will be considered based on need and available funding.

Why has the grant process changed from a closed to an open round?

The Driving Access and Equity Program was first developed as a pilot program in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions. To establish and develop the program in a timely way, existing organisations already working with disadvantaged people in the Kimberley and Pilbara were approached and invited to apply for grants.

An open competitive grant process was decided upon for the Mid West and Gascoyne and Goldfields-Esperance region grant rounds after stakeholder consultations in these regions identified a much wider range of potential applicants than originally estimated.

This approach will help extend the potential reach and impact of the funding to deliver the best results for the community. 

Does my organisation have to be based in the region that each grant round is open to?

Each grant round will have restrictions on where programs must operate for the program to be eligible for funding in that round. 

An organisation’s head office can be located anywhere in WA so long as they are applying for funding for a program operating within an eligible region.

Organisations that operate in multiple regions can apply in multiple funding rounds but can only apply for grants for programs that operate within regions eligible to be funded in that round.

Organisations will need to demonstrate significant sustainable regional benefits and a commitment to local decision-making and planning to be eligible for a grant.

Can I apply for funding in more than one region?

Yes. Where funding is sought for projects across multiple regions, applicants must clearly identify for each region how the project will be delivered, the funding requested and the expected outcomes. 

If I am unsuccessful this round, can I still apply when the next round opens?

Yes. Applicants who have been advised that their application was unsuccessful can contact the Department of Transport to discuss the outcome of the assessment and how the application/project might be amended for consideration in any future rounds.

Can someone from the Department of Transport help me with my application? 

The Department can provide general advice and information on completing a grant application but cannot provide any grant application content. This is to maintain the equity and integrity of the application and assessment process. 

Who do I contact if I’m having trouble using or submitting an application form? 

Grants are submitted using SmartyGrants. SmartyGrant’s Help Guide for Applicants and Applicant Frequently Asked Questions should answer most questions. For further assistance email  Access.Equity.Programs@transport.wa.gov.au 

Will you contact me if there are problems/questions about our application? 

To maintain the equity and integrity of our process, the Department of Transport cannot contact applicants to resolve issues with applications after the grant round has closed. If an applicant supplies incomplete documents, they may be contacted for further information.

When will I receive the grant funding?

Successful applicants will be required to enter into a Grant Agreement Contract with the Department of Transport. This agreement contract will outline the funding and payment details. 

Do I have to acknowledge the grant funding in some way?

Applicants are required to seek the Department of Transport’s permission prior to making any media announcement regarding their grant. Media statements regarding the grant must mention the Driving Access and Equity Program’s contribution to the project.

I have spent less than expected when I applied for the grant. What do I do?

The grantee must repay to the Department any grant funds that the Department has paid which are not used in accordance with the agreement unless the Department agrees in writing that the grantee can retain unexpended grant funds.

The project scope that was approved has changed. What do I do?

The grantee must not make any material changes to the Grantee’s program without the prior written consent of the Department of Transport.