Grant guidelines

The Driving Access and Equity Program is a WA State Government initiative that invests in organisations and projects to help disadvantaged learner drivers, particularly those in regional Western Australia, get their driver’s licence. The program is managed by the Department of Transport.

• Grant Round 1 for the Kimberley and Pilbara regions closed in January 2022
• Grant Round 2 for the Mid West and Gascoyne regions closed October 2022
• Grant Round 3 for the Goldfields-Esperance region closed in November 2022

Up to 100% of the total project cost is available for projects and programs that overcome issues and costs preventing people in the Mid West, Gascoyne and Goldfields-Esperance regions from obtaining their licence. All grant funded activities must be completed within 12-16 months from when the grant agreement is signed. A period of 2-4 months can be used for project establishment with 12 months for project delivery.

Grant Round 2: Mid West and Gascoyne

• Applications open: Monday 5 September 2022
• Applications close: Monday 3 October 2022
• Applicants advised of outcome: February 2023

Grant Round 3: Goldfields-Esperance

• Applications open: 10 October 2022
• Applications close: 7 November 2022
• Applicants advised of outcome: February 2023

Program objectives

The projects being proposed should achieve one or more of 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. 

Program outcomes

The following outcomes will be used as measures to evaluate how effective the grant activities are in achieving the program objectives. Project proposals do not have to deliver on all program objectives or outcomes however, proposals that assist beneficiaries to complete all six steps to get their licence will be viewed favourably. 

The six steps to getting your licence

1. Learner's permit: Pass eyesight and theory test, and submit required documentation to be issued your learner's permit.
2. Learn to drive: Take driving lessons and log hours in the Log&Learn app or Learner Log Book.
3. Hazard Perception Test: Sit the Hazard Perception Test after 6 months of holding a learner's permit.
4. Gain more driving experience: Log at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including 5 hours at night.
5. Driving Test: Sit the practical driving assessment.
6. Provisional driver's licence: Provisional driver's licence issued for the first 2 years.

Primary outcomes

Number of people (beneficiaries) who:

• attempt a theory test; 
• are issued a learner’s permit;
• complete the required logbook hours;
• attempt the hazard perception test; 
• receive professional driver instruction;
• attempt practical driving assessments; or
• are issued a provisional driver’s licence. 

Secondary outcome

Number of people (beneficiaries) who:

• obtain employment, education, or training opportunities because of driver’s licence attainment. 
   

Who is eligible? 

To be eligible for a program funding grant, applicants must:

• be a legal entity capable of entering into a legally binding and enforceable financial assistance agreement (Grant Funding Agreement) with the Western Australian State Government. The generic Grant Funding Agreement can be found on the SmartyGrant website; 
• have an Australian Business Number (ABN). If your organisation has an ABN and is registered for GST, the grant will be ‘grossed up’ by 10% of the grant amount;
• be incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 2015 (WA), or an Indigenous organisation under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI), or a local government or a company limited by guarantee or an Educational Institution;
• have an account with an authorised deposit-taking institution (an Australian financial institution or bank) registered with the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority;
• maintain proper financial records and record keeping practices in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and practices, including retention of invoices, receipts, bank statements, and reconciliations of bank balance, receipts, and expenditure; 
• maintain appropriate and sufficient insurance cover for the duration of the project. A certificate of currency of insurance/s for the coming year should be provided upon application, noting: 
  • for Public Liability Insurance, a minimum value of $10 million per claim or occurrence giving rise to a claim is required; and 
  • workers compensation insurance in accordance with the provisions of the Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 (WA), including cover for common law liability for an amount of not less than $50 million for any one occurrence is required. 
•  ensure all proposed employees and volunteers who will engage with beneficiaries have a current National Police Certificate and Working with Children Card;
• ensure all proposed employees and volunteers comply with health directions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic; and 
• ensure all proposed volunteers for supervising driving meet the requirements to be a supervising driver. For more information on the requirements, refer to the Learn to drive page. 

The following organisations are eligible to apply:

• Local Government Authorities
• Community organisations
• Educational Institution
• Not for profit organisations
• 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 

What is eligible?

The provision of grants is to be used for projects and initiatives that achieve the programs stated objective and can include:

• providing beneficiaries access to theory testing services; 
• providing beneficiaries access to a vehicle for supervision, instruction, and/or a practical driving assessment; 
• establishing a driving instruction business, or employing a driving instructor, where no such service, or access to such a service exists, is limited or is not culturally appropriate; 
• providing beneficiaries access to volunteer supervisors, providing the volunteer supervisor is exempt from the requirements of Section 5(1) of the Motor Vehicle Drivers Instructors Act 1963;
• assisting beneficiaries with the costs associated with obtaining a driver’s licence where no other funding or subsidy is available; and
• other projects that provide local solutions to local barriers that stop people completing the driver licensing process. This could include, but is not limited to, culturally appropriate service provision and the production of culturally appropriate learning materials. 

A project that delivers activities an organisation has previously delivered or is currently delivering will NOT be considered UNLESS it expands the current reach to new locations or new beneficiaries (potential licence applicants).

Eligible items

The following items are available for funding.

• Costs associated with providing a beneficiary access to a vehicle that will be used for driver supervision, instruction, and/or a practical driving assessment will be capped at $40,000 per vehicle and may include: 
  • purchase, including transfer fees, one-year vehicle licence – second-hand vehicles may be purchased, but all vehicles must be 5-star safety rated and suitable for the region and driving environment;
  • lease costs for one year (52 weeks); and
  • fitment of dual control (if applicable).
• Fuel costs capped at $250 per week to a total of $13,000.

Note: vehicles must be purchased by the Grantee. Payment to the Grantee for the vehicle will be made within 28 business days upon provision of an invoice and supporting documentation. 

Note: The grant assessment committee will consider a higher vehicle value if a strong justification is provided for the need of a particular vehicle.

• Nominal costs associated with providing a beneficiary access to local volunteer supervisors.
• Costs associated with assisting a beneficiary through the licensing process, where no other funding or subsidy applies, will be capped at $5,000 per person and may include payment for the following (click here for the current fee schedule):
  • theory testing;
  • application fees;
  • logbook purchase;
  • driving lessons;
  • hazard perception testing;
  • practical driving assessments; and 
  • one-year driver’s licence fees. 
• Costs associated with project establishment including administration and coordination costs may include: 
  • personnel costs, including salary and training capped at $40,000 per person; 
  • costs associated with obtaining a National Police Clearance and/or Working with Children Card; and
  • office equipment including computers, software, internet, printers/scanners, and telephones capped at $20,000 per grant. 
• Costs associated with case management and mentoring may include:
  • Personnel costs, including salary and training capped at $80,000 per person;
  • Production of driver training program designed to meet the needs of a specific cohort (people with disabilities, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD)  groups, low literacy, young mothers etc)

Note: Applicants should demonstrate in their application how these costs will support the project’s delivery and how ongoing costs will be managed at the conclusion of grant funding. 

The program will fund the costs associated with becoming a driving instructor, these costs should not be included in a project proposal. 

Ineligible items

The following items are not eligible for funding and will be automatically deducted from the grant offer if they are included in the application:

• Replacement of existing assets, where that asset provides services for any other agency or organisation. 
• Existing or ongoing organisational costs where these costs do not contribute to the expansion to new regions or beneficiaries of a demonstrated successful project. 
• Third party insurance, public liability, and workers compensation insurance. 
• Projects undertaken outside of the  Mid West and Gascoyne regions of Western Australia.  
• Office building fit-out, costs or maintenance.
• Payment of beneficiaries’ fines or infringements.      

Before completing the electronic submission, applicants are encouraged to:

• read the Driving Access and Equity Grant Guidelines;
• read the Grant Funding Agreement;
• read the Frequently Asked Questions; and
• contact the Driving Access and Equity Team via Access.Equity.Program@transport.wa.gov.au or 0499 559 691 to discuss project proposals prior to submitting an application. 

Please note that Driving Access and Equity applications for Round 2 (Mid West and Gascoyne) and Round 3 (Goldfields-Esperance) have now closed. Applicants will be advised of the outcome of the assessment process once completed.

Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure the application is completed with appropriate supporting documents attached.

Approval of the grant does not guarantee the Department of Transport will approve milestone payments. 

The Department of Transport may contact the applicant to clarify some points or obtain additional information during the assessment period. 

Assessment of applications

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

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

• State Government agencies including the Department of Transport, Main Roads WA and the Department of Justice; and
• a representative outside of government. 

Applications will be assessed on the following selection criteria:

Mandatory

• Demonstrated understanding of the local issues and barriers hindering people from gaining their driver’s licence.
• Strong project proposal outlining how an identified target group will be assisted to overcome a local barrier to gain their driver’s licence.
• Project proposal that demonstrates ability to achieve one or more of the program’s objectives.
• Demonstrated organisational capacity to deliver a new or expanded service that represents value for money.

Desirable

• Preference will be given to collaborative projects that work with project partners to deliver outcomes.
• Preference will be given to projects where consultation was undertaken with the stakeholders and/or the community to inform the project.
• Preference will be given to joint proposals from organisations that will assist beneficiaries to complete all six steps to get their licence.

Successful applicants

Successful applicants must complete the following administrative processes and demonstrate that the project/s have been completed to a satisfactory standard:

1. Acceptance of grant offer
Successful applicants will be required to enter into a Grant Agreement Contract with the Department of Transport. This agreement contract will detail the obligations of both parties, including but not limited to funding and payment details, reporting requirements, communication protocols, agreed outcomes and acquittal conditions.

To be finalised within two weeks of being advised of grant offer.

2. Evaluation and reporting
Department of Transport will routinely communicate with grant recipients to monitor the progress of the work. It is a requirement that grant recipients complete progress reports when sent by the Department. Recipients will be required to provide details of the beneficiaries involved in the grant projects and their progress towards gaining a driver’s licence, supported by agreed documentation.

During the project

3. Grant payments

The grant payments will be made via milestone payments in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Grant Agreement Contract 

On provision of milestone reports as outlined in Grant Agreement Contract.

4. Projects acquittal

An acquittal form will be provided by the Department to be submitted on completion of the project. A financial statement certified by an authorised signatory and with copies of invoices must be submitted with the final report or as per the terms of the Contract

12 months after project commencement.

Public acknowledgement

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.

GST

All prices/costs presented in the application form and funding submission must be exclusive of GST. 

Available funding

Grants will be provided for a period of up to 12-16 -months only following execution of the Grant Funding Agreement. Grants will not provide for ongoing costs associated with a program that receives a grant. 

Regional Services
Department of Transport
GPO Box R1290
Perth WA 6844
Telephone: 0499 559 691
Email: Access.Equity.Program@transport.wa.gov.au