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Learn to Drive Program

Do you want a Tasmanian driving licence?

In Australia getting a driving licence takes time, money and a lot of effort. The Migrant Resource Centre Tasmania (MRC Tas) Driving Program can help you at each step so you can get a licence safely and legally.

The MRC Tas Driving Program is for people from refugee and migrant backgrounds usually  in their first five years of settlement in Australia.

To obtain your Learners Licence, you need to demonstrate that you have learnt the road rules by taking a knowledge test. The knowledge test can only be undertaken at Service Tasmania.  It takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes. To learn about the road rules visit www.thelaw.tas.gov.au or download the road rules book here, you can also view ‘learn to drive’ videos here.

Help with road rules and English

You can get support to learn the road rules and take your test by coming to the Car Café Fridays 10am at MRC Tas in Glenorchy. We can help you learn road rules with an interpreter and volunteers. This saves you time and money.

If you want help with this, visit Car Café or Youth Drop-in, and look at the events page for school holiday programs.

Start with a driving instructor

To use the MRC Tas Driving Program you need to first learn with a driving instructor. After this, ask your instructor to give feedback to MRC Tas on:

  • How you use the car’s controls (such as brakes, steering wheel and gears) to control its movement
  • How you use the car’s controls and follow road rules without thinking about them
  • Your early higher order driving skills (decision making, scanning and hazard perception)

Good feedback means that you can safely start driving practice with a volunteer in the MRC Tas Learner Driver Mentor Program (LDMP) vehicle.

Practice with a volunteer

You need a logbook of 80 hours of driving practice, including 15 hours of night driving. You also need to pass a hazard perception test.

Driving practice with a volunteer helps you continue to develop your decision making, scanning and hazard perception skills during these hours of practice.

When you think you have enough higher order driving skills to go for your P licence, it is a good idea to do a practice driving test with your driving instructor.

Paying for driving lessons

We can help you understand the different options you have. This can be saving, using a Centrelink advance, or a No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS). The minimum repayment for a NILS loan is $20/fortnight for your first 10 driving lessons. Some driving schools have cheaper lessons when you buy 5 or 10 lessons at one time.

If you want help with this, phone us on (03) 6221 0999 for information or an appointment.

Help to practice driving in the MRC Tas car with a volunteer

MRC Tas has special cars used for practice driving, which are e automatic, dual-controlled and insured. This is safer for you and for volunteers.

If you have your L1 licence, you can get a minimum of 10 free practice sessions with us. You need to pay for 10 lessons with a driving school first. Ask a driving instructor to fill this form out after your 10th lesson, and bring it to MRC Tas Tuesday Drop-in or Youth Drop-in.

If you have your L2 licence, you can get a maximum of 50 free practice sessions. You need to pass the L2 test first and bring your licence to Tuesday Drop-in or Youth Drop-in.

If you have an Overseas licence/learner licence, you need to ask a driving school to assess your skill level as either L1 program or L2 program. Ask a driving instructor to fill this form out after having a practice test, and bring to Tuesday Drop-in or Youth Drop-in.

Taking your driving test in an MRC Tas car

If you want to use the MRC Tas car for your driving test, you need feedback from a driving instructor that you’re ready to sit the test. Book a practice driving test with a driving school and ask the driving instructor to fill in this form, and bring it to Tuesday Drop-in or Youth Drop-in.

Help to answer any questions about driving

Phone: Call TIS for an interpreter 131 450 and then call MRC Tas (03) 6221 0999 to ask about driving. Email: driving@mrctas.org.au

Information about volunteering

Are you interested in becoming a Learner Driver Mentor? Do you have 2 hours a week to help our learners get their drivers licence? MRC Tas has 2 dual controlled cars, fully insured and we provide petrol too! Learner Driver Mentors provide on-road driving sessions to learner drivers eligible for the L1 or L2 program. Learner Driver Mentors work as a team directed by program coordinator, in collaboration with driving instructor, and driving assessors. To become a Driver Mentor you must:

  1. Hold a current full Australian car licence (either auto or manual)
  2. Be at least 25 years of age and 2 years on full licence (for insurance purposes)
  3. Obtain a National Police Check (we can help you with this)
  4. Obtain a Working with Vulnerable People Check (we can help you to register)
  5. Be willing and able to follow protocols for COVID-safe services

To enquire about volunteering with the MRC Tas Learn to Drive program, please email driving@mrctas.org.au

Thank you to the funders that support the MRC Tas Driving Program:

  • The MRC Tas Driving Program Coordination – Tasmanian Government
  • MRC Tas Settlement Services – Department of Home Affairs

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Acknowledgement of country

MRC Tas acknowledges the palawa/pakana people as traditional custodians of the lands throughout Lutruwita/Tasmania on which we work. We pay respect to elders past and present and recognise their continuing connection with country and community.