Driving Change: Wunan helps overcome barriers to licences in the Kimberley
With no family car, the road to 50 hours of supervised driving — and her licence — seemed like a long and winding one.
But East Kimberley Aboriginal organisation Wunan changed that by offering her driving lessons from her workplace at its head office where she was employed as a receptionist.
'I never had a car for a long time like my family didn't, and so the drivers would actually pick me up from my work and take me out, which is really great,' she said.
Ms Lewis is one of 1,637 people across WA who have obtained their driver's licence through the Department of Transport's driving access and equity program.
DAEP supports people who face barriers in the licensing process to obtain their driver's licence, develop safe driving habits and improve their employment opportunities.
Many learner drivers struggle to obtain a licence because they do not have regular access to a vehicle to complete the required 50 hours of supervised driving, or they can't afford a driving instructor to teach them.
The DAEP provides grants to community-based organisations to deliver projects on the ground, improving access to appropriately licensed vehicles, driving supervisors and instructors and providing road rules education and assistance with identity documents.
Assistant transport minister Jessica Stojkovski said the program did not just offer participants the keys to a car.
'The keys are actually to opportunity,' she said
'Getting your driver's licence, it's not just your photo and details on an ID. It's the capacity to be able to go out and get a job.
'Also the work Wunan are doing along with the driving instructing is important. That is, getting some of those health checks done, making sure that their vision and their hearing is good, working through any illiteracy issues as well.'
Ms Stojkovski said some family and domestic violence refuges were referring women to Wunan to obtain their driver's licences so they can have greater access to services and job opportunities.
'I think the impact of this program is widely felt,' she said.
Almost $26 million in grant funding has been delivered through the program to 29 organisations across WA since it was established in 2022.
That includes five organisations in the Kimberley with 1,258 people participating in the program and, so far, 488 licences being issued.
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News.com.au
31-07-2025
- News.com.au
‘Inappropriate': QLD mum left reeling as her name is banned from Aussie number plates
A young Queensland mum was blown away after the state knocked back her request for personalised number plates featuring her own name. Indica Bradford had dreamt of having her own custom plates since the day she got her licence. 'Everyone has personalised plates and I could get my full name because it's so unique,' she told A Current Affair. 'I was really excited about that for ages.' After years of checking online to see if her name was still available, she finally placed her order. 'I bought my new car, and I thought, I'll finally get them, so I put them on lay-by.' But the excitement was short-lived. A few weeks later, her deposit was refunded. The Department of Transport and Main Roads ruled her chosen plates inappropriate. 'Personalised Plates Queensland (PPQ) told me it's a strand of marijuana, so that's why they've deemed it inappropriate,' Indica said. Indica says her mother gave her the name after hearing it somewhere years before she was born. 'She loved it for years, and then when she finally had me, she named me the name she loved.' Neither of them had any idea the name was also linked to a subspecies of the cannabis plant. 'I think the majority of Australia would probably be the same. They wouldn't even know what it meant. 'It's just someone's unusual name.' Now, Indica is calling on the department to reverse the decision. 'I'm not trying to offend anyone. It's just my name, my legal name, on my birth certificate.' However, the government isn't budging. The Department of Transport and Main Roads said all personalised plate requests are assessed against strict criteria set by PPQ, and 'plates that do not meet the criteria are not approved for sale.' The policy is regularly updated to 'reflect current community and social norms' and to align with Queenslanders' expectations. The department added: 'This particular plate combination at the time was deemed inappropriate in relation to its interpretation as promotion of illegal drugs or criminal activity.' Indica isn't alone in having her request denied. Across Australia, thousands of number plates are rejected each year for toeing the line on what's considered offensive, inappropriate, or dangerous. In Western Australia, plates referencing drugs, alcohol, road safety concerns, discriminatory or offensive language, and government acronyms like ANZAC or RAAF are banned. Some rejected plates include CRMNL (crime reference), T3QUILA (alcohol), ADHD12 (mental health), ANILATR (deemed unsafe), and XIXIXIXIX (too difficult to read). WA car enthusiast Ian Atkinson received a complaint from a disability workforce member about his plate SPAKATAK in February 2022. Atkinson said the plates, which came with the car he bought two months earlier, cost about $600. 'When I bought it, I had no idea that it would offend anybody,' he told the ABC. 'It just depends on someone's interpretation.' The plate was approved in 2011 but would not pass today's stricter guidelines. He also tried to get HQQNIGAN (a play on Hoonigan), but that was also rejected because officials feared it might incite road rage. In New South Wales, plates have been deemed even more controversial. After a Sydney motorist was spotted in Feb 2024, with plates reading OCT7TH, an apparent reference to the October 7 Hamas terror attacks in Israel, Transport for NSW ordered the plates to be surrendered. The driver claimed the plates were 'missing.' Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said: 'No one will buy his excuse.' Authorities warned failure to return cancelled plates could result in a $2,000 fine, or up to $22,000 and possible jail time if a false statutory declaration is submitted. NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said: 'The NSW Government has zero tolerance for hate speech. 'We are not going to tolerate hatred and intolerance being spread in the community.' Other recalled plates in NSW included 88SEIG (linked to Nazi codes) and NAAZI4, despite the owner claiming, like Indica, that it was related to their name. However, it seems some unusual plates have slipped through the net. In October 2024, a Perth driver was accused of 'belittling the poor' after their luxury Mercedes, with the plate CENTRLINK, was photographed. The car was believed to have retailed for over $150,000. 'I very much doubt the owner of this Merc is on Centrelink,' wrote the person who uploaded the photo. The owner sparked significant public debate but in the end was not fined or required to surrender the plates. Plate rage isn't unique to Australia, in the UK John and Jackie Cooke, were left fuming after their personalised plate N14GAS, a nod to their football club, Bristol Rovers, was recalled in Jan 2025 after nearly 30 years. The plate stands for 'Number one for the Gas', the club's nickname, and was originally suggested by Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) staff in 1997. But concerns it could be misconstrued as a slur led to the plate being revoked. Jackie said: 'In 27 years, no-one has ever complained about this registration number being offensive.' Between 2022 and 2023, around 1,000 personalised plate applications in Western Australia were knocked back for being too offensive. Meanwhile, in Queensland, PPQ rejected 3,901 combinations in 2023 alone. Some of the banned contenders include GEN3CID, SAUC3D, RAMP4GE, BUYAGRAM and F4K3T4X1 (referring to a well-known porn site). Whether it's your legal name, a tongue-in-cheek joke, or your favourite sports team, if it's going on a plate, expect scrutiny. And in Indica's case, you can be named after a party plant your whole life and still be told it's too controversial for your bumper.
Daily Telegraph
30-07-2025
- Daily Telegraph
‘Inappropriate': QLD mum left reeling as her name is banned from Aussie number plates
Don't miss out on the headlines from On the Road. Followed categories will be added to My News. A young Queensland mum was blown away after the state knocked back her request for personalised number plates featuring her own name. Indica Bradford had dreamt of having her own custom plates since the day she got her licence. 'Everyone has personalised plates and I could get my full name because it's so unique,' she told A Current Affair. 'I was really excited about that for ages.' After years of checking online to see if her name was still available, she finally placed her order. 'I bought my new car, and I thought, I'll finally get them, so I put them on lay-by.' But the excitement was short-lived. A few weeks later, her deposit was refunded. The Department of Transport and Main Roads ruled her chosen plates inappropriate. 'Personalised Plates Queensland (PPQ) told me it's a strand of marijuana, so that's why they've deemed it inappropriate,' Indica said. Indica says her mother gave her the name after hearing it somewhere years before she was born. 'She loved it for years, and then when she finally had me, she named me the name she loved.' Neither of them had any idea the name was also linked to a subspecies of the cannabis plant. 'I think the majority of Australia would probably be the same. They wouldn't even know what it meant. 'It's just someone's unusual name.' Now, Indica is calling on the department to reverse the decision. 'I'm not trying to offend anyone. It's just my name, my legal name, on my birth certificate.' However, the government isn't budging. For all the latest science and technology news - download the app direct to your phone. Indica is calling on the department to reverse the decision. Picture: A Current Affair The Department of Transport and Main Roads said all personalised plate requests are assessed against strict criteria set by PPQ, and 'plates that do not meet the criteria are not approved for sale.' The policy is regularly updated to 'reflect current community and social norms' and to align with Queenslanders' expectations. The department added: 'This particular plate combination at the time was deemed inappropriate in relation to its interpretation as promotion of illegal drugs or criminal activity.' Indica isn't alone in having her request denied. Across Australia, thousands of number plates are rejected each year for toeing the line on what's considered offensive, inappropriate, or dangerous. In Western Australia, plates referencing drugs, alcohol, road safety concerns, discriminatory or offensive language, and government acronyms like ANZAC or RAAF are banned. Some rejected plates include CRMNL (crime reference), T3QUILA (alcohol), ADHD12 (mental health), ANILATR (deemed unsafe), and XIXIXIXIX (too difficult to read). WA car enthusiast Ian Atkinson received a complaint from a disability workforce member about his plate SPAKATAK in February 2022. Atkinson said the plates, which came with the car he bought two months earlier, cost about $600. 'When I bought it, I had no idea that it would offend anybody,' he told the ABC. 'It just depends on someone's interpretation.' The plate was approved in 2011 but would not pass today's stricter guidelines. He also tried to get HQQNIGAN (a play on Hoonigan), but that was also rejected because officials feared it might incite road rage. Failure to return cancelled plates can result in a penalty up to $22,000 and possible jail time. Picture: X In New South Wales, plates have been deemed even more controversial. After a Sydney motorist was spotted in Feb 2024, with plates reading OCT7TH, an apparent reference to the October 7 Hamas terror attacks in Israel, Transport for NSW ordered the plates to be surrendered. The driver claimed the plates were 'missing.' Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said: 'No one will buy his excuse.' Authorities warned failure to return cancelled plates could result in a $2,000 fine, or up to $22,000 and possible jail time if a false statutory declaration is submitted. NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said: 'The NSW Government has zero tolerance for hate speech. 'We are not going to tolerate hatred and intolerance being spread in the community.' Other recalled plates in NSW included 88SEIG (linked to Nazi codes) and NAAZI4, despite the owner claiming, like Indica, that it was related to their name. However, it seems some unusual plates have slipped through the net. In October 2024, a Perth driver was accused of 'belittling the poor' after their luxury Mercedes, with the plate CENTRLINK, was photographed. The car was believed to have retailed for over $150,000. 'I very much doubt the owner of this Merc is on Centrelink,' wrote the person who uploaded the photo. The owner sparked significant public debate but in the end was not fined or required to surrender the plates. Plate rage isn't unique to Australia, in the UK John and Jackie Cooke, were left fuming after their personalised plate N14GAS, a nod to their football club, Bristol Rovers, was recalled in Jan 2025 after nearly 30 years. Some Aussie drivers got away scot-free with their risky license plates. Picture: Reddit The plate stands for 'Number one for the Gas', the club's nickname, and was originally suggested by Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) staff in 1997. But concerns it could be misconstrued as a slur led to the plate being revoked. Jackie said: 'In 27 years, no-one has ever complained about this registration number being offensive.' Between 2022 and 2023, around 1,000 personalised plate applications in Western Australia were knocked back for being too offensive. Meanwhile, in Queensland, PPQ rejected 3,901 combinations in 2023 alone. Some of the banned contenders include GEN3CID, SAUC3D, RAMP4GE, BUYAGRAM and F4K3T4X1 (referring to a well-known porn site). Whether it's your legal name, a tongue-in-cheek joke, or your favourite sports team, if it's going on a plate, expect scrutiny. And in Indica's case, you can be named after a party plant your whole life and still be told it's too controversial for your bumper.
Perth Now
04-07-2025
- Perth Now
'Garlic was just in our engineering room all the time...' Lewis Hamilton reveals the one thing he doesn't miss since Ferrari Formula One switch
Sir Lewis Hamilton experienced a massive culture shock when he moved to Formula One team Ferrari - although he is happy he no longer has to endure the smell of curry on race days. The seven-time Formula One world champion got used to working with a largely British garage when driving for McLaren and Mercedes before making the switch to Ferrari in 2025, for which he now spends most of his time in Maranello, Italy. Lewis, 40, admits the culture is totally different with his Italian team making time for a lengthy lunch each day, but one thing he doesn't miss is the strong smell of spices and garlic on a Sunday morning, which was what would enter his nostrils because his British technical team and mechanics would always go for a curry on a Saturday night before race day. Ahead of the British Grand Prix this Sunday (06.07.25), Lewis made an appearance in London week to mark the grand opening of The House of Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0 and spilled about how his life has changed since becoming a Scuderia Ferrari HP driver to Nick Grimshaw. He said: "The Brits loved curry, my British team they would always have a curry so like on Sunday morning when they'd come into the race they'd literally stink, they all smelled of curry in the morning, garlic was just in our engineering room all the time. "They weren't passionate about food otherwise. Italians? Oh my God. There's literally a scheduled time in the day, lunch they can never, ever miss. "Sometimes I go into the garage to talk to my mechanics, I'm like, where is everyone? They're at lunch. "I think they're the only team that does that!" Lewis has won the British Grand Prix nine times and been on the race's podium 11 times throughout his illustrious career. And despite having zero podium places so far out of the 11 races this season, Lewis is hoping for a "strong result" at his beloved Silverstone track. Speaking at a media day on Thursday (03.07.25), he optimistically said: "There is always magic here at Silverstone. "It is a very, very special race, and I am hoping all sorts of things can help us. I am hoping and praying. 'I cannot wait for Friday. Driving a Ferrari at Silverstone for the first time will be special and unique in its own way. We have the best fans here, and for a British driver, they really do make a difference." Following Lewis launching The House of Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0, the attraction is open until July 5 and features a full schedule of immersive fan experiences with highlights including a pizza masterclass with 50 Top Pizza Europa no.1 Pizza Chef Michele Pascarella, and a cocktail-making workshop hosted by award-winning mixologist Federico Riezzo. Here, guests can learn to create pizzas and drinks inspired by Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. The House of Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0 is located at The Stables, Covent Garden. Free tickets are available via sign-up at Club Peroni.
