40 people attended from across the youth employment sector, including young people, employers, driving instructors, youth program providers, council employees and government representatives from DEWR and the Department of Education.
The challenges:
Adelaide’s public transport system is not adequately servicing young people, with long, inconvenient routes that are poorly connected to industries actively hiring youth workers.
Many employers cannot hire young people without a driver’s licence, even for entry-level roles. Some jobs that do not genuinely require licences are still listing them as mandatory.
Licensing costs are a major barrier, and driving lessons are expensive and difficult to access. Many young people lack access to a supervising adult to complete logbook hours, and parents and carers often do not feel equipped to teach learner drivers, despite logbook guidance being available.
Employers highlighted that licensing and training systems are also expensive for providers: it takes around 12 months and $20,000 to become a qualified driving instructor. Lesson costs have increased by approximately 15% in the past year.
Road injury rates have doubled in the last five years and transport remains one of the highest-risk industries for workplace injury and death. Panellists stressed that reforms should improve access without lowering safety standards.
Employers are increasingly creating internal solutions to support young people into work:
Fleurieu Milk Company funds heavy vehicle licences ($2,000–$3,000 each), mentorship, and upskilling pathways for young workers with strong cultural fit.
Symons Clark Logistics partnered with Lighthouse Youth Projects to provide work readiness, transport and logistics exposure, and funded machinery training while supporting young people through licensing pathways.
Mentorship and subsidised driving programs were identified as highly effective:
Workskil Australia’s “Geared for Work” program connects young people with driving mentors and employment pathways, including exemptions for those without parental support.
Panel members called for:
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- more subsidised lessons,
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- driving mentorship programs,
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- clearer information on available supports,
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- reduced administrative barriers,
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- and licensing support integrated into schools and vocational education.
Suggested reforms included:
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- recognising defensive driving courses toward logbook hours,
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- embedding driving education into Certificate I–III pathways,
improving parent education,
- embedding driving education into Certificate I–III pathways,
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- and building stronger partnerships between schools, employers, instructors, and government.
A consistent message from the panel was that driver licensing should be treated as both an employment and participation issue, requiring coordinated investment similar to university and vocational pathways
Participants then moved into a workshop identifying barriers, innovations and then designing the “ideal licensing system”, then voting on quick wins and a bold long-term solution.
The group reflected on a need for combined and effective advocacy. Several organisations working on similar things connected and will work together now!
Everyone who attended filled out a survey with their interest and potential contributions for a follow up project – keep your eyes on this road!