- 24 new driver assessors to be recruited to conduct
practical driving assessments at dedicated Joondalup location
- Re-opening expected to add 130 practical driving
assessments per day
- Centre will open Monday to Saturday 7am to 6pm
The
Cook Government has confirmed that the Department of Transport's (DoT) Joondalup
site will reopen in late 2023 as a dedicated driver assessment centre.
Plans
are underway for the Joondalup Driver Assessment Centre to open in November to
cater for all practical driving assessments (PDAs) including C class, aged,
heavy vehicle and motorcycle.
The DoT
Driver and Vehicle Services Centre moved from Joondalup to Butler in May to provide
the full range of DoT services and transactions for the growing population in
Perth's north-western suburbs.
Recent
demand for PDAs has been unprecedented, with the PDA booking system under
pressure due to driver assessor availability, PDA no-shows, last minute
cancellations, increased migration to WA impacting demand for overseas licence
transfer PDAs and the demand for additional bookings as, on average, learners
sit up to three tests before passing.
DoT
will recruit an extra 24 driver assessors over the next six months to be based
at the Joondalup Driver Assessment Centre, with an additional 130 PDAs expected
to be delivered each day. This equates to about 35,000 additional assessments
being made available each year.
An
additional eight customer service staff will come on board to assist customers
when applying for their learner's permit or WA Photocard, sitting their theory
and hazard perception tests, and to issue provisional licences when a PDA is
successful. Customers will also be able to transfer their interstate or
international driver's licence at the new centre.
The
opening of the dedicated driver assessment centre comes after DoT implemented a
range of measures earlier this year to improve the learner driver journey and
create fair access to PDAs.
The
changes have included turning off the booking swap function for authorised
driving instructors, moving PDA bookings behind DoTDirect for learners and
licence class upgrades to increase customer security, and implementation of a
search limit to stop the bots from sweeping the system to bulk book available
tests.
It
is anticipated the Joondalup Driver Assessment Centre will open Monday to
Saturday 7am to 6pm.
DoT
also has a learner driver education campaign in development that will focus on
the importance of being prepared for a practical driving assessment to give
learners the best chance at passing, as well as advice on navigating the
learner driver journey.
Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"We
know there is significant demand for practical driving assessments in the
community and we are looking at all options to alleviate the current pressure
in the system.
"Reopening
the Joondalup site later this year is the latest measure we will be
implementing to improve the availability of assessments and will help deliver
around 35,000 additional assessment slots each year.
"DoT
has commenced recruitment of new driving assessors as well as refurbishment
work and IT fit outs on the Boas Avenue site, putting us on track for a
November opening of the Joondalup Driver Assessment Centre."
Comments attributed to Minister Assisting
the Transport Minister David Michael:
"As
a one stop shop for customers on the learn to drive journey, as well as
interstate and international licence transfers, it is anticipated that the
Joondalup centre will reduce customer volumes for these dedicated services at
other metropolitan DoT Centres and the PDA booking system."
"It
is anticipated the Joondalup Driver Assessment Centre will cater to customers
who may be constrained by school or university hours by opening Monday to
Saturday 7am to 6pm."
Comments
attributed to Joondalup MLA Emily Hamilton:
"I
am very pleased that the Cook Government has listened to the calls of locals in
the northern suburbs for the Joondalup licensing centre to be re-opened to
resume the essential driver services it provides.
"Several
of my Labor Parliamentary colleagues representing electorates in the northern
suburbs had supported my campaign to have the centre re-opened so local people
can access a driving test closer to home, and this news is strongly welcomed."
