Driving Program for Women

he Victorian Afghan Associations Network (VAAN) ran a Driving Lessons Program for women aimed at enhancing road safety and improving driving skills within the community, particularly for the Afghan new arrival refugees from Afghanistan.

The Driving Lessons Program was initiated by VAAN in the past years with the goal of providing comprehensive driving education to Afghan refugee women who are in need. The program targeted individuals ranging from teenagers preparing for their first driver’s license to adults seeking to enhance their driving skills or obtain a license.  Thirty women were chosen for this program. These are the group who are vulnerable, women with no male guardian or no driver’s license holder at the house.

The Driving Program for women has been coordinated by Ms Rabia Safa and Asif Melatyiar. The program is designed into two parts, the theoretical sessions and the practical lessons.

Theoretical Sessions

The theoretical part was covered in five face-to-face sessions. The session started on March 8, 2025 presented at VAAN’s office. These sessions were presented in Dari/Hazaraghi language. The following topics and information were provided for the participants to enhance their knowledge of law before obtaining the driver’s licence.

• Road Safety Road Rules, to familiarize with the Victorian Road Safety Road Rules,
• Road Signs, to recognition and meaning of various road signs, signals, and markings,
• Traffic Rules, the regulations of the roads, behaviours at intersections, speed limits, and parking rules
• Safe Driving Practices, understanding of safe following distances, the importance of seatbelts, and managing distractions while driving,
• Hazard Recognition: Identifying potential hazards on the road and appropriate responses.

Practical Lessons

After the individual completed the theoretical session, they were assigned 10 free practical driving lessons. Three driving schools assisted with the practical lessons.

As we all know, the practical lessons are a crucial step for someone in the process of obtaining a driver’s license. It ensures that the driver has the necessary skills and awareness to drive safely and responsibly on the road. Preparation through practice and lessons is key to succeeding in this stage.

The 2025 driving program for women has been one of the most successful programs with excellent achievement and outcomes.

Through this program, 16 women have obtained their driver’s licenses, which has been a great outcome, and 18 of them have booked their exams.

Further, out of the thirty women, five of them were unable to continue the program due to health issues, and three of them need more help.

The program officially started on March 8 and concluded with a final ceremony on July 12, 2025

The Driving Program has achieved significant milestones and successfully met its objectives, leading to a more knowledgeable and confident group of drivers within the community, specifically amongst the newly arrived refugees.