What’s Happening?
The Queensland Government is rolling out Ready for the Road: Guiding your learner from L to P across the state.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads will deliver free, practical, face-to-face workshops for learners and their supervisors. The workshops aim to build supervisor confidence and encourage safer behaviour throughout the learning-to-drive stage.
Sessions cover real-world challenges, key risks, safe driving behaviour and preparation for the practical driving test. Strong demand and positive feedback followed earlier delivery in South East Queensland.
The statewide expansion is the first initiative under Queensland’s Graduated Licensing System reform program.
Why It Matters?
Young and novice drivers remain over-represented in fatal and serious crashes, despite safety improvements over time. Inexperience and the demands of independent driving continue to increase their risk.
The workshops give supervisors practical tools to help learners build judgement, gain experience and prepare for solo driving. That support can strengthen safe habits before learners move from supervised practice to provisional licences.
Local Impact
Townsville will host a free workshop on 18 August 2026 during Queensland Road Safety Week. A second Townsville session is planned for 2 March 2027.
Cairns will hold its Road Safety Week workshop on 17 August 2026, one day before Townsville. These North Queensland dates will make practical road safety education easier to access outside South East Queensland.
Local learners and supervisors can register through the Ready for the Road registration page.
By the Numbers
- More than 40 free workshops will run across Queensland between August 2026 and June 2027.
- Young drivers hold 14 per cent of Queensland licences but are involved in about 28 per cent of road deaths.
- A learner’s serious crash risk becomes six times higher when they move from supervision to solo provisional driving.
- Road crashes account for about one-quarter of all deaths among Australians aged 15 to 24.
Zoom In
Townsville’s August workshop will focus on practical supervision, common driving risks and preparation for the practical test. Participants can refresh their road-rule knowledge and ask questions about guiding a learner.
Dean Helm, Deputy Director-General of Network Services and Operations, said supervisors strongly influenced learner safety.
“Learning to drive is one of the most important milestones for young Queenslanders, and supervisors play a key role in helping learners build the skills and judgement they need to stay safe on our roads,” Mr Helm said. “We know that the learning-to-drive phase is critical, and giving supervisors the right tools and information can make a lasting difference to a young person’s safety outcomes. It gives supervisors practical tools to help learner drivers gain valuable experience and develop safer driving habits before they get behind the wheel on their own. By supporting both learners and supervisors, we’re helping create safer drivers and safer roads for everyone.”
Maroochydore father and previous workshop participant Bruce Atkinson attended a session with his daughter.
“Attending with my daughter was invaluable. We refreshed our knowledge of the road rules, learned practical driving tips and had the chance to ask questions of road safety experts,” Mr Atkinson said. “I’d recommend the workshop to anyone supervising a learner driver, it’s engaging, informative and well worth the time.”
Zoom Out
The Queensland Government commissioned Monash University Accident Research Centre in 2024 to evaluate the learner stage and propose improvements.
The review found Queensland’s licensing system already had a strong, evidence-based foundation. It supports the skills, safe behaviours and confidence novice drivers need before driving independently.
The wider reform program draws on the evaluation’s recommendations. It will support more varied experience, safer behaviour and reduced crash risk during the early years of solo driving.
Ready for the Road is the first completed action under the reform program. Other planned actions include:
- Strengthening supervisor support through improved PrepL-S content, accessible resources and greater awareness of available help.
- Recognising more safe, structured training towards the requirement for 100 supervised driving hours.
- Expanding the Learner Driver Mentor Program for regional and disadvantaged learners.
- Considering competency-based assessment and emerging technology for driver learning and hazard awareness.
The department is also considering online webinars for supervisors in regional and remote communities. Further changes will be introduced progressively based on the evaluation’s recommendations.
The Graduated Licensing System Review Phase One reports provide more information about the proposed reforms.
What To Look For Next?
Townsville families can register for 18 August, while another local session remains planned for 2 March 2027.
Queensland communities will continue receiving workshops through June 2027, subject to changes in the published schedule. Online delivery could later give regional and remote supervisors another way to access the same guidance.
The wider reforms may also increase mentor access and recognise more structured training within the supervised-hours requirement.
