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Hello and a very warm welcome back to the Drive Smart Newsletter in 2026! 

It’s hard to believe we are already midway through February. There is plenty to look forward to this year, and I’m most excited about the plans that the ADTA Board discussed at our recent in-person strategy meeting. 

On February 5th and 6th, the Directors, our team and I came together at the Brisbane Airport Hotel to collaborate, share ideas, and set a clear direction for the Association in 2026. The energy in the room was fantastic, and we left feeling aligned, motivated, and ready to begin implementing some exciting initiatives for the year ahead. 

We’re looking forward to sharing more with you soon. 

Until then, happy reading and speak soon.

PS Sincere apologies again to all members who received compromised emails from ADTA last week. We had a cyber compromise in our email system that has since been rectified. Due to that compromise, we held release of this edition of DriveSmart until this week.

HOLD the date!

Conference 2026 is booked for Manly, NSW

We are thrilled to confirm that the 2026 Conference will take place at the Manly Pacific Hotel, providing a stunning coastal backdrop for what promises to be another outstanding national event so mark in your calendars and secure the date.

In recent years, the ADTA Conference has become the premier national event for driver trainers, bringing together members, sponsors and industry leaders in a collaborative and forward-thinking environment.

Your Board of Directors has established a dedicated Conference Organising Committee, and we look forward to sharing full details of the program, keynote speakers and social events in the coming months.

Stay tuned for further updates!

NSW Safer Drivers Course

What a fantastic way to kick off the year!

We’re proud to share a record-breaking January for the ADTA through the NSW Safer Drivers Course.

A huge thank you to all of our dedicated Facilitators and Coaches whose professionalism, passion, and commitment make achievements like this possible. Your hard work is making a real difference in the lives of young drivers across New South Wales.

We’ve also been working behind the scenes on some fresh new content to promote the Safer Drivers Course.

Designed to better engage, educate and promote, this new content reflects our ongoing commitment at the ADTA to deliver high-quality, impactful driver education - and we can’t wait to share it with you! 🎉

We’re energised, motivated, and ready for an even bigger year ahead! 🚗💪

Expressions of Interest

Instructor Car Hire Partnership with IWIA

One of the great features of the Inner West Insurance Advisers (IWIA) partnership with ADTA for the tailored Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) insurance is that it is a product designed for the driver trainer industry to benefit driver trainers.

IWIA is seeking expressions of interest from ADTA members in all Australian states and territories who may be willing to make their vehicle(s) available for short-term loan to fellow instructors insured under our CMVI facility, in the event of an incident.

This initiative is designed to help ensure instructors can continue operating while their primary vehicle is undergoing repair. By establishing an Australia-wide pool of available vehicles, we aim to support business continuity and minimise disruption to training services across the association.

If you are open to participating and would like further details, please contact IWIA via email at: [email protected]

New Motorcycle Cover for Comprehensive Insurance

For many years ADTA has offered an excellent member benefit of cost-effective PI and PL insurance cover. We do this through our long-term partnering relationship with Michael Maksoud, Inner West Insurance Advisers, part of Insurance AdviserNet. As the overwhelming number of ADTA members already know, this product is one of the best available in the market for all driver trainers.

We have again partnered with Michael to offer comprehensive vehicle insurance to ADTA members. Launched in 2025, Inner West Insurance Advisers in partnership with the ADTA, offers tailored Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) insurance exclusive to members like yourself.

We are excited to now announce that after 3 years of work, the IWIA & ADTA Insurance Facility has expanded to provide cover for Motorcycle Riding Instructors!

ADTA members can now access Commercial Motorcycle Insurance designed specifically for your business, backed by the same leading global insurer trusted by driver trainers.

This insurance offer to ADTA members is direct from IWIA using the following contacts:

Proposal Form 

General Email Enquiries 

Important Reminder – Child Safety / Code of Conduct Policy (QLD)

As previously advised last year, all Queensland driving schools will be required to implement a formal Child Safety / Code of Conduct Policy from 1 April 2026.

This requirement applies to all accredited driving schools, including sole traders.

Schools must ensure a written policy is in place, that staff are aware of and comply with the policy, and that appropriate Blue Card requirements are met.

You must also be able to demonstrate compliance if requested by TMR or relevant authorities.

Please begin preparing your policy if you have not already done so. An example Code of Conduct Policy is available for your reference.

Transport & Logistics Sector Women’s Leadership Scholarships

Partial scholarships valued between $700 and $3,000 are now available for women working within the Transport and Logistics sector.

These scholarships provide access to one of four nationally recognised leadership development programs, designed to support women to increase their impact, advance their careers, and confidently step into leadership roles.

A communications toolkit, including suggested copy and images, is also available should you wish to share this opportunity within your own networks (DropBox Toolkit).

To learn more or apply, visit:
👉 https://www.wla.edu.au/industry/transport/

Registrations close Friday, 10 April 2026.

Priority Process Reminder for Older Drivers in NSW

This one is for those of you partaking in the NSW Older Driver Assessments Scheme.

Transport for NSW offers a priority medical review process for Older Driver Assessors (ODAs) submitting enquiries on behalf of older licence holders.

Requests can be emailed to [email protected] using the approved template and subject line:

ODA Urgent Processing Request – [Customer Licence Number].

The Medical Review Unit aims to action priority requests within 48 hours where possible. If more than 48 hours have passed, or the matter is urgent, clients should contact Service NSW on 13 22 13 directly.

Please note that due to privacy requirements, Transport will communicate outcomes directly with the customer.

For enquiries, contact [email protected].

Phishing Scam Reminder

Last week, several phishing emails were circulated to members that appeared to be sent from our organisation.

Our IT team has since secured our systems; however, this serves as an important reminder to remain vigilant when receiving unexpected emails or attachments.

If you are ever unsure about the legitimacy of an email, please contact us directly to confirm before clicking any links or downloading any files.

Reminder: Toll Road Ready Program Relaunched

A quick reminder that the Toll Road Ready program has now been relaunched, complete with a new incentive structure to encourage learner drivers to build confidence navigating toll roads.

Learners who complete the free online course will automatically be entered into the draw to win one of ten $100 Prezzee Fuel vouchers each month. It’s a great way for young drivers to improve their knowledge while having the chance to earn a little extra help at the bowser.

The course is completely free and covers the essentials of safely approaching, entering, and travelling on toll roads — an area many learners aren’t familiar with until they begin driving independently.

We encourage instructors to continue sharing this opportunity with their students.

Participants can access the course using the QR code in the Flyer or via the link below:

🔗 Toll Road Ready courses

Full terms and conditions are available on the website.

Instructor Feedback Welcome

Transurban is also seeking feedback from instructors to help refine and enhance the program. If you’d like to contribute, they have created a short feedback form:

🔗 Toll Road Ready Feedback Form (Instructors)

We're pleased to support initiatives that boost learner driver confidence and strengthen real-world driving skills. This program is a valuable opportunity for both learners and instructors throughout the next six months.

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