Full explanatory statement for the survey about Victoria’s licence system 

What does this research involve?

The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) are conducting a research project examining the driver licensing system in Victoria, with a specific focus on the pathway from learner driver to probationary driver. The research is funded by the TAC. Its purpose is to better understand user and community experience and views of the licensing system in Victoria. 

Participation involves completing one online survey that takes about 10-15 minutes on average, although may take more or less time depending on your answers and time spent answering each question. The survey covers your demographic information (such as age and gender), your views of the licensing system, and your experience of it (if you are a learner or probationary driver, or if you have children who have recently gained a learner or probationary licence). 

  • You were invited because records held by VicRoads indicate that you live in Victoria and hold, or have held, a Victorian Learner Permit, Probationary Licence, or Full Driving Licence. The TAC provided your contact details via VicRoads records to Wallis Social Research for the purpose of conducting this survey. 

    You are eligible to take part if you are aged 16 years or over and currently live in Victoria. 

  • Taking part is entirely voluntary. You can stop completing the survey at any time without penalty or disadvantage. The only thing you would miss by stopping is the option to enter the prize draw, which is offered at the end of the survey. 

    If you stop partway through the survey, the answers you have already provided may still be used as part of the research project, handled under the confidentiality arrangements described below. 

  • All data collected in this project is treated as confidential. Survey responses are separated from personal information for analysis and reporting, and findings are reported only in grouped (aggregated) form. No personal or identifying details are published or included in any report. 

    Your contact details are used only to: 

    • contact you about this survey. 

    • contact you if you win the prize draw, if you choose to enter. 

    • contact you about future road safety research conducted on behalf of the TAC, but only if you agree to this (see below). 

  • At the end of the survey you can choose whether you are willing to be contacted about future road safety research conducted on behalf of the TAC, such as focus groups. This is optional and separate from taking part in this survey. Choosing not to opt in to further research has no effect on your participation in this survey or your eligibility to opt into the prize draw, only whether to agree to be contacted for possible future research. 

  • The findings of this research may inform understanding about people’s experience of the driver licensing system in Victoria, particularly the learner-to-probationary driver pathway. There is no direct benefit to you from completing the survey, other than the option to enter the prize draw described below. 

  • Once you have completed the survey, you can choose to provide your contact details to enter a draw to win one $1,000 prize, paid as an e-gift card. If you enter, you will be asked to confirm the best way to contact you. Entry is optional. 

  • Your identifiable data (including contact details) is stored securely at Wallis Social Research for one year, after which it is securely deleted. This information is not available to researchers and will only be used to contact you for the purpose of this survey, for further research if you have agreed to participate and further research is undertaken, or if you win a prize. 

  • The following teams have access to the deidentified survey data: Wallis Social Research, MUARC, the TAC, and Frontier Economics. Frontier Economics is an economics consultancy conducting a specific economic analysis for this project, using some of the survey data in de-identified form. 

  • Grouped (aggregated) results may be presented publicly and published as academic papers, reports, or conference proceedings. No reporting will identify any individual, as all data is de-identified for analysis. 

  • This survey does not contain questions that would generally be considered sensitive or distressing. However, if any question makes you feel distressed or uncomfortable for any reason, you can choose to skip the question where the option is available or stop the survey. If you would like to talk to someone, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or another service of your choosing. Helplines are available from a link on every survey page. 

  • If you have any questions about the survey or would like to know how we manage your personal information, contact Wallis Social Research by calling 1800 925 547 between 9:00am and 8:30pm Monday to Friday (at other times, if your call is unanswered, please leave a message) or via email at  youngdrivers@wallis.social. 

    For information about privacy, you can also view the Wallis Privacy Policy at https://www.wallis.social/privacy-policy 

    If you have a concern or complaint about the way this research is being conducted, you can raise it independently of the research team with the Transport Accident Commission by calling 1300 654 329 between 8:30am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday or via email complaints@tac.vic.gov.au