Effective from January 2026

Approved by: Chief Executive Officer

At a Glance

Thrive Group Australia is committed to providing safe services and preventing work related injuries. Driving and the provision of community access services will be provided in a safe and effective manner in accordance with relevant State Laws and Australian Standards. Thrive Group Australia will build a strong safety culture and expects all workers to take responsibility for safety and notify management of any risks, incidents or injuries associated with driving or the provision of community access services.

Scope

This policy relates to all Thrive Group Australia workers, employees, and contractors.

Objective

To ensure safety for all workers and participants when driving and providing community access for participants.

Definitions

• Driving includes all times that workers are driving for business purposes as required to execute their job duties.
• Provision of community access services includes all times when a worker is driving a motor vehicle for the purposes of meeting a participant requirement. This may be with the participant (as a passenger or driver) or when completing activities on behalf of the participant and is relevant regardless of whether the vehicle belongs to the participant or the worker.

Policy Statement

• Workers must take all reasonable efforts to identify risks associated with driving during the course of work. Workers who drive during the course of their work may be exposed to the following risks:
  • driving when tired
  • poorly maintained vehicles (e.g. tyres, brakes, lights)
  • noise from driving long distances with windows down
  • unrestrained equipment in the vehicle
  • driving in poor conditions.
• In order to reduce the risks associated with driving, all workers will implement strategies to minimise or to the extent reasonably possible, eliminate the risks associated with driving, including:
  • Reducing driving times and taking breaks
  • Not driving whilst fatigued or on medication that affects your driving ability
  • Driving within the legal limits for speed
  • Securing all equipment for transport (e.g. in the boot of the car or behind a cargo barrier)
  • Wearing seat belts and not using a mobile phone when driving (as required under State laws). As an exception, workers may set up a hands free device.
  • Ensuring doors are locked when you exit the vehicle.
• Workers should not drive or provide community access services if the road conditions are poor, unclear or unpredictable. Alternative arrangements should be made to meet the participants needs or conduct company business.
• Workers will follow the Drug and Alcohol Policy at all times when driving and in the provision of community access services.

Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Policy and Procedure