The Solomon Islands Professional Driver Training Services (SIPDTS), a woman-led local business, and the only formal driving school in Honiara, will receive newly renovated training facilities and a new cost-shared training vehicle, supported by Australia, to strengthening skills development in Solomon Islands.
Driving skills are essential for improving employability as well as economic self-empowerment.
The official handover was attended by Australian High Commissioner, His Excellency Rod Hilton and SIPDTS Managing Director, Joyce Indu Lelau.
High Commissioner Hilton highlighted the importance of the initiative.
“Driving is more than just a practical skill—it is a pathway to greater economic opportunity and more local jobs,” High Commissioner Hilton said.
“By supporting the Solomon Islands Professional Driver Training Services, we are ensuring more Solomon Islanders, particularly women, have access to training that can open doors to jobs for Solomon Islanders.”
SIPDTS Managing Director, Joyce Indu Lelau, said the support from Australia had been instrumental in expanding the reach and improving the quality of training.
“We are extremely satisfied with the new space—it allows us to accommodate more students, and we no longer need to hire external venues, which saves us costs and helps us serve more clients,” Managing Director Lelau said.
“Additionally, we now have the capacity to hire more instructors, creating more local jobs and expanding opportunities for the community.”
“The new venue is also more accessible to students and people wishing to make enquiries in person, making it easier for them to engage with our programs and services.”
In Honiara, three out of five adults have a driver’s license, but only one in five is a woman. Without a driver’s license, many women face barriers to career advancement and independent mobility.
Since its establishment in 2019, SIPDTS has provided driver training to professionals, government officials, businesses, and households, contributing to more skilled workers in the region.
Australia through its private sector development program, Strongim Bisnis, funded SIPTDS to move to larger and renovated facilities.
This has helped SIPDTS to cater for more students and instructors, which created more local jobs for instructors and operational staff and has opened up more skills development opportunities for Solomon Islanders.
The Solomon Islands – Australia Partnership also supported SIPDTS with the joint purchase of a new manual transmission vehicle, updated training materials, and funded media campaigns to encourage more women to learn to drive safely.
This latest partnership reinforces Australia’s continued commitment to skills development in Solomon Islands to create more jobs and ensure more Solomon Islanders have the opportunity to build their careers.
– AHC
