About the Sober Driver Program
The Sober Driver Program is a therapeutic group program that helps to change the attitudes and behaviours of drivers convicted of a serious or repeat drink driving offence. Find out about the program's objectives, delivery, who should attend, cost, and how to register.
What is the Sober Driver Program?
The Sober Driver Program is an evidence-based program for drivers who have been convicted of a serious or repeat drink driving offence.
The program consists of 20 hours of group therapy to help you:
- understand the consequences of drink driving (for yourself and others)
- understand the events and decisions that led to your offence
- create and use strategies to prevent you from offending again
- develop skills and positive attitudes for safe driving.
Program overview
The Sober Driver Program is for drivers who have been convicted of a serious or repeat drink driving offence and who are supervised by Corrective Services NSW, or who have an interlock exemption order.
The program is educational and therapeutically designed to explore issues such as the:
- consequences of drink driving
- effects of alcohol on driving
- managing drinking situations
- relapse prevention.
It explores behavioural consequences, risk factors relating to drink driving and provides an opportunity for participants to formulate personalised strategies to avoid drink driving in the future.
Programs are delivered by facilitators trained to engage participants to learn from the content and each other, in a supported therapeutic environment.
The Sober Driver Program (SDP) is now available online.
The online program is delivered through nine (9) guided online sessions, which you can complete using your own computer or tablet. This format offers greater flexibility, allowing you to participate from home while managing your other commitments.
The program is delivered through 2 pathways: Corrective Services NSW and Managed Training Services.
If you have a court supervisory order with Corrective Services NSW, you will complete the program through them. To register, contact your local Community Corrections Office as soon as you receive your letter from Transport for NSW (TfNSW) notifying you of your requirement to complete the Sober Driver Program.
If you have an interlock exemption order and are not supervised by Corrective Services NSW, you will complete the program with Managed Training Services and must register on their website.
If you are unsure which Sober Driver Program you may be eligible for, refer to program participants for more information.
The Sober Driver Program (SDP) is now available online.
The Sober Driver Program (SDP) is delivered in both online and in-person formats. Both formats are delivered as:
Online:
- 2 hour sessions, twice per week, over 4 to 5 weeks.
In person:
- 6 hour sessions, per week over 3 weeks, or
- 2-hour session, per week over 9 weeks.
The online program is delivered through nine (9), two-hour sessions, held twice per week, and is typically completed over 4 to 5 weeks. Participants complete the program using their own computer or tablet, allowing attendance from home and greater flexibility in managing other commitments.
The in-person program is a 20 hour program, comprising 18 hours of group work (three 6-hour sessions OR nine 2-hour sessions) and 2 hours of take home tasks. Sessions are scheduled to occur on weekends. The average group size is 8 to 12 participants, with a maximum of 16 participants per group. In small or remote locations, programs may be delivered with a minimum of 6 participants.
All programs are delivered by experienced facilitators to ensure high quality delivery and participant engagement.
The program cost differs depending on your eligibility.
If you have an interlock exemption order and are not supervised by Corrective Services NSW, the Sober Driver Program costs $700 to complete.
If you have a court order managed by Corrective Services NSW there is no cost to participate in the Sober Driver Program.
Transport for NSW provides financial assistance to participants of the Sober Driver Program experiencing financial hardship.
The assistance ranges from partial to full support for the cost of the program.
If you are required to complete the program and believe you qualify for assistance, you must submit an application to an accredited assessment agency.
The accredited assessment agency is The Salvation Army. They can be contacted on 02 8775 7951 or via email at maip@salvationarmy.org.au. The workdays for the hardship assessment team are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Below is a list of items that may be required to be presented to The Salvation Army when submitting an application:
- Some form of proof of identity
- Sober Driver Program/exemption letter issued by Transport for NSW
- Centrelink Income Statements and/or 3 current payslips
- 3 months recent bank or credit union account statements
- Pension, Concession or Health Care Cards (if applicable)
- Receipts / bills demonstrating financial hardship (optional)
Please note that the timeframe of the application process may take approximately 2 weeks.
Transport for NSW will advise you in writing about the outcome of your application.
At the end of the program, you will receive a Certificate of Completion.
If you complete the program with Corrective Services NSW, your program completion will also be recorded electronically on your case history file with Community Corrections.
The court may request an update report on your progress or completion of the program from Community Corrections.
If you have an exemption order from the court and complete the Sober Driver Program via Managed Training Services, you will receive a Certificate of Completion from TfNSW.
You'll need to present this certificate to TfNSW when you apply for your new licence.