Course in Taxi Driving

To become a taxi driver in the Melbourne Metropolitan Taxi Zone, applicants must pass the Course in Taxi Driving - 21848 VIC. This page provides details on the course. To drive a wheelchair-accessible taxi, drivers must also pass the Course in Wheelchair-accessible Taxi Services.

Information on this page

• Before the course
• Course details
• Registered training organisations
• Background

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Before the course

Before enrolling in the Course in Taxi Driving, applicants need to obtain a Taxi Driver Training Passport. See Metropolitan taxi and hire car Driver Accreditation.

Before they can start driving a taxi, applicants must:

• successfully complete the Course in Taxi Driving
• get their Taxi Driver Training Passport endorsed by the registered training organisation
• pay the Driver Accreditation issue fee.

Applicants for the Course in Taxi Driving must have the required level of English literacy to be a taxi driver and to undertake the taxi driving course. The registered training organisation that runs the taxi driving course can assist in arranging an English literacy assessment for each applicant. Applicants who are assessed as not yet having the necessary level of English literacy will need to do an appropriate English training course before they can start the Course in Taxi Driving.

To drive a wheelchair-accessible taxi, drivers must also pass the Course in Wheelchair-accessible Taxi Services.

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Course details

The Course in Taxi Driving provides the skills and knowledge taxi drivers need to provide a quality, friendly service. The course was re-accredited in late 2007 and, from early 2008, consists of 115 (nominal) hours. Assessment is competency-based.

Course modules	Hours
Complete orientation to the taxi industry	5
Provide customer service	10
Carry out financial transactions and maintain records	5
Use communication systems in a taxi-cab	5
Identify major roads, services and attractions (including the Knowledge of Melbourne test)	40
Comply with safety and security procedures	10
Drive a taxi-cab	40

Once the trainee achieves the required level of competency for each module, the registered training organisation will endorse the applicant's Taxi Driver Training Passport.

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Registered training organisations

Cabways Pty Ltd (trading as Taxi Staffing Service)

Telephone	9429 5244	Venue	75 Murphy Street Richmond VIC Telephone: 9429 5244
Address	71-75 Murphy Street Richmond VIC 3121
Website	Taxi Staffing Service

Driver Education Centre of Australia (DECA Training)

Telephone	9318 0044	Venues	9-45 Millers Road Altona North VIC Telephone: 9318 0044 61 Thompson Road Carrum Downs VIC Telephone: 9775 0196
Address	29-45 Millers Road Altona North VIC 3025
Website	DECA Training

Taxi Industry Training Victoria Pty Ltd

Telephone	9676 2635	Venues	Silver Top Taxi Service Ltd 600 Smith Street Clifton Hill VIC Telephone: 8413 8117 Silver Top also conducts training at 189 High Street, Northcote, and 134 Durham Rd, Sunshine, however enrolments must be made through the Collingwood venue. Yellow Cabs 35 Downing Street Oakleigh VIC Telephone: 9277 3700 Yellow Cabs 199 Arden Street North Melbourne VIC Telephone: 9329 6377 North Suburban Taxis 1A Bell Street Preston VIC Telephone: 9480 0377
Address	Suite 2, 85 Salmon Street Port Melbourne
Mail	PO Box 5111 Garden City VIC 3207
Website	Taxi Industry Training Victoria

Technical Advanced Training

Telephone	9309 0059	Venue	Rear Level 1, Shop 8 Dallas Shopping Centre Blair Street Broadmeadows VIC Telephone: 9309 0059
Address	Broadmeadows Place Suite 15, 11-17 Pearcedale Parade Broadmeadows VIC 3047
Website	Technical Advanced Training

Yellow Cabs (Vic) Pty Ltd (Yellow 13Cabs Driver Academy)

Telephone	9277 3700	Venues	Yellow Cabs 35 Downing Street Oakleigh VIC Telephone: 9277 3700 Yellow Cabs 199 Arden Street North Melbourne VIC Telephone: 9329 6377 North Suburban Taxis 1A Bell Street Preston VIC Telephone: 9480 0377
Address	35 Downing Street Oakleigh VIC 3166
Website	Yellow Cabs

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Background

The Minister for Transport released a package of initiatives in early 2002 as part of taxi and hire car reform in Victoria. It included a review of Victorian taxi driver training based on a national training package. As a result of the review, a significantly upgraded taxi driving course was introduced.

The course, reaccredited in late 2007, includes stronger literacy requirements and a new component developed as part of the Victorian Taxi Safety Strategy specifically aimed at preventing and dealing with violent confrontation. New applicants will also be required to pass a 'Knowledge of Melbourne' test.