The Central Goldfields TAC L2P program is calling for local volunteers to help mentor young drivers on their road to obtaining a prohibitory license.

The program supports around 20 local learner drivers a month who have limited to no access to a supervising driver to complete their 120 hours of required driving.

L2P coordinator Audrey Bartlett said the program is an undemanding and rewarding way to give back to the community. 

“We currently have seven mentors, three of them have just started and it would be ideal if we could get some more mentors to help continue with the program,” she said.

“There is no set time of when you have to mentor or how often you have to mentor a week, so you can kind of work it around the other things that you are doing.

“You can support some really lovely young people and it is rewarding to see them develop as drivers and people.

“I ran into someone I mentored 10 years ago who now has a family and a job where he needs his license and all of those things make you think how much of a difference you can make in someone’s life.”

Rhonda Forster, who has been a L2P mentor for over five years, said the program does vital work in building confidence in learners’ abilities to remain safe on the roads.

“I haven’t come across a better program for assisting young people in the community than this one,” she said.

“I really enjoy working with young people and this program offers the opportunity for me to pass on some skills, and to help the young people of this community get to their probationary license safely.

“You have to be able to engage with the young people and they engage with you — you develop a really good relationship with them while you are mentoring them.

“If you have got the skills, you need to pass them on to keep the young people safe on the roads.”

One of those young people who has benefitted is Ella Norman, who said she wouldn’t come close to the 120 hours of experience needed to go for her prohibitory license if it wasn’t for the program.

“My mum works full time, so it is really hard to be able to find the chance to drive with her,” she said. 

“It has been really helpful in getting my hours up and learning every skill that I need to learn properly.”

Mentors are required to commit at least two hours a week, have a valid full Victorian driver’s license as well as complete a Working with Children’s Check, Police check and Driver History report.

For more information, or to apply as a mentor, contact Audrey Bartlett on 5461-0615 or email audreyb@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au