The L2P Program is calling for more volunteers to help get young people safely on the road.
Swan Hill Rural City Council’s acting Youth Support Coordinator, Will Burns said the program matches volunteer mentors with young people who face barriers to getting their required 120 hours of driving practice.
“Young drivers are given a number of free professional driving lessons before working one-on-one with their mentor to practice driving in the program’s car.
“We currently have 15 young people on our waitlist with the program, but unfortunately we can’t help all of them at the moment, because we don’t have enough volunteers trained up,” he said.
Mr Burns said all mentors receive training and support, prior to commencing in the role.
There is ongoing support available after the initial training for each of our mentors.
Our mentors have told us how much they enjoy volunteering, building relationships with the young people involved and the satisfaction they feel when the young person achieves their licence,” he said.
Mr Burns said that for many of these young people, a licence is essential to gaining employment or studying and without L2P they might not be able to reach their necessary 120 hours.
Mentors are covered for liability through their volunteer status with Swan Hill Rural City Council.
Mentors undergo a selection process including an interview, a Police Check, Working with Children Check, and a VicRoads Driver History Report. Mentors also undertake VicRoads training, usually over two days.
