Tom Parry
A CALLOUT is being issued for volunteers to join the L2P program.
Funded by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and facilitated by Mission Australia, the program aims to help learner drivers without access to a supervising driver or car reach their 120 hours of supervised driving.
According to L2P project worker Sarah Jones, the initiative is seeking an additional 50 mentors to assist across the Wellington and East Gippsland Shires.
“We’re really just calling on anyone in the community that has a licence, good driving skills, and a calm demeanour that really wants to help these young people… get their Ps and be safe on the road,” Ms Jones said.
As part of L2P, L-platers are paired with a fully-licenced supervisor, known as a “mentor”, who joins the motorist for an hour of driving each week, and continues with the program until the learner driver has obtained their probationary licence.
Caitlyn Davidson is among the former participants to have graduated to their P-plates through the program.
“Because with my mum working full-time, it was really hard to find a time to go driving,” Ms Davidson said.
“With my mum, I only got maybe ten hours over the span of six months.
“But as soon as I got with the program, my hours came up by… another ten hours in the span of two months.”
Ms Davidson initially learned about L2P through a friend.
“She said that they were very good with being able to get her hours up and very accommodating, so I gave it a go and loved it,” Ms Davidson said.
“I love how you’re in charge of figuring out when your lessons are going to be.”
Peter Cursley has been a mentor with the program for two years, and is strongly encouraging locals to apply.
“After 40-odd years of driving, you pick up certain skills, and so it’s a matter of trying to pass those on to make younger drivers a lot safer than they would be otherwise,” Mr Cursley said.
“Just do it – it’s as simple as that.
“It’s quite good fun, you get out and about, you spend some time with some lovely young people, and it’s just one hour a week.”
Training sessions for the L2P program are being held in Bairnsdale on Friday, May 5 and in Sale on Saturday, May 6.
To learn more about these sessions and the program itself, visit vicroads.vic.gov.au, call Sarah Jones on 0472 841 861 or send an email to jonessar@missionaustralia.com.au
