The City of Casey’s learner driver mentorship program celebrated its 15th anniversary in April by adding two new vehicles.
Casey’s chair of administrators Noelene Duff heralded the anniversary as a milestone for the city’s support towards its young people.
“The City of Casey is very proud to have been part of this program for such a long period,” she said.
“We are currently supporting 60 learners, and that is an enormous number of young people who would otherwise not have the opportunity to learn to drive.”
The L2P program helps Victorian learner drivers aged between 16 and 21 without access to a supervising driver to gain the 120 hours on the road required to qualify for a probationary license.
It matches those eligible with a fully licensed volunteer mentor driver who will not only help them obtain their required hours, but grant them the exposure and experience needed to safely navigate the city’s roads.
Ms Duff said 250 people had obtained their P-plates through the city’s program in its 15 years.
“Not only do we have 250 safer young drivers on the road, but it’s also the path to independence,” she said.
“We’re great advocates for trying to ensure there’s better public transport, but it’s a very big city and it’s very difficult to negotiate long travel times on public transport, so having access to a vehicle is really a means to education, to employment, etcetera,” she said.
She said the volunteers served as the backbone of the program.
“The issue we have in the City of Casey is so many members of our community are new to Australia and perhaps do not have people that have the confidence or are willing to help them to learn how to drive,” Ms Duff said.
“So the volunteers that have been part of the program…are such a valuable resource and we know that you become ambassadors for the program, you become the advertising to encourage other people to participate.”
The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) funds the program, the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) administers it, and the City of Casey coordinates it.
DTP’s Hatsady Sathongnot told the anniversary event that the initiative was more than just a licensing program. He told his children he helps “make other kids have the opportunity that you kids have to make their lives better”.
“For us it’s not about the numbers, it’s changing someone’s life, giving them that foundation to better themselves, and this program is what that’s about – making them a safer driver, teaching them to be good citizens,” he said.
“Hopefully they impart that knowledge and their learnings from this program onto their kids and their friends, to have that influence in society.”
Volunteer mentor Irene Luchtwark attended the event with her student, Alyssa Byrne.
“The buzz of seeing a new driver morphing from a nervous or dangerous and overconfident one into a confident and competent driver is what I’m here for,” Ms Luchtwark said.
“It’s also really nice when we can stay in contact and see how they develop and how theirs and our investment is paying off, and it is an investment, it takes time and dedication and nerves, a lot of calm energy and a good dollop of humour to be there from fledgling driver to obtaining 120 hours.”
The celebration ended at the Bunjil Place community plaza, where Ms Byrne cut a red ribbon adorning the two new Kia Ceratos provided by Berwick Motor Group, officially making them part of the L2P program.
– Ethan Benedicto
