Now in its 14th year of operation, the Benalla TAC L2P Program began in 2010 and was initially run by local community organisation North East Support and Action for Youth (NESAY).
Since 2015 it has been coordinated by Benalla Rural City Council.
Under the program, volunteer mentors from the community are matched up with a learner driver and use cars provided by council for driving practice.
In March, Tyreece Rhodes-Orton became the 200th young person to obtain his licence through the Benalla TAC L2P program.
Tyreece said he was very thankful to the program which allowed him to achieve more than 40 hours of driving practice with a volunteer supervisor, while also receiving professional driving lessons from qualified driving instructors.
L2P mentor Ian Appleby said Tyreece achieving his probationary licence was a special occasion for the program.
“The program is about helping young people get their driver licence and be safe drivers in the future, as well as helping them to achieve the freedom that a licence brings,” Mr Appleby said.
With 27 active mentors, the Benalla program is supporting 50 active learner drivers each month and has provided more than 15,000 supervised driving hours since it first began.
Mayor Danny Claridge said the program is an example of how the community is working together.
“Volunteers undergo training to become volunteer mentors, meaning they can then support young drivers who are experiencing hardship or difficulty gaining supervised driving hours,” said Cr Claridge.
Learners and mentors use vehicles, (two automatics and one manual), made possible by the program’s major sponsors, Benalla Toyota, Ovens Kia, Tyrepower Benalla, Winton Motor Raceway and Benalla Auto Club.
The TAC L2P Program is a statewide program funded by TAC, managed by Department of Transport and Planning and coordinated by the council.
More information about the L2P program is available from benalla.vic.gov.au
More volunteers are always needed, as the program is so popular it has a long waiting list. Fully licensed drivers are encouraged to speak with the program coordinator, by contacting Benalla Rural City Council on (03) 5760 2600.
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