Young learner drivers who otherwise wouldn’t have had access to a car or a supervising driver have spent more than one million hours behind the wheel thanks to the Transport Accident Commission’s L2P Program.

The program aims to provide opportunities for young people to overcome disadvantages through community support to successfully obtain their driver’s licence. It matches learner drivers aged 16 to 21 (and in some cases, up to 23 years old) who don’t have access to a car or safe supervising driver with a fully licensed volunteer mentor and car to help them get the driving experience needed to gain a probationary licence.

The TAC L2P Program supports the government’s Graduated Licensing System, which makes it compulsory for learner drivers aged under 21 to obtain a minimum of 120 hours of supervised driving experience.

“There is nothing better than helping give someone a lifelong skill to better themselves,” says Bendigo mentor James.

“It provides independence at an important time in their life, and I really enjoy seeing a young person’s confidence and connectedness to their community grow.”

The Salvation Army delivers the program across the Bendigo, Macedon Ranges and Central Goldfields regions and acquired their eighth car in May 2025. An additional vehicle will enable the program to support more young people this year. Last year the program supported 147 young people achieve more than 3500 hours of driving and 43 licences.

The Bendigo community bank branches of Gisborne, Lancefield and Romsey and Maryborough are valued and proud supporters of the program and have generously contributed funding for vehicles to be used in each of these areas.

The success of the program can be attributed to its amazing volunteers and community partnerships across the state, which have supported more than 11,000 learners to obtain their probationary licence.

There is a large waitlist of learner drivers. The program is always looking for more volunteer mentors to assist in guiding and supporting these young people.

If you are over 21 years of age and hold a current full Victorian driver’s licence, you could become a mentor driver for the program. Training and program vehicles are provided.

For more information about becoming a L2P volunteer mentor, contact Denise on 0409 246 416.