Mayor hands over the keys to L2P drivers

This month, Nillumbik Shire Mayor Councillor Helen Coleman, will hand car keys over to Nillumbik’s first group of learner drivers, who will get behind the wheel through Council’s L2P learner driver-mentor program.

Twelve young adults, mostly from Diamond Creek, Greensborough and Eltham have begun or completed their first few lessons with qualified driving instructors, who have shown them the basics.

Nillumbik Shire Mayor Councillor Helen Coleman announced that the first group of learners have now been paired with a mentor and some are now ready to get behind the wheel.

“We are fortunate to have recruited an enthusiastic group of volunteer mentors who will work with our 12 learners to master their driving skills through at least 120 hours of driving practice, before sitting their drivers licence test.

"The Nillumbik program is managed and governed by a Steering Committee made up of volunteers, agency representatives and Council staff who also have an important role to play the programs success.

“The 11 committee members are representatives from Berry Street, Centrelink, Diamond Creek Rotary, NMIT, Victoria Police, Volunteers of Banyule and Council, who have expertise in youth work, road safety, community work and volunteering.

“Through VicRoads funding, Council has been able to promote this valuable program to young people and potential volunteers across the Shire; lease and maintain two cars for driving lessons and fund a project officer to manage the Nillumbik program.

“It is fantastic to be able to offer young people living in Nillumbik who face certain barriers in their lives, preventing them from learning how to drive, with this opportunity.

“I am very happy to see this program get off to such a great start and I look forward to seeing more young Nillumbik residents getting behind the wheel with a volunteer mentor, throughout the next three years of this program.

“To ensure more young people get an opportunity to participate in this program we need them to let us know they’re interested, along with continued support from local volunteers, who have their full driver’s licence”, said Cr Coleman.

Last year, Council secured a grant from VicRoads to implement a learner driver mentor program in Nillumbik for the Shire’s 16-20 year olds over three years.

The program, developed by VicRoads, is aimed to provide learner drivers who face a significant barrier to learn how to drive a car with the support of a skilled local mentor.

If you are a young person who would like to express your interest in learning how to drive through this program, or you are a member of the community who would like to find out more about the mentoring program, contact Suzzan Eral, L2P Project Officer on 9433 3329.