Volunteer mentors are urgently needed to help disadvantaged young people obtain their driver’s licence.
To get a provisional license in NSW, learners require at least 120 hours of driving experience, which can be a real barrier for people who do not have family members with a licence or car.
Eurobodalla Council’s Ydrive program pairs volunteer mentors with young learner drivers who don’t have access to a car or a supervising driver to accumulate the required 120 hours of driving.
Thirty new learners are completing orientation for the program and, following professional driving lessons, will be ready to hit the road.
However Council’s Ydrive Coordinator Angie McMillan said the program was in desperate need of more mentors.
“All our original 10 mentors from the pilot found Ydrive so rewarding they’ll all be continuing on – however with the program’s expansion we really need more mentors to come on board,” she said.
“Being a mentor requires one to two hours of your time sitting in the car with a young learner who, due to circumstances out of their control, wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity.
“We supply the car and training – all you need is a bit of time, patience, and a willingness to share your driving knowledge.
“In return you get the opportunity to drive real positive change in the lives of young people. Our graduates have a newfound independence – they’re able to maintain study and employment, which was impossible before, while others can provide transport for their families who were previously quite isolated.”
Ydrive is funded thanks to the NSW Government.
For more information or to sign up visit Council’s website www.esc.nsw.gov.au and search for “Ydrive”. Alternatively contact Ydrive Coordinator Angie McMillan on 0417 359 705, 4474 7456 or email angela.mcmillan@esc.nsw.gov.au
Above: The next cohort of leaners from Eurobodalla Council’s Ydrive program will soon be ready to hit the road, however more mentors are urgently needed.
