L2P program: mentor young drivers

By Jaci Hicken

May 12, 2025

Rochester Secondary College learner Layla Ali with L2P mentor Paul Butler. Photo: Contributed.

A retired mechanic from Rochester is helping young drivers gain their independence through the L2P program, which matches learner drivers with volunteer mentors.

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Paul Butler volunteers six to eight hours weekly, helping three young people gain their mandatory 120 hours of driving practice.

“I know what it was like when I was trying to get my ‘L’s and we didn't have to do the hours back then,” he said.

“Some of the kids don't have access to cars, or their family is working and that doesn’t coincide with being able to go for drives in the morning or at night, so they have a bit of trouble.”

With more than 50 years of driving experience, including trucks and buses, Mr Butler brings valuable expertise as a L2P volunteer mentor.

“I've been driving since I was about eight. I'm a motor mechanic by trade, so I learned to drive early,” he said.

Mr Butler recently helped four learners obtain their licences in four months, emphasising the importance of thorough training.

“Driving is an occupation, not just something you do as a pastime. It is a job to drive a car, not just sit back and relax,” he said.

The program involves two-hour driving sessions, often to locations like Pyramid Hill.

“We drive on all sorts of roads, back roads, gravel roads, lots of stop signs and not too many roundabouts,” Mr Butler said.

Once mentees have had a few hours of driving, Mr Butler has them drive to and around Bendigo, where there’s lots of stop signs, roundabouts and traffic to learn to merge in.

Rochester currently has only two mentors managing seven learner drivers, with nine young people on the waiting list to be mentored.

“We need more mentors,” Mr Butler said.

“It is good fun, it is enlightening, it is educational from both sides, the kids teach us, and we teach them.”

L2P volunteer mentors must be over 21 years old, have a current, full Australian driver's licence and a satisfactory full driver’s licence history, be medically fit to drive, have a valid volunteer Working with Children Check card and undergo a National Police Check.

Those interested in becoming volunteer mentors can contact Campaspe Cohuna Local Learning and Employment Network L2P co-ordinator Nikki Harris on (03) 5482 6055 or email L2P@CCLLEN.com.au

You can visit the VicRoads website and search L2P for more information.