May 25th, 2025L2P: Celebrating and elevating young people
It’s not often there’s good news reported about youth. Recent crime statistics in the Hepburn Shire show a concerning uptick in youth-related offences with a 12 percent increase in criminal incidents compared to the previous year.
The Hepburn Shire Council has developed their ACE Youth Strategy partly in response to the increased crime rates, but also to celebrate and elevate young people.
One initiative that is both elevating and setting young adults on the right path is the Traffic Accident Commission’s L2P program. This learner driver mentoring program is a state-wide program that breaks down barriers for young people to gain their driver’s licence.
In rural areas like the Hepburn Shire, a driver’s licence isn’t just a convenience – it’s often essential for accessing education, employment, and community resources.
Many young people in the region face significant barriers to obtaining their driver’s licence because they do not have access to a car or do not have a suitable supervising driver to help obtain their required 120 hours as a learner driver.
Through the L2P program, participants are paired with volunteer mentors who help them build their driving skills behind the wheel of a provided vehicle.
This program is particularly valuable in rural areas, where access to public transport is limited, and having a car can mean the difference between securing a job or continuing with education.
Josephine, a recent L2P graduate from Daylesford said: “I felt so grateful to Jordan, my mentor, and the L2P program because I was able to finish Year 12 with a good ATAR and my licence. This gives me a great start to my new life as an independent adult.”
Recent research undertaken by the Ballarat Foundation, who runs the program in the Hepburn Shire, found that 88 per cent of past participants in the program had secured employment or further education as a direct result of gaining their probationary licence.
Importantly for mental health outcomes for rural youth, 97 per cent of past participants felt less socially isolated. A staggering 100 percent of learners said their volunteer driving mentor had a positive impact on their life and the way they made decisions.
For young people in the Hepburn Shire, the L2P program offers a path forward, making driving lessons accessible and affordable.
If you’re a young person in Hepburn Shire looking to take control of your future, the L2P program can help you get started on the road to success. Reach out to the Ballarat Foundation to find out more about how you can get involved.
