Six volunteers spent the day learning how to be an effective supervising driver and support disadvantaged youth on their journey to achieving a probationary licence.

CGLLEN TAC L2P Project Officer Penny Walton-Bourke said the organisation was proud to extend the popular driver mentor initiative to young people in St Arnaud, Avoca and surrounding areas thanks to a grant from Avoca District Co-operative Ltd and Community Enterprise Foundation.

"Late last year we received $5,500 through the BUILD100 Grants Program to have one of our L2P cars permanently located in St Arnaud," she said.

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"Since then, we have been focusing on recruiting more mentors to meet the demand, which significantly increased as a result of COVID-19.

"We were really happy with the turn-out for our St Arnaud training session and are looking forward to matching our newly qualified mentors with local learner drivers."

Ms Walton-Bourke said the TAC L2P Program helped young people gain independence and develop life-long skills.

"L2P caters for learner drivers between the ages of 16 and 21 who have limited access to a suitable vehicle or supervising driver. The program matches these young people with a trained driver mentor who they meet weekly to practice their driving," she said.

"For some of our learners, getting their licence is vital to their employment, study and sporting commitments. That's why this program is so important."

Ms Walton-Bourke said anyone looking to join the program as a learner or mentor should contact her on 5352 3266 or 0418 535 478.

She said mentors must be over the age of 21, hold a current Victorian driver's licence and be willing to undergo a driver history check and a Working with Children Check.

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