North West Driver Mentor Program delivering life-changing results
Our North West Driver Mentor Program (NWDMP) has achieved remarkable success, helping more than 80 young people gain their driver’s licence and improve their pathways to employment.
The place-based program uses paid driver mentors to support young people aged 16 to 24 to obtain their licence, helping remove barriers to employment, education and training.
For many young people, completing the 80 supervised driving hours required to sit their provisional licence test can be challenging.
The NWDMP supports those with limited or no access to a suitable supervising driver or vehicle, or who cannot afford professional driving lessons.
Operating since January 2024, the program has been made possible through funding from the Tasmanian Community Fund and West North West Working.
It supports young people across the North West Coast, including those from remote communities such as Circular Head, the West Coast and King Island.
One young person to benefit from the program was Oliver, who registered with the NWDMP in October 2024 while completing Grade 11.
Living in a remote area of the Kentish region, gaining a licence was an important step towards overcoming transport barriers and accessing future education, employment and community opportunities.
Oliver initially completed two professional driving lessons with a driving school.
He then undertook regular mentor-supported driving sessions, scheduled around his school commitments.
The consistent access to supervised driving enabled Oliver to complete his required 80 hours and, in January 2026, he successfully passed his P1 driving assessment and gained his provisional licence.
During his gap year before commencing university in 2027, Oliver registered with YFCC’s Fit For Work program and began receiving support to secure employment.
While the current funding period recently concluded, efforts are underway to secure future funding, with strategies in place to continue supporting young people already participating in driving sessions.
An evaluation of the program, made possible through a contribution from RACT, highlighted its significant social and economic impact.
Preliminary findings indicated that for every $1 invested in the NWDMP, $3.70 in social and economic value was generated for participants, their families, the broader community and government.
In 2025 alone, the program generated an estimated $1.15 million in value.
Participants spoke about the difference gaining their licence had made to their lives.
“If I wasn’t in this program I wouldn’t have my licence right now and I wouldn’t have my job, it was really life changing,” one participant said.
Another participant said gaining their licence quickly translated into employment.
“I was unemployed for six months, every opportunity I got was turned down because I didn’t have my licence, but two weeks after I got my licence, I got a job,” the participant said.
