Ballarat learner drivers are looking forward to gaining their independence following the state government announcement licence testing will resume from Monday.
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Around 2000 learner permit and licence testing appointments in Ballarat were postponed when testing was suspended in March.
Six of those were participants of Ballarat's L2P Learner Driver Mentor Program, including 21-year-old Tara Rain.
It was pretty frustrating. Being 21, it is really hard to not have that independence.
- Tara Rain, learner driver
Ms Rain said it was disappointing to be so close to sitting her licence test and then have it postponed for months due to COVID-19.
Her test was initially booked for the week after lockdown was announced.
"It was pretty frustrating. Being 21, it is really hard to not have that independence," Ms Rain said.
"I have been stuck at getting lifts from friends and I am the person everyone has to pick up."
Ms Rain said she was waiting to hear from VicRoads about the re-scheduled date for her test and would fit in some extra driving sessions with her L2P mentor in the meantime.
She said she was grateful for the support of the program that had helped her gain the experience to be able to book her licence test.
"Before I started with L2P I had only done 12 hours. I didn't have much opportunity or many people to take me on drives, so the program was super helpful," she said.
"I probably wouldn't have been able to book my licence without them and I definitely wouldn't be at the stage I am now.
"I would have to wait to save up for professional driving lessons and I just don't have the opportunity to have any other driving."
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L2P program participant Dol was also disappointed his driving test was postponed due to COVID-19, as he had hoped to get his licence before winter to avoid riding his bike to soccer training and games on cold winter nights.
He said getting his licence would help increase employment opportunities as well.
"My parents don't have their licence so they can not take me for drives," he said.
"L2P has helped me get my hours up for free, with private driving schools it is expensive and could take a long time to get my hours to 120."
The Ballarat Foundation program provides volunteer mentors to supervise young learner drivers who do not have access to a car or a supervising driver.
Ballarat Foundation youth program manager Stacey Oliver said supervised driving sessions resumed on June 1 after a 10 week break due to COVID-19.
Sixty eight learners are currently active in the program and another 69 are on the waiting list to join.
Ms Oliver said COVID-19 would delay all program participants' driving journey, as 10 weeks of no driving to catch up on would also delay the opening of new places for those on the waiting list.
She said the Ballarat Foundation had provisional funding to purchase another car, to replace one of the program's five cars that has high kilometres, and was working to purchase a sixth car to allow more learner drivers to join.
The program aims to increase its capacity to 100 learner drivers by the end of the year.
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Rochelle Kirkham
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
