On-Country Pathways has celebrated its 200th P-plater, in under four years with expansion to 17 communities in the Riverina Murray and North East Victoria.
Its free driver-mentor program for First Nations youth has a further 180 participants on their L plates and a waitlist of more than 140.
On-Country Pathways General Manager Jebb Hutchison said he never imagined the program would grow so quickly.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think we’d be where we are today,” Mr Hutchison said.
The program, pairs young people, many from low-socioeconomic communities, with driver-mentors to help them complete the 120 supervised driving hours needed to obtain their licence.
Continued support from regional fuel transporter Lowes Petroleum is helping On-Country Pathways meet that demand, with the company committing to further fuel sponsorship as the program expands into more rural communities
Lowes Petroleum’s North-East Victoria and Southern NSW Sales Manager Kane Baker said supporting young people was a natural fit for the company.
L-R – Lowes Petroleum’s Kane Baker with OCP diver mentor Colina Meadows, GM Jebb Hutchison and mentor Katrina Goolagong with learner driver Jemma Adams
“Lowes is all about empowering regional Australia, and what better way to do that than starting with our youth, who are the future of regional Australia,” Mr Baker said. “Wouldn’t it be great if one day some of them were working for Lowes’ fuels and lubricants business too.”
Mr Hutchison said the fuel support was central to the program’s ability to reach further into rural communities.
“It’s a major contributor to being able to deliver the program more broadly, and to help more people in more rural communities,” he said.
Driver-mentor Colina Meadows said cost remains one of the biggest barriers for the families the program supports.
“The way things are today, every last dollar is allocated,” Mrs Meadows said. “Some families can’t afford to have one or two children learning to drive because that’s another $50 to $60 a fortnight in fuel that’s not in the budget.
“Without the Lowes sponsorship, we definitely wouldn’t be able to expand into some of the areas we’re now covering.”
For 21-year-old single mum Jemma Adams and 18-year-old storeman Keelhan Hisipaniola-Lovett, gaining a licence has meant real, practical change in their day-to-day lives.
“I was really nervous. I didn’t even want to touch the accelerator, I was really scared,” Gemma said of starting the program.
Now nearly 60 hours into her training, she says the impact has gone well beyond driving.
“Independence and freedom. Having my licence means I can take my son to the park.”
Keelhan agreed the shift had been significant. “It’s hard to get a job without a licence, but it’s also really hard to keep a job without one,” he said. “It’s life-changing, because it changed my life.”
Driver-mentor Katrina Goolagong said gaining a licence often created a domino effect in a young person’s life.
“Once they get that, or even start working towards it, everything else falls into place,” Ms Goolagong said. “They can definitely see a future for themselves. We make sure they know there’s a lot out there for them, and that it’s a matter of making that change, not just for themselves, but for their family.”
The relationship between Lowes and On-Country Pathways is also opening doors beyond driving, according to Mr Hutchison, with discussions now underway around career opportunities for young people.
“Our relationship with Lowes is extending beyond fuel,” he said. “We’re talking about career opportunities for young people. Lowes’ operations go right up to heavy vehicles, and a lot of our young people are hopeful they can drive big trucks one day.”
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