Guidelines for community-based learner driver mentor programs

Guidelines for community-based learner driver mentor programs

1

Guidelines for community-based learner driver mentor programs

Table of contents
Introduction

3

Before you begin

3

Assess community need

3

Know your target group

4

Identify source for mentors

4

Identify funding sources

4

Ensure legislative and insurance requirements are met

5

Working with stakeholders

5

Program set-up

6

Develop program objectives

6

Develop a program plan

6

Develop a code of practice and/or mutual responsibility agreement

6

Mentor selection and training

7

Selection

7

Training

7

Mentee training

8

Match mentors with mentees

8

Source vehicles

8

Plan exit strategy

8

Conduct an OHS risk assessment

9

Program running and evaluation

9

Planning the time to meet the driving requirements

9

Maintaining the log book and other documentation

10

Supporting mentees

10

Supporting mentors

10

Meeting with stakeholders

11

Evaluation from the outset and ongoing

11

Where to go for more information

12

About driving

12

About setting up community-based programs

12

Checklist for the learner driver mentor program

13

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Guidelines for community-based learner driver mentor programs

Introduction
Our young drivers are nearly three times more likely than other drivers to be involved in a crash resulting in either injury or death. To help keep our young drivers safe, the Graduated
Licensing Scheme now requires new learner drivers in NSW to complete 120 hours of supervised driving before they attempt the test for their Provisional (P1) licence.
Community-based learner driver mentor programs can offer learner drivers the opportunity to meet the requisite hours. The RTA has developed the following guidelines to assist community groups to establish learner driver mentor programs.
These guidelines are specific to mentor programs for participants over the age of 18 years of age, and complement the RTA (2002) Principles of effective community-based safe driving programs for novice drivers and passengers.

Before you begin
There are a number of issues to consider before going ahead with a Learner Driver Mentor
Program. These issues are: • Ensuring that there is a need for such a program (assessing the community need).

• Identifying and understanding both the target group (mentees) and the mentors.

• Identifying possible funding sources.

• Ensuring legal and insurance requirements can be met.

• Working with stakeholders.

Assess community need
It is important to assess the need within the community for a learner driver mentor program. To assess the need you should ask the following questions: • Are there young people over 18 years of age within our community who lack access to a vehicle to do their supervised driving?

• Are there young people over 18 years of age within our community who lack access to a licensed driver as their supervisor?

• Are there people who need a driver licence for employment purposes?

Answers to the following questions will help in assessing the community need.
The questions could be asked of local schools, youth workers, road safety officers,
Aboriginal community workers, police, people who work with refugees, and young people in the community.

 pecific program requirements would need to be introduced to address
S
the Child Protection Act 1998 if a mentoring program were to target people younger than 18 years of age.

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Guidelines for community-based learner driver mentor programs

Know your target group
Once you have confirmed that members of your community would benefit from a learner driver mentor program, you can then explore issues pertinent to your target group. This will help in planning the program and recruiting participants. If possible, consult people who work with the target group (e.g.