Young Tasmanian Josiah McGlasson is eager to get his driver's licence.
It would mean the Wynyard teenager could make the 20-minute trip to his job in Burnie without having to rely on his mother.
Mr McGlasson planned to access Keys2drive, a national program giving learners and their significant adults a free lesson with an accredited driving instructor.
He was disappointed to learn that the Keys2drive program had come to a halt.
"Because my family isn't wealthy, it's harder to get … lessons, so it makes it harder for me to get my Ps," he said.
Mr McGlasson said he felt less-assured getting behind the wheel.
"The instructors are professionals, and they know the rules," he said.
"Having the free lesson would help with my anxiety, because it'd be done with someone I don't know, and it will make me more confident with talking to other people and reaching out and getting other lessons and drives."
The Australian Automobile Association (AAA) has operated Keys2drive since 2008, but did not seek Commonwealth funding beyond June.
"Unfortunately, multiple independent appraisals now show that it may not have delivered the measurable road safety improvements that we had all hoped for," the AAA said in a statement.
'Vacuum' after program's end
Driving instructor Rob Bentley was one of the program's pioneering instructors and had nearly 1,000 learners come through the program.
He said the closure came out of the blue.
"It's just mind-boggling. It just seems illogical, just nonsensical," he said.
"If they had something ready to go to replace it … something similar, or along the lines of, I could understand it, but we don't have anything to replace it. There's nothing, there's just a vacuum.
"It's just gone, and you don't get stuff back that's gone.
"For young drivers, it's just that start, that bit of a leg up, or that little bit of a finish off before they get their licences."
Mr Bentley said the program was unique because it taught supervisors — usually parents — as well, helping them feel confident to coach their children.
Restricting young people
Live Well Tasmania is a community organisation supporting disadvantaged youth.
President Kelly Milikins said Wynyard was a disadvantaged area, and many parents could not drive or afford lessons.
"I think by not having their licence that would restrict [young people] a lot in their confidence … of feeling that they actually can achieve their goals," she said.
"They could be just stuck at home, and the cycle will continue where they're not out and getting employment and actually feeling good about themselves."
Ms Milikins said rural towns across Australia lacked public transport and would feel the loss most.
She said there needed to be free or affordable lessons for learners.
Program 'worked well for over 15 years'
Mr McGlasson wrote to his local Liberal MHR, Gavin Pearce, detailing his concerns.
In a statement, Mr Pearce said the closure could not come at a worse time.
"Households are under stress and ,let's be realistic, driving lessons are well beyond the capacity of many families," he said.
"It's parents who are teaching their kids to drive and this program teaches the parents how to teach their kids correctly.
"It's a model that has worked well for over 15 years.
"Every review into the program over its lifetime has found the program to be of significant value, with the latest best-practice review in 2020 finding that the program consistently met all its guiding principles."
Assistant Transport Minister Carol Brown did not directly respond when asked if the government would provide an alternative.
"Organisations who educate young drivers and support their pathway to gaining a licence may have the opportunity to apply for funding in future road safety grant rounds," she said.
"I expect to have more to say on this following the May budget."
The AAA said it would work with the government to help design, develop and fund new programs to improve road safety and reduce road trauma.
While the Tasmanian government had previously offered an additional free lesson, the Plates Plus lesson, administered under the Keys2drive's framework, this has now also ended.
It is understood the state government is exploring options to continue supporting learner drivers.
