1,000 new drivers on the road to opportunity

The unique driver-mentor initiative was established in 2021 by father-son duo Andrew and Jeremy McGovern, who recognised a driver's licence was often the difference between social isolation and meaningful participation in community life – particularly in Aboriginal communities and regional towns.

The Wanderer Program delivers free driving lessons to those who can't afford tuition, don't have access to a car or are unable to secure a licensed supervising driver to help them learn.

Trained driver mentors are paired with learners to complete the required 50 supervised hours behind the wheel, guiding them through the entire licensing process – from accessing safe and roadworthy vehicles and sourcing identification documents, to paying outstanding fines, obtaining a Learner's Permit and learning basic vehicle maintenance and safety.

Of the 1,000 participants to earn their P plates over the past five years, more than half were based in Perth and nearly one third were from the Goldfields, with the remainder from the Wheatbelt and Great Southern regions.

In total, more than 40,000 supervised driving and mentoring hours have been delivered, with graduates ranging in age from 17 to 73.

Importantly, demand for the program continues to grow with registrations temporarily closed and more than 1,000 people on the waitlist statewide.

Peter Williams, 16, a student at Eastern Goldfields College, is currently learning to drive with the Foundation, which he said was an important step towards a future career in mining.

“Having a licence in ‘Kal’ is one of the biggest things because in order to get a job in the mines you need your manual licence,” Williams said.

“You get a lot of power in a licence.”

Following an AFL career with Sydney Swans and Fremantle Dockers, Andrew founded the charity after working in Aboriginal communities, including Warburton near the Gibson Desert. He said the milestone reflected something much bigger than a number.

"Reaching 1,000 Wanderer Program graduates is an incredible milestone, but the real success story is what happens next,” McGovern said.

“More than 80% of our graduates go on to find employment, which tells you everything about what a driver's licence means for someone's future.”

He said beyond employment, a driver's licence has a profound impact on an individual's overall wellbeing and independence.

“It provides greater access to education and training, health and medical services, family responsibilities, cultural obligations, sport and recreation and social connection,” he added.

"For many, obtaining a licence means being able to safely transport children, attend appointments, reconnect with community, reduce reliance on others and participate more fully in everyday life.

“In regional and remote areas of Western Australia, where public transport options are limited, a licence is often the difference between social isolation and meaningful participation in community life."

As founding partner of the Wanderer Program, MinRes has proudly committed $1.85 million across seven years from 2021 to 2028.

It operates the Mt Marion and Bald Hill lithium mines in the Goldfields – a region home to the program's second-largest cohort of graduates and waitlist registrants.

MinRes Partnerships Manager Kasey Sandstrom said the company was proud to have been part of the McGovern Foundation’s journey since the beginning.

“This milestone means 1,000 people with greater independence and access to opportunity,” Sandstrom said.

"A driver's licence is something many of us take for granted, but for people without access to a car, a supervising driver or the funds for lessons, it can be an enormous barrier to employment.

"The fact that more than three quarters of graduates go on to find work shows the power of this program.

“MinRes backs partnerships that deliver practical, lasting change and the McGovern Foundation is a perfect example."

Learn more about MinRes' partnership with the McGovern Foundation.