AuSAP FAQs

AuSAP aims to make sure people with disabilities and medical conditions have access to suitable and safe vehicle restraint systems. This program assesses (including sled crash testing) specialty vehicle restraint systems and develops independent prescribing advice and information about products. This supports MACA trained professionals in prescribing suitable vehicle restraint options and gives greater choice in vehicle restraint products.

AuSAP supports the rights of people with disabilities and medical conditions to suitable and safe products where they are unable to travel safely and comfortably in ‘regular’ child restraints (of which we have long-established safety standards) or vehicle seatbelts.

It further expands safe transport options by making it easier for organisations to supply and promote products in Australia. This increases choice and better meets the needs of people with disabilities and medical conditions and their families.

Helen Lindner, MACA’s Chief Executive, initiated assessment of the special purpose car seats available in Victoria in 2013, when working with VicRoads, the road agency for Victoria. At the time, this work informed government funding and prescribing practices for Victorian allied health professionals.

AuSAP builds on this earlier work, however it is more comprehensive, nationwide, and includes all restraint types (i.e., not just special purpose car seats) used by children and adults with disabilities and medical conditions.

AuSAP is a world first initiative.

AuSAP has delivered significant outcomes for the Australian community. Its testing, research, and knowledge-sharing activities have generated trusted evidence that is driving change across industry, clinical practice, and funding systems.

Key outcomes include:

• Completion of over 200 crash tests and assessments of 37 products, with more than one-third of products showing failures that could result in serious injury or death in a crash.
• Publication of 13 special purpose car seats on MACA’s publicly available National Product Register.
• Publication of Product Guides for MACA trained professionals, which include independent information about AuSAP outcomes, compliance, prescribing advice, safe installation and use.

The vehicle restraint types used by people with disabilities and medical conditions include Australian standard car seats, modified car seats, special purpose car seats, and specialty harnesses/vests.

AuSAP is currently assessing special purpose car seats, and aims to include specialty harnesses/vests in future activities.

The AuSAP program uses selected criteria from AS/NZS 1754 Child restraint systems for use in motor vehicles. This includes frontal and side impact testing.

Find out more about the AuSAP Test and Assessment Protocol.

Australian standard car seats all meet the Australian Standard AS/NZS 1754.

There is also an established independent review program for Australian standard car seats – known as the Child Restraint Evaluation Program (CREP).

This program is supported by road safety focused organisations and tests car seats to a higher level than the Australian standard. The results are available at childcarseats.com.au and provide consumers with information to inform their purchasing decisions. This includes star-ratings for safety and ease of use information.

Due to the range of special purpose child restraints catering for the unique needs of people with disabilities and medical conditions, the AuSAP Expert Committee assessed that a star rating system was not suitable. Instead, individual restraint assessment supported by clear prescribing advice was recommended.

AuSAP is not a certification program. Rather, it provides independent information about the strengths and limitations of the different restraint systems available for people with disabilities and medical conditions in Australia.