FAQs

Answers to commonly asked questions from allied health professionals

Information MACA's role Restraint types Transport challenges Hip spica transport Road laws Contact us

Reliable and accurate information

These general FAQs respond to common questions about safe transport for people with disabilities and medical conditions.

To learn more about assessing and prescribing for motor vehicle transport, enrol in MACA's specialist online training course.

MACA's role

We are a not for profit organisation dedicated to advancing the rights of people with disabilities and medical conditions to safe transport by leading research and providing independent, evidence informed resources and training.

Find out more about MACA’s role and work program.

We are a registered charity dedicated to advancing the rights of children and adults with disabilities and medical conditions to safe and equitable transport.

We do this by focusing on four key priorities, developed with input from stakeholders across the disability, transport, education, and health sectors.

Build capacity and capability across organisations and among allied health professionals.
Strengthen policies and systems to be more inclusive and responsive to the transport needs of people with disability and their families.
Advance knowledge to address a historic and global lack of information in this area.
Drive innovation to encourage new solutions for people with disability and their families.

We have initiated the first and largest program of research and activities to advance the rights of children and young people with disabilities and medical conditions to safe transport.

Much of this research is also relevant to the transport needs of adults with disability, and we are expanding our work in this area.

Examples of our research activities:

national survey with Curtin University to understand the knowledge, perceptions and experiences of parents, health professionals and organisations
ethnographic research with Monash University Emerging Technologies Lab to understand the lived experience of Australian families and how transport impacts on their day-to-day lives
a review of buckle release challenges with Latrobe University
developed the Australian Safety Assessment Program (AuSAP), with establishment funding from the Transport Accident Commission and in-kind support from NeuRA and Britax
led an Austroads project investigating specialty harnesses/vests used by people with disability when travelling in motor vehicles

Learn more about us, our research and other projects that are building the evidence base in this important area.

Restraint types

Information about the different vehicle restraint types used by people with disabilities and medical conditions.

Yes, there are vehicle restraint types available in Australia that are designed specifically for children with disabilities and medical conditions, while some also meet the needs of adults with disability. This includes special purpose car seats and specialty harnesses/vests.

However, it is important to know that many Australian standard car seats (that you can buy from mainstream stores) are also suitable for children with disabilities and medical conditions. For example, there are forward facing car seats with built-in harnesses. This type of car seat (Type G) is suitable for 50 per cent of children up to at least 10 years of age (labelled as suitable from 6 months to 8 years of age). However once a child outgrows this type of car seat they may need to transition to a special purpose car seat.

Yes. The Australian/New Zealand Standard 4370 Restraint of children with disabilities, or medical conditions, in motor vehicles.

However, this standard has not been reviewed for over a decade and does not reflect recent research and best practice.

MACA's online training courses are designed to keep you up-to-date with recent research and best practice approaches to supporting children's motor vehicle transport needs.

Course participants receive the leading prescribing resource - the MACA Guide.

Special purpose car seats are available through disability equipment suppliers who work closely with allied health professionals. Unlike Australian standard car seats they comply with overseas standards or regulations, and come with an extensive range of optional accessories. The selection, issuing and fitment of a special purpose car seat therefore requires the allied health professional to work closely with the supplier and other local supports where available.

Our Australian Safety Assessment Program (AuSAP) develops information resources to ensure allied health professionals and parents have access to the information they need to support safe use.

Until recently, there was no Australian standard for specialty harnesses and vests.

The ‘AS 5384: Accessories for seat belts used in motor vehicles’ standard was published in September 2023.

It includes requirements for postural support devices (i.e., specialty harnesses/vests) and outlines crash testing, labelling and packaging requirements.

This provides suppliers in the Australian market with an opportunity to develop and supply products that comply with the relevant section of this new standard.

MACA led an Austroads project, in partnership with The George Institute for Global Health, to research and investigate specialty harnesses/vests for both Australia and New Zealand.

The Austroads report was published in March 2025 and includes recommendations for the safe selection and use of specialty harness/vests aimed at prescribers. These recommendations require the development of guidance materials, as recommended in the report.

Further research is also recommended to investigate the selection and use of specialty harnesses/vests in supported school buses. MACA is seeking funding to progress these recommendations.

Transport challenges

We know that each person and family has unique needs. Find information and case studies about specific transport challenges commonly experienced by people with disabilities and medical conditions. Each transport challenge page also includes answers to common questions about the topic.

Yes. It is important that you have policies in place that are based on the latest evidence and best practice. This not only helps you meet your professional responsibilities but ensures your clients and families are offered trustworthy and reliable support.

MACA has developed a range of sample policies which are available to MACA trained professional in MACAhub Pro. The policies are updated regularly in response to emerging evidence and best practice.

General information about our Buckle Cover Model Policy is available here.

The Australian standard for child restraints (AS/NZS 1754) was updated in October 2024 to allow for some variations to car seats for children with disability. It was the first time in the standard’s history that a section has been included to cater for the motor vehicle transport needs of children with disability.

Whilst this is a significant first step for children with disabilities and their families, it is unknown if manufacturers will develop these product variations due to Australia and New Zealand’s small market size.

Hip spica transport

Information to help prepare families for hospital discharge, following their child's hip dysplasia surgery.

MACA is committed to helping build a system that enables access to an appropriate car seat in a timely way for hospital discharge.

To support families, improve current practice and develop an ongoing evidence base, we are working with researchers, AuSAP participants, hospitals, and allied health professionals to address gaps and advance the evidence base. This includes:

Advancing research into the modification of Australian standard car seats through the generous support of a NeuRA PhD scholarship.
Investigating and crash testing special purpose car seats designed for hip spica transport through our world leading Australian Safety Assessment Program.
Working closely with allied health professionals to inform the development of model policies, resources and training to better support health professionals working with hip spica clients.

Unlike standards/regulations in other countries the Australian standard for child restraints does not cater for special purpose car seats.

Until MACA was established there was no national body advocating for the safe transport needs of people with disabilities and medical conditions. The Australian Safety Assessment Program has undertaken some assessment of overseas products, with the Expert Committee identifying the need for further research, testing and review.

After surgery, many children are unable to fit comfortably and safely in their current child restraint due to the shape and size of the hip spica cast or brace. Unfortunately, some families discover only on the day of their child’s surgery that their child restraint is not suitable.

Currently, there’s a lack of evidence base to guide best practice hip spica transport. Until the research base is developed, MACA can only provide general advice.

If the family has an Australian standard Britax car seat, it may be suitable to keep using this restraint after surgery with a Britax “hip spica adjustable crotch buckle” (crotch buckle with extended strap) that can be added to the car seat for the time the child is in the cast/brace.

Britax advises that the crotch buckle with extended strap is only suitable for use with Australian standard Britax child restraints branded:

Britax Safe-n-Sound
Safe-n-Sound
Babylove
Hipod

The use of a crotch buckle with extended strap with an Australian standard car seat means the child restraint no longer complies with this standard and is recognised as a modified car seat.

The legal requirements in each state and territory for the use of a modified car seat vary. MACA is working to bring about national consistency, but this may take some time.

In the meantime, to help parents comply with the road laws, MACA has developed specific state and territory information.

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Northern Territory

Queensland

South Australia

Tasmania

Victoria

Western Australia

Road laws

We've reviewed the road laws in each Australian state and territory that impact on the transport of children and adults with disabilities and medical conditions. We found that in many cases they are inconsistent, unclear, and not supported by community education. We're working closely with the transport sector to close these gaps.

Meanwhile, we've developed easy to use templates specific to each state and territory to help MACA Certified Professionals support clients in complying with road laws in your state or territory. These templates are available in MACAhub Pro.

Model Australian Road Rules were first introduced in 1999 and form the basis of the road rules in each state and territory.

The National Transport Commission is responsible for maintaining the Australian Road Rules. Many jurisdictions copy the model law, however some don't.

To improve consistency, MACA is participating in the current review of the Australian child restraint road rules which is expected to be completed mid-2026.

We need road laws for children and adults with disability that have been developed based on research, and that protect their right to safe transport.

Due to the lack of research in this area their needs have not been considered equal to the needs of those without disabilities and medical conditions.

MACA is changing this through our research and participation in the current review of the Australian child restraint road rules. Read more about this in our media release.

We have extensively reviewed the current legislative environment which means we have a deep understanding of each state and territory's road laws. We work closely with road agencies, to remove unnecessary barriers and to identify opportunities for improvement. Our website, information resources and training are regularly updated to reflect any changes.

This approach is increasing awareness of the transport needs of people with disabilities and medical conditions and has resulted in some new laws for the use of seatbelt buckle covers.

To improve consistency, MACA is participating in the current review of the Australian child restraint road rules which is expected to be completed mid-2026.

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I have always found the the legal requirements for using special purpose car seats confusing. MACA's resources and templates make it easy for me to understand and to help families comply with road laws.
Blake, Occupational Therapist, NT

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FAQs

Reliable and accurate information

MACA's role

Restraint types

Transport challenges

Hip spica transport

Road laws

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