Northern Territory

Forms and templates for allied health professionals

Road laws Advice to Parent form Referral to medical practitioner Sample medical certificate Disclaimer FAQs

Complying with road laws

In the Northern Territory there are road laws relating to the transport of children with disabilities and medical conditions (under 16 years). These rules exempt the driver from transporting a child in an Australian standard car seat. There are different rules for transporting children under 7 years, and children 7 to under 16 years.

The are also exemption provisions for the legal use of seatbelt buckle covers.

Note: MACA is currently unable to provide advice for engineering certification requirements relating to safe restraint use. We are currently seeking support to develop national guidelines to assist in this area.

Children under 7 years (special purpose car seats)

The driver is exempt from transporting a child in an Australian standard car seat, providing:

* the driver is carrying a medical certificate that states the child is unable to travel in an Australian standard car seat because of their medical condition or disability.

* the child is travelling in a child restraint designed for a person with a disability or medical condition.

Children under 7 years (modified car seat, harness/vest)

The driver is exempt from transporting a child in an Australian standard car seat, and able to transport the child in a modified car seat or harness/vest providing:

* the driver is carrying a medical certificate that states the person should not wear a seatbelt because of a disability or medical condition.

Note: This requirement applies to harnesses and vests that modify the use of the vehicle seatbelt.

Children 7 to under 16 years

The driver must carry a medical certificate that states a medical practitioner believes the person should not wear a seatbelt because of a medical condition or disability.

Seatbelt buckle covers

MACA worked closely with the Northern Territory Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics (DIPL) to improve access and legal use requirements for seatbelt buckle covers. MACA is pleased to share that this has resulted in the Northern Territory government publishing a Government Gazette - Prescribed Device Exemption.

For more information read our buckle cover model policy.

Advice to Parent form

MACA recommends that prescribers complete the Advice to Parent form and that it be carried by the driver in the vehicle the child is travelling in at all times.

Prescribers' sample referral to medical practitioner

Provides standard wording to help prescribers write a referral letter to the medical practitioner for the purpose of assisting the parent to get a medical certificate.

Child under 6 months (special purpose child restraint) (.docx)Child under 6 months (other restraint types) (.docx)Child 6 months to under 4 years (special purpose child restraint) (.docx)Child 6 months to under 4 years (other restraint types) (.docx)Child 4 to under 7 years (special purpose child restraint) (.docx)Child 4 to under 7 years (other restraint types) (.docx)Child 7 to under 16 years (all restraint types) (.docx)

Sample medical certificate wording

Provides example wording that the prescriber can provide to the medical practitioner to support parents requesting a medical certificate.

Sample medical certificate wording for child under 7 years (.docx)Sample medical certificate wording for child 7 to under 16 years (.docx)

The forms and sample letter templates in this section of our website are strictly for the use of health professionals. MACA bears no responsibility for unauthorised use of these forms as this may place children at risk.

FAQs

Model Australian Road Rules (ARR) 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, which are reviewed every two years. Many jurisdictions copy the model law, however MACA’s review of each state and territory’s road rules impacting on the transport of children with disabilities and medical conditions revealed examples of states and territories that have not followed the model law.

Our research program provides the evidence-base and lived experience understanding to ensure that future changes to the Australian Road Rules, and state and territory road rules meet the needs of our community.

MACA is working closely with road agencies and the National Transport Commission. Any changes to state and territory road rules will be reflected in our templates and information resources.

We have extensively reviewed and documented the current legislative environment which means we have a deep understanding of each state and territory's road laws. This is enabling us to work closely with state and territory road agencies, in both the road and vehicle policy areas as our research makes visible where the law is working, not working, and where unnecessary barriers impact on the road safety and well-being of children and families.

We expect to see road rule and vehicle standard changes relating to the use of seatbelt buckle covers and special purpose car seats in the coming 12 months to two years. Our website, information resources and training will be kept up-to-date to reflect any changes.

This is because there has been limited research and understanding of the transport needs of children with disabilities and medical conditions.

This means that their needs have not been considered equal to the needs of children without disabilities and medical conditions when unable to travel in an Australian standard car seat.

MACA is changing this - our research and activities are paving the way for national evidence-informed policies, programs and training.

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Northern Territory

Complying with road laws

Children under 7 years (special purpose car seats)

Children under 7 years (modified car seat, harness/vest)

Children 7 to under 16 years

Seatbelt buckle covers

Advice to Parent form

Prescribers' sample referral to medical practitioner

Sample medical certificate wording

FAQs

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