Victoria

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 and vehicle standards

In Victoria there are road rules relating to the transport of children with disabilities and medical conditions (under 16 years). In addition there are vehicle standards requirements to comply with, depending on the restraint type prescribed.

Vehicle standards

Seatbelt buckle covers: the legal requirements for the use of seatbelt buckle covers remain unclear in Victoria. MACA continues to raise this issue with Vicroads and this page will be updated to reflect any advice received. If you need assistance please contact us.

Engineering certification requirements: MACA met with the Commonwealth Office of Road Safety late 2021 and received support to assist with clarifying when an engineers certificate is required for the use of special purpose car seats in motor vehicles in Australia. If you need assistance in the interim please contact us.

Road rules

If a child with a disability or medical condition (under 16 years of age) is unable to travel in an Australian standard car seat or vehicle seatbelt then the driver of the vehicle is required to comply with the following road rules in Victoria:

A registered medical practitioner has provided a current medical certificate stating that due to the child’s disability or medical condition it is impracticable, undesirable or inexpedient that the child be restrained in a Australian standard car seat or seatbelt.

The driver is complying with any conditions stated in the medical certificate.

The certificate is carried in the vehicle in which the child is travelling and produced by the driver to a police officer (or authorised person) if requested.

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 letter 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.

Referral for child under 6 months (.docx)Referral for child 6 months to under 4 year (.docx)Referral for child 4 to under 7 years (.docx)Referral for child 7 to under 16 years (.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 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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Victoria

Complying with road laws and vehicle standards

Advice to Parent form

Prescribers' sample referral letter to medical practitioner

Sample medical certificate wording

FAQs

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