Western Australia

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

On 25 September 2020, Western Australia introduced new laws relating to transporting children (under 16 years) with disabilities and medical conditions in motor vehicles.

The new law exempts a child with a disability or medical condition from travelling in an Australian standard car seat providing certain conditions are met.

Note: MACA is currently awaiting advice relating to the legal use of seatbelt buckle covers in WA. Refer to MACA's buckle cover model policy for more information.

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

The child is restrained in a device prescribed by a prescriber in accordance with AS/NZS 4370:2013 (A prescriber can be a medical practitioner, occupational therapist, psychologist, physiotherapist, rehabilitation engineer, or biomedical engineer)

The device is fitted in accordance with instructions in the Advice to Parent form

The driver is carrying a current Advice to Parent form

The driver (of the vehicle the child is travelling in) has a medical certificate certifying the child’s diagnosis as stated in the Advice to Parent form

Advice to Parent form

The Advice to Parent form, together with the medical certificate, must 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.

Referral for child under 6 months (.docx)Referral for child 6 months to under 4 years (.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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Western Australia

Complying with road laws and vehicle standards

Advice to Parent form

Prescribers' sample referral to medical practitioner

Sample medical certificate wording

FAQs

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