Evidence-based practice

The combination of research evidence, clinical expertise and the client’s unique values and circumstances form the basis of evidence-based practice.

MACA Guide

The MACA Guide is a key tool to support evidence-based practice, valuable for both novice and experienced clinicians. It works with the resources and information on MACA’s website, and can be adapted for use in different work environments such as private practice, schools and hospitals.

Upon completion of this course, you will be emailed a copy of the MACA Guide.

The MACA Guide consists of three components:

1. Assessment and prescribing process

This outlines four steps in the assessing and prescribing process and includes a useful template that can be adapted to individual needs. It is based on best practice, standards/regulations, government policy and research. Working through this process helps prescribers to apply their clinical reasoning to support a child’s motor vehicle transport needs.

Step one: Assess

Understand the needs of the child and family, and gather information about each vehicle the child travels in.

Step two: Plan

Scan products, select, and trial vehicle restraint option(s) for the child, and develop strategies to support safe transport.

Step three: Implement

Identify funding options, complete documentation for the prescribed vehicle restraint option(s) and provide education and strategies to support safe transport.

This step uses MACA’s forms and templates to support families to comply with road laws.

Step four: Review

Evaluate the current vehicle restraint option(s) and strategies to ensure they still meet the needs of the child and family.

2. Motor vehicle transport plan

MACA recommends that all children with a disability or condition impacting their transport needs have a current motor vehicle transport plan, developed together with the child’s family.

This plan provides families with an essential record of their child’s motor vehicle transport needs. It can:

• be shared with other professionals in the child’s care team
• assist a family in communicating their child’s transport needs e.g., school, support worker.

3. Advice to Parent form

The Advice to Parent form documents the prescribed vehicle restraint(s) for the child, the review period, and information about installation and use. MACA recommends that the form is carried in each vehicle the child travels in, and in some states and territories, this is a legal requirement.

Your task

What step do you think is most challenging when prescribing, and why? What might help overcome these challenges?

Share your thoughts in the comments and remember to take a moment to like and/or reply to others’ posts.