COURSE OVERVIEW:

Workers in the aged care, health, community support, NDIS and disability services sectors risk a range of injuries to their clients and themselves when moving people and equipment in vehicles.

Transporting people with a disability or who are ageing is a fundamental service provided by the vast majority of care providers. Transport connects people between their home life and their community. It’s the bridge for life, freedom, connection and happiness. Without transport, people can become isolated and more disabled.

Support workers who regularly drive people in wheelchairs must have proper training. This way, they’ll know how to properly secure the individual to the wheelchair and the chair to the vehicle.

Support workers have a duty of care for their passengers, themselves, and each other. The safety of passengers must at all times be paramount. The driver is ultimately responsible for the safety of the passengers and the vehicle, and the timely operation of the service.

Support workers must make themselves aware of the individual requirements of the clients that they are transporting. The Transport Team must ensure that the relevant information from risk assessments is available and is provided in line with confidentiality and data protection considerations.

All clients must be treated with respect and in a dignified manner with due regard given to any special requirements. Clients with special needs may have limited independence and mobility and it is the responsibility of support workers to encourage and promote that independence wherever possible within the constraints of operating the journey safely and punctually.

The need for SAFE transport practices:

For clients. People living with a disability or who are ageing are dependent on and trust their care provider to transport them safely. Yet, it is astounding how unsafe many people travelling with a disability are, when in the care providers. They are at risk of injury or even death when travelling.

For support workers. Support workers can be exposed frequently to the physically demanding tasks of assisting clients in and out of vans, securing them in confined spaces and operating specialised equipment. Assisting with transport can also be a stressful job, meeting timeframes, managing behaviours of concern by passengers and not knowing the best way to complete this job. These support workers can be at high risk of sustaining a significant injury whilst transporting clients.

For the organisation. If clients and support workers are at risk of incurring injuries, then management is at risk of managing these injuries, escalating premiums and possible litigation. The Workplace Health and Safety Act 2011 clearly states the need for employers to provide sufficient training for an employee to be competent and to manage risks adequately when performing high-risk tasks. Additionally, care providers must meet their duty of care and quality standards.

Transport services are vital however should not be a risk to support workers or passenger’s health, safety and life. When transporting children or people with a disability, there are some extra considerations that support workers need to be aware of to ensure that everyone is safe.

This course provides essential information on how to transport individuals, children, adults and older people, with a disability, to ensure that everyone has a safe and happy journey.

The first part of this course introduces the Australian Standards for Disability Transport. Then discusses the role of the therapist in transport. Also, discusses the required conduct of drivers and support workers. Then looks at breakdowns and accidents including vehicle safety - initial safety check and on‐going maintenance. Then discusses how to transport a person with a disability safely; before the journey begins, getting on and off the vehicle and during the journey. Finally, discusses how to safely transport children with a disability including making sure of the safety and welfare of all children and young people then examines the standard child restraint systems and the special purpose child restraints.

The second part starts by discussing how to safely transport people who use wheelchairs in vehicles including; wheelchair suitability for transport, loading passengers and unloading passengers. Then examines wheelchair restraint systems and their instructions for use. Also, discusses how to transport personal assistive devices and how to secure oxygen, suction pumps, feeding pumps, ventilators and other medical equipment. Finally, discusses how to deal with children with behavioural issues and passengers having seizures (seizure management).

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand:

• The three critical mistakes made when transporting people with a disability
• The Australian Standards for Disability Transport
• The role of the therapist in disability transport
• The required conduct of drivers and support workers
• The essential responsibilities of drivers and support workers
• The importance of client welfare
• How to communicate with clients?
• How to deal with challenging behaviour?
• The collection and return of clients
• The health and safety of passengers from hazards
• The risk assessment
• Dealing with breakdowns and accidents
• Accident & incident reporting
• Reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations
• How to transport personal assistive devices?
• The environmental concerns: inside and outside your vehicle
• Vehicle safety including initial safety check and on‐going maintenance
• How to transport a person with a disability? Before the journey begins, getting passengers on and off the vehicle and during the journey
• How to transport children with a disability?
• Child booster seats and child safety harnesses
• The safety rules for children travelling in vehicles
• The standard child restraint systems
• The special purpose child restraints
• Modifying a child restraint and how to use of a modified child restraint?
• How to deal with children behavioural issues?
• Seatbelt buckle covers
• How to transport people who use wheelchairs in vehicles?
• Wheelchair suitability for transport
• The seating and safety restraint systems
• The safe planning and safe procedures for travelling in a vehicle in a wheelchair
• The safe procedures loading and unloading passengers
• How to anchor a wheelchair in a vehicle?
• How to secure a MULHOLLAND (GGS)?
• How to secure oxygen, suction pumps, feeding pumps, ventilators and other medical equipment?
• The clinical reasoning framework when transporting medical equipment
• Travelling in tilt and travelling in slung back wheelchairs
• Dealing with passengers having seizures/seizure management

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 4-5 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.