Tuesday, 3 February 2026
Austroads has launched a new online education module to support general practitioners (GPs) in assessing and managing fitness to drive. The module provides practical, patient-centred guidance on applying the Assessing Fitness to Drive (2022) Standards in everyday clinical practice, enabling GPs to have proactive conversations about health and driving, advise confidently about licensing, and support patients to drive for as long as it safe to do so.
This module forms part of Austroads’ work to facilitate implementation of the national Standards, which it publishes on behalf of Australia’s transport agencies, collaborating closely with the National Transport Commission who leads development and maintenance. Together, they support implementation through practical resources to help health professionals apply the Standards in clinical practice.
Michael Nieuwesteeg, Austroads Road Safety & Design Program Manager, says the new module reflects the growing need for accessible, evidence-based education in an area that is becoming increasingly complex for clinicians.
“GPs are being asked to make intricate decisions about driver health, often while balancing clinical, legal and patient-centred considerations. This module offers structured guidance that helps clinicians navigate those decisions with confidence and clarity. Supporting GPs in this way ultimately strengthens the safety and consistency of licensing outcomes for drivers.”
The 1.5hour, self-paced course provides an overview of the core clinical principles that underpin fitness to drive assessments and explains how the Standards inform licensing decisions. It outlines the processes clinicians must follow when assessing driver health, explores the communication approaches needed to work effectively with patients and carers, and guides practitioners through common scenarios they may encounter. The module also helps GPs understand how to support patients who need to adjust their driving habits or begin planning for the transition away from driving when it is no longer safe.
The training is accredited for continuing professional development by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine. Each college allocates two CPD hours for completion of the module.
“Clinicians have told us they want clearer guidance in this area, and this module delivers that. Through this and other implementation initiatives, we are looking to build confidence and consistency in the fitness to drive process and ensure drivers are well informed about how their health effects road safety,” said Michael.
The online course normally costs $150 including GST, but Austroads is fully covering it until 31 May 2026, allowing GPs to access the training for free. There is no prerequisite learning.