I'm finally Aussie-certified!

Joddle

New member
I had my day course today, and am finally qualified! My licence is in the mail :)
I had an awesome time, but admit I already knew everything they taught us :eek:
It surprised me that the majority of priniciples for child restraint installation etc are the same here as in America.
All you guys deserve so much credit for all the wonderful advice you give to parents out there!
And a big thankyou from me for teaching me everything car-seat related that I know :D
 
ADS

Joddle

New member
I was just thinking, will i still be able to visit the tech forum even though my cert number wont be in the same format as a Safekids one?
 

safeinthecar

Moderator - CPS Technician
It surprised me that the majority of priniciples for child restraint installation etc are the same here as in America.

I'd be interested in hearing about some of the differences.

I was just thinking, will i still be able to visit the tech forum even though my cert number wont be in the same format as a Safekids one?

It isn't a program that gives you access, Admin/mods change what forums you are allowed into in your account settings. Send a PM and ask for access.
 

Joddle

New member
TBH, I only picked up on 2 differences, and I'm not sure if they are differences or if I just haven't heard them spoken about here.
The first I a 'minimum install' which put simply is the way the manual tells you to install. No locking clip, no locking seatbelts, just removing the slack from the belt. It's acceptable as that's how they are tested, but it's not solid. And the seatbelt has to be checked every day for tightness.
The second is that we aren't given a range of allowable movement, and it's not considered a 'test of install' to pull the seat at the belt path. However, as that's what most parents do to check, we were told to install it locked so that when they do that it doesn't move :p
 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
Back in the day, I think there was a seat here (an Evenflo?) that allowed an install with a non-lockable belt as long as you top tethered it. Sounds like that's still acceptable in Australia? Wow.

There are instructions in this thread on how to get access if you're not a US tech. It's a little more complicated but doable. :)
 

KiwiGem

New member
When I sat my test online to update my NZ technician certificate back in July, one of the questions was "how much side to side movement is allowed at the belt path at the end of installation" and the multichoice answers were...

a) 5cm
b) 7cm
c) 10cm
d) 12cm

And the correct answer they wanted was 7cm (2.75") but I emailed them and said this was dangerous as the US standards seats we now have here require 2.5cm (1 inch) or less which means that even our technicians weren't being trained correctly. They replied that the questions and answers were based on when we used to only accept Australian/NZ joint standards seats and the test had never been updated! :thumbsdown:

Congratulations on your tech course :thumbsup:
 

Joddle

New member
When I sat my test online to update my NZ technician certificate back in July, one of the questions was "how much side to side movement is allowed at the belt path at the end of installation" and the multichoice answers were...

a) 5cm
b) 7cm
c) 10cm
d) 12cm

And the correct answer they wanted was 7cm (2.75") but I emailed them and said this was dangerous as the US standards seats we now have here require 2.5cm (1 inch) or less which means that even our technicians weren't being trained correctly. They replied that the questions and answers were based on when we used to only accept Australian/NZ joint standards seats and the test had never been updated! :thumbsdown:

Congratulations on your tech course :thumbsup:

Thanks and wow! On the super old Aus seats it used to say 7cm. We're talking like 15+ yeard old! So yeah, pretty bad the techs weren't told.
 

safeinthecar

Moderator - CPS Technician
Back in the day, I think there was a seat here (an Evenflo?) that allowed an install with a non-lockable belt as long as you top tethered it. Sounds like that's still acceptable in Australia? Wow.

There are instructions in this thread on how to get access if you're not a US tech. It's a little more complicated but doable. :)

Century. I had the OHS version (DD1's first seat) and I still have the instructions for it in a box somewhere.
 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
I think it's come up before that some Evenflo seats used to allow it, so maybe it was more widespread than I thought! (Or maybe those who said Evenflo were mistaken, and it was only Century.) In any case, it's an interesting thing to think about! :)
 

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