How to get a disability parking permit in Australia
This guide is general advice: please refer to the State and Territory Government websites within for specific eligibility criteria.
Key points:
- State and Territory Governments are responsible for the management of the Australian Disability Parking Scheme
- Disability parking permits are recognised throughout Australia
- Permit holders can park in parking spaces showing the international symbol of access
This edition of Disability Support Guide is intended to help you apply for a disability parking permit.
The Australian Disability Parking Scheme is a national program to ensure that eligibility and national minimum parking concessions remain consistent across the country. Although, the ADPS is a transition from the existing system, which is still dependent on where you are in the country.
To apply for a permit, you must first visit the State or Territory Government website relevant to you:
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
There are two types of disability parking permits: the standard disability parking permit and the red permit — although, some parts of Australia may only issue the standard permit.
To be eligible for the standard disability parking permit, you may have to meet the criteria of your State or Territory Government. This criteria may differ based on where you live, as the Queensland criteria, for example, requires you to be a resident of the state.
Although the disability parking permit is recognised across Australia, you may be required to get a replacement permit within a certain time for continued use.
Generally, you will need to meet the following requirements to apply for a permit in Australia:
- you have a permanent physical impairment or a temporary impairment that is likely to continue for more than six months;
- the impairment severely restricts speed of movement;
- alternatively, you have been diagnosed as having a vision impairment;
- the impairment significantly inhibits the ability to access public transport.
The eligibility criteria, listed above, are intended as guidelines only and terms may vary depending on state or territory.
If you believe that you may be eligible for a disability parking permit, you may be required to print or complete the required documentation. From there, you will need authorisation from your doctor that you are eligible and they may need to sign the form you have completed to verify its accuracy.
Once completed, submit the paperwork to the relevant State or Territory Government for review and you will, hopefully, be issued a permit by mail. You may have to pay an application fee and renewal fee, which vary depending on where you live.
Given how varied the requirements are, along with the fines for misuse, it is important to check the relevant rules and regulations when travelling interstate or applying for the first time.
Do you have a parking permit? What was the application process like for you? Let the team at Talking Disability know and subscribe to the newsletter for more information, news and industry updates.
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Accessing disability support without NDIS funding