Sick leave is something everyone ends up needing. You wake up feeling unwell, maybe with a fever or a pounding headache, and it’s clear you’re not going to get through a workday. In those moments, the only real option is to stay home and rest. That’s what sick leave is for – giving you the chance to recover without worrying about your pay. (It also helps protect your coworkers from getting sick.)
The tricky part is knowing when you need to provide proof. Many people aren’t sure if a medical certificate is required every time they take a day off, or only for longer absences.
This article explains how sick leave works in Australia, when employers can ask for a certificate, and the simple steps you can take to make the process easier.
Important Note: This article provides general health information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment of any health condition.
Sick leave, also called personal/carer’s leave, is there to support you when you can’t work because of illness or injury, or when you need to look after a family or household member who’s unwell.
Full-time employees receive 10 days of paid leave each year, while part-time employees get a pro-rata amount based on their hours. Casual employees don’t receive paid sick or carer’s leave, but they can take unpaid leave if they’re too sick to work or need to support someone in their household.
Unused accrued sick leave rolls over from one year to the next, so you can build up a balance. Sick leave continues to accrue even when you use it or are on paid annual leave. It does not accrue on unpaid leave unless specified in an award or agreement.
Consider placing a simple infographic here illustrating "Sick Leave Entitlements at a Glance (Australia)." This could show standard annual entitlements for full-time/part-time employees (e.g., 10 days for full-time, pro-rata for part-time).
Many people think you only need a medical certificate if you’re off work for a few days, but that isn’t true. In Australia, employers can ask for proof of sick leave for any absence, even if it’s just a single day.
This evidence, according to the Fair Work Act, needs to be something that would satisfy a “reasonable person” that you were unfit for work or needed to care for your immediate family. Most of the time, this means giving your employer a medical certificate from a registered health practitioner.
If you need a doctor’s certificate, you can book a consultation now and be connected with an AHPRA-registered Partner Doctor today.
You might not always be asked for one, but your employer is allowed to request a certificate even if you only take a single day off.
The law doesn’t set a minimum number of days. What matters is whether it’s reasonable for your employer to ask for proof. Certificates are more likely to be requested if you take short sick days frequently, or if your absence happens right before or after a public holiday.
Some workplaces are pretty flexible and only ask for a certificate when you’re off for a few days in a row. Others have stricter rules and want evidence every time. The best way to know is to check your workplace policy or your contract.
A medical certificate is a note from a registered health professional that confirms you weren’t able to work because you were sick, injured, or caring for someone. Employers rely on it as evidence that your time off was genuine.
For a certificate to be accepted in Australia, it usually needs to include:
Your diagnosis doesn’t need to be written on the certificate unless you specifically request to share it. The important part is that it’s clear, accurate, and easy for a non-medical person to understand.
The process of getting a medical certificate is usually straightforward. Here are some tips for making it even easier:
These small steps can save you the stress of back-and-forth later on.
Yes, if your certificate is given after a telehealth consult with an AHPRA-registered Partner Doctor (like when you use Updoc), it’s as valid as one from an in-person visit. What matters is that it’s issued by a registered medical practitioner.
Under the Fair Work Act 2009, employers must accept reasonable evidence that you were unfit for work. The Fair Work Ombudsman confirms that telehealth-issued medical certificates meet this standard, meaning your employer should treat them the same way as in-person certificates.
In Australia, your employer can ask for proof of sick leave at any time, even if you are only off for one day. A valid medical certificate from a registered health practitioner, including one issued through telehealth, is treated the same as one from a face-to-face visit.
It’s a good idea to check your workplace policy so you know what is expected. Sick leave is there to give you time to rest and recover, and understanding your rights helps make the process a lot smoother.
If you need a medical certificate, our online platform makes the process quick and simple. You can book an online consultation with an AHPRA-registered Partner Doctor anytime, from anywhere in Australia.
This article provides general information and does not constitute medical advice. Please speak to a registered health practitioner if you need a medical certificate.
Most of the time, no. If your certificate is valid and issued by a registered health practitioner, it should be accepted. Employers aren’t there to second-guess a doctor’s judgment, and they can’t refuse a certificate just because it came from a telehealth consult instead of an in-person visit.
An employer may only challenge or reject the certificate when there are exceptional or reasonable grounds (e.g., fraud, insufficient information, lack of credibility, or conflicting evidence)
Your employer might also want to verify your medical certificate, which they have a right to do.
Sometimes getting in to see a doctor simply isn’t possible. Maybe you were only sick for a day, or you couldn’t get an appointment in time. In those cases, you can often give your employer a statutory declaration instead.
This is a written statement where you confirm you were unfit for work or needed to care for someone. Since it’s a legal document, you need to be truthful, as making a false declaration can get you into serious trouble.
No. A medical certificate only needs to confirm that you weren’t fit for work. It doesn’t have to list your diagnosis or go into personal health details. You are also under no legal obligation to tell them what your diagnosis is.
The only time extra information might be needed is if there is a genuine safety issue at work or if adjustments need to be made to help you do your job. Even then, you would usually have to give your consent before anything is shared.
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