Consult with a Sick Certificate Doctor

It depends on what you mean by “backdated”. If you need a medical certificate to cover days you were unwell before your consultation, a doctor may be able to provide one if, after assessing you, they reasonably believe you were unfit for work during that period. However, a doctor cannot “backdate” a certificate by giving it an earlier issue date to make it appear it was issued before it actually was. The certificate must show its actual date of issue, even when it covers an earlier period of illness.

Not always. You need to tell your employer as soon as possible that you're taking sick leave, and they can ask for evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person. A medical certificate is the most common evidence. Check your award, agreement or workplace policy for when evidence is required.

It depends on your employer. Under the Fair Work Act, your employer can ask for evidence for any sick leave, even one day or less. A medical certificate is acceptable evidence, and your award or agreement may set specific rules. If you don't provide evidence when asked, you may not be paid for that day. With Updoc, you can request a telehealth consultation for a doctor's certificate online, and a Partner Doctor will decide whether one is suitable.

With Updoc, you can connect with an AHPRA-registered Partner Doctor who will assess your symptoms and determine if a telehealth medical certificate is suitable for you. If it's suitable, your certificate is sent straight to your phone via SMS and email.

Carer’s leave is when an employee takes paid leave in order to care for or support a member of their immediate family or household who is sick, injured, or who has had an emergency. Sick leave is when an employee takes paid leave because they are unable to work due to personal illness or injury. All employees except casual employees are entitled to paid sick and carer’s leave.

Yes - online medical certificates are valid. With Updoc, your symptoms and request are reviewed and considered by an AHPRA-registered Partner Doctor, and any certificate they issue is signed by them in line with the AMA Guidelines.

Under the Fair Work Act 2009, a medical certificate is one signed by a registered medical practitioner, and certificates issued through Updoc are signed by AHPRA-registered Partner Doctors. Your employer can ask for evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person, and some workplaces, schools and universities have their own requirements, so it’s worth checking your policy. Updoc also offers free verification so employers and institutions can confirm a certificate was issued through Updoc.

Many medical certificate requests are reviewed within an hour, but wait times vary with demand and aren’t guaranteed. However, keep in mind that demand fluctuates. This means a Partner Doctor might get to you a little later than usual on occasion. If a certificate is suitable, it’s sent to you by SMS and email once issued.