In Australia, a "sick note" and a "medical certificate" are the same document. The terms "sick note" and "doctor's note" are UK and US phrasings that have drifted into Australian usage; the document your employer means is a medical certificate: a statement from a registered health practitioner that you were unfit for work or study for a stated period. Under the Fair Work framework your employer can ask for evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person, and a certificate issued by an AHPRA-registered GP, including one who assessed you by telehealth, meets that standard. For eligible Medicare cardholders, a NewDoc telehealth consultation is bulk billed, so the certificate pathway costs $0 out of pocket.
Why the terminology gets confusing
Australian awards, contracts and HR policies usually say "medical certificate", but everyday speech borrows "sick note" from British workplaces and "doctor's note" from American ones. Some employers also use "carer's certificate" (for looking after a family member) or "fitness for duty certificate" (for clearance to return). They are all issued the same way: a registered practitioner assesses you and signs a document stating what the assessment supports.
What your employer can and cannot ask
Under the National Employment Standards, an employer can ask for evidence of the reason for sick or carer's leave, and can do so even for a single day. The standard is evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person, and a medical certificate is the most common form. What the certificate does not need to include is your diagnosis: it states that you were assessed and found unfit for work for the dates given, and your medical details stay between you and the GP. If you cannot provide evidence when your employer has asked for it, your leave may be unpaid, which is why getting a certificate on the day matters.
Who can issue one
Any AHPRA-registered medical practitioner can issue a medical certificate, and that includes GPs consulting by video or phone. Pharmacists can issue absence-from-work certificates for short absences from minor illnesses within their scope of practice. For anything more than a brief minor illness, a GP consultation does both jobs at once: it covers the assessment for your certificate, and the GP can treat, prescribe, or refer in the same call. The certificate is emailed to you the same day.
Getting one the same day, without a waiting room
Book a bulk billed telehealth appointment, complete the short questionnaire, and a GP will assess you by video or phone. If a certificate is clinically appropriate it is emailed to you after the consultation. Appointments run seven days a week, and for eligible Medicare cardholders the consultation is bulk billed: $0 out of pocket, with no separate certificate fee. For details on specific certificate types, see medical certificates online, or our guide to whether online medical certificates are legitimate.
References
- Fair Work Ombudsman, Notice and medical certificates
- Fair Work Ombudsman, Paid sick and carer's leave
Frequently asked questions
Is a sick note the same as a medical certificate?
Yes. In Australia, "sick note", "doctor's note" and "doctor's certificate" are all informal names for a medical certificate: a document from a registered health practitioner stating you were unfit for work or study for a period. The terms "sick note" and "doctor's note" come from the UK and US; Australian workplaces and the Fair Work framework use "medical certificate".
Can a pharmacist give me a sick note?
In some circumstances, yes. Pharmacists can issue absence-from-work certificates for short absences caused by minor illnesses within their scope. For anything beyond a brief minor illness, a longer absence, or where treatment or follow-up may be needed, a GP-issued certificate is the safer document, and a telehealth GP can issue one the same day.
Can my employer reject a sick note because it came from a telehealth consult?
The telehealth format is not grounds for rejection. Fair Work requires evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person, and a certificate signed by an AHPRA-registered GP meets that standard whether the assessment happened in a clinic room or by video or phone. Employers can set notice policies, but they do not get to prescribe which registered practitioner or consultation format you use.
What details does a sick note need to include?
The practitioner's name and qualifications, the date of the assessment, the dates you are unfit for work, and their signature. It does not need to state your diagnosis, and your medical details remain private. If an employer needs specific wording, tell the GP during the consultation.
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Last reviewed 12 July 2026. Editorial policy
Written by
Chief Medical Officer, NewDoc
A practising GP with over a decade of clinical experience, specialising in allergies, metabolic health, and chronic disease management.