NewDocLog in

Get a carer's leave medical certificate online. Same day

See a GP via telehealth and receive a carer's leave certificate by email. Bulk billed for eligible Medicare patients. Meets Fair Work Act requirements.

What is carer's leave and when do you need a certificate?

Carer's leave allows Australian employees to take time off work to care for a member of their immediate family or household who is ill, injured, or affected by an unexpected emergency. Under the Fair Work Act, your employer can request evidence of the illness or injury, which is typically a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner.

With NewDoc, you can get a carer's leave medical certificate online without visiting a clinic. This is especially convenient when you are already at home caring for a family member and cannot easily leave. Book a telehealth consultation, and the GP will assess the situation and issue a certificate if appropriate.

What the Fair Work Act requires

Under the National Employment Standards, full-time and part-time employees are entitled to 10 days of paid personal/carer's leave per year, which accumulates over time. Casual employees are entitled to 2 days of unpaid carer's leave per occasion. Your employer may request a medical certificate or statutory declaration as evidence if you take carer's leave.

The certificate must confirm that the person you are caring for is ill or injured and requires your care or support. A certificate from an AHPRA-registered GP, whether issued in person or via telehealth, meets these requirements. Your employer cannot refuse a valid medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner.

How the telehealth consultation works

Book a consultation on the NewDoc website and select a convenient time. Same-day appointments are available seven days a week. During the consultation, the GP will discuss your caring responsibilities and the circumstances requiring you to take leave. The person you are caring for does not need to be present on the call.

If the GP determines that a carer's leave certificate is appropriate, it will be emailed to you immediately after the consultation. The certificate will state that the person requires care or support due to illness or injury, along with the relevant dates. If you are eligible for Medicare bulk billing, there is no cost for the consultation or the certificate.

Important things to know about carer's leave certificates

Carer's leave certificates are separate from your own sick leave. They come from your personal/carer's leave balance but certify that someone else (not you) is unwell. The certificate identifies the person requiring care and confirms they need your support.

As with all medical certificates, the document cannot be issued with a date in the past, it is always dated the day of the consultation. However, the GP can document the symptoms reported about the person you are caring for and when they first appeared, and based on that clinical assessment the certificate can state the period for which your care has been required, including days before the consultation. Book as soon as you are able and explain when the symptoms started.

Your rights regarding carer's leave certificates

Under the Fair Work Act, your employer must accept a medical certificate from any registered medical practitioner as evidence for carer's leave. They cannot require you to visit a specific doctor or clinic. Additionally, your employer cannot require the person you are caring for to attend a medical appointment or provide their own medical records. The certificate only needs to confirm that someone in your care requires your support due to illness or injury.

The medical details of the person you are caring for are protected under Australian privacy legislation. A carer's leave certificate does not need to disclose their diagnosis or the specifics of their condition. If your employer requests more detail than the certificate provides, the Fair Work Ombudsman can advise you on your rights and what constitutes a reasonable request for evidence.

What information is included on a carer's leave certificate

A carer's leave certificate from a NewDoc GP typically includes your full name (the employee taking leave), the name and relationship of the person requiring care, confirmation that the person is ill or injured and requires your care or support, the relevant dates, and the GP's name, signature, and AHPRA registration number. The certificate does not need to specify the diagnosis or medical details of the person being cared for.

If you need to take carer's leave on an ongoing basis, or if the person you are caring for has a longer-term condition, you may wish to discuss this with your GP during the consultation. They can advise on appropriate documentation and whether a follow-up appointment may be helpful.

Reviewed by Dr. Jason Yu FRACGP

Last reviewed 16 April 2026. Editorial policy

Ready to see a GP?

Book a bulk-billed telehealth consult in under 2 minutes — $0 with Medicare if eligible.

Or call 0481 615 998

Frequently asked questions

What is a carer's leave medical certificate?

A carer's leave medical certificate is a document from a registered medical practitioner confirming that a member of your immediate family or household is ill or injured and requires your care or support. Under the Fair Work Act, employers can request this certificate when you take carer's leave.

Who can I take carer's leave for?

Under the Fair Work Act, you can take carer's leave to care for a member of your immediate family or household who is ill, injured, or affected by an unexpected emergency. Immediate family includes your spouse or de facto partner, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings, as well as their spouse or de facto partner.

Does the person I'm caring for need to be on the call?

No. A carer's leave certificate is about assessing your need to provide care, not diagnosing the person who is unwell. During the consultation, the GP will speak with you about the situation and determine whether a carer's leave certificate is appropriate. The person you are caring for does not need to be present or participate in the call.

Can my employer refuse a carer's leave certificate from telehealth?

No. Under the Fair Work Act, employers must accept a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner as evidence for carer's leave. Certificates issued via telehealth by AHPRA-registered GPs are legally valid. The Fair Work Ombudsman confirms that telehealth certificates are acceptable.

How much carer's leave am I entitled to?

Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to 10 days of paid personal/carer's leave per year under the National Employment Standards. This leave accumulates and can be carried over. Casual employees are entitled to 2 days of unpaid carer's leave per occasion. Your employer may offer additional leave under your award or enterprise agreement.

Can I get a carer's leave certificate for caring for a sick child?

Yes. Children are considered immediate family under the Fair Work Act. If your child is unwell, injured, or affected by an unexpected emergency and needs your care, a GP can issue a carer's leave certificate. The child does not need to be present during the telehealth consultation.

Can I use a statutory declaration instead of a medical certificate for carer's leave?

Yes. Under the Fair Work Act, employees can provide either a medical certificate or a statutory declaration as evidence for carer's leave. However, many employers prefer a medical certificate. If you are unsure which your employer requires, a medical certificate is generally the more widely accepted option and can be obtained quickly through a NewDoc telehealth consultation.

Other services