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, doctors cannot backdate the document. The certificate will be dated from the day of the consultation. If you need to take carer's leave, book a telehealth appointment as soon as possible to ensure your certificate covers the correct dates.