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Get a same-day mental health day medical certificate

A short telehealth consultation with an Australian-trained GP, with the medical certificate by email. Bulk billed for eligible Medicare cardholders. Diagnosis is not disclosed to your employer.

Can I get a same-day medical certificate for a mental health day?

Yes. Mental health absences are taken as personal leave under the National Employment Standards. After a short telehealth consultation, an AHPRA-registered GP can issue a same-day medical certificate stating you are unfit for work. The certificate does not disclose the reason.

Bulk billed for eligible Medicare cardholders. If symptoms have been present for several weeks rather than a single hard day, the GP may discuss a Mental Health Treatment Plan for ongoing subsidised psychology sessions.

Mental health days are personal leave

Australia's National Employment Standards entitle full-time employees to 10 days of paid personal leave per year (pro-rated for part-time employees). The same accrual covers any illness, mental or physical — there is no separate entitlement called "mental health day" in workplace law, but the leave you would take is the same personal leave.

Whether your employer requires a medical certificate for a single day depends on the employment contract, the applicable award, or the enterprise agreement. Many workplaces require evidence for every personal leave absence, including a single day. NewDoc can issue a same-day certificate when one is required.

What the consultation looks like

A short, focused telehealth consultation by video or phone. The GP takes a structured history covering current symptoms, sleep, recent stressors, and how you are coping. The focus is a safe, time-efficient assessment of whether time off is clinically indicated, plus a brief safety screen. There is no requirement to disclose detailed personal circumstances beyond what is relevant to that clinical decision.

If a certificate is appropriate, it is emailed within minutes. The certificate states you were assessed by the GP and are unfit for work on the specified date(s). It does not state the diagnosis.

When one day isn't enough

A single mental health day is appropriate when you are coping with an acute, transient stressor — a tough week, a single difficult event, or short-term sleep disruption that leaves you unable to work safely. If symptoms have been present for several weeks (low mood, persistent anxiety, withdrawal from usual activities, ongoing sleep problems), a single day often will not change the underlying picture.

In that situation the GP may discuss two complementary options: a longer stress-related medical certificate to cover an extended absence, and a Mental Health Treatment Plan for up to 10 bulk-billed sessions with a registered psychologist over the year. Both can be arranged in the same consultation.

Your privacy and your employer

Australian privacy law protects medical information. The certificate states that you are unfit for work on a specified date; it does not disclose the diagnosis. Your employer cannot lawfully require you to reveal the underlying condition behind a personal leave absence.

Under the Fair Work Act, employers must accept a valid certificate from any AHPRA-registered medical practitioner. Telehealth-issued certificates are explicitly recognised as valid by the Fair Work Ombudsman. NewDoc certificates include the GP's name and AHPRA registration number so employers can verify them on the public AHPRA register.

Crisis support — not a substitute for emergency care

Telehealth is not appropriate in a mental health emergency. If you are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467, or 000 in an emergency. For an explanation of when to use what type of care, see where to get care.

References

This content is informational and does not replace individual medical advice. For personal assessment, book a consultation with your GP. In emergencies, call 000.

Reviewed by Dr. Jason Yu FRACGP

Last reviewed 4 May 2026. Editorial policy

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Frequently asked questions

Can I take a mental health day from work?

Yes. In Australia, mental health absences are taken as personal leave (sick leave) under the National Employment Standards — the same entitlement used for any other illness. Full-time employees accrue 10 days of paid personal leave per year. Many employers' policies require a medical certificate for any single day of personal leave, so a same-day telehealth consultation can issue one if clinically appropriate.

Do I need a medical certificate for a single mental health day?

It depends on your employer's policy and the relevant award or enterprise agreement. Many workplaces require evidence for any personal leave absence, even one day; some only require a certificate for absences of two or more consecutive days. The safest course is to check your employer's policy. NewDoc can issue a same-day certificate when one is needed.

Will the certificate say it was for mental health?

No. The certificate states that you were assessed by a GP and found to be unfit for work on the specified date. Under Australian privacy law, your specific diagnosis is not included on the certificate and your employer cannot lawfully require you to disclose it.

How quickly can I get a same-day mental health day certificate?

NewDoc offers same-day telehealth appointments seven days a week. Most patients are seen within an hour of booking, and the certificate is emailed to you immediately after the consultation. If you book first thing in the morning, you can usually have the certificate before you would otherwise need to be at work.

What does the GP discuss in a mental health day consultation?

A short, structured conversation about your current symptoms, recent stressors, and how you are coping. The GP screens for safety concerns and discusses what time off and follow-up options are appropriate. If symptoms appear to be more than a single difficult day, the GP may suggest a Mental Health Treatment Plan to access subsidised psychology sessions.

When does a mental health day become a Mental Health Treatment Plan conversation?

If symptoms have been present for several weeks (low mood, persistent anxiety, sleep disturbance, withdrawal from usual activities), the GP may discuss a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP). The MHTP is a Medicare-funded plan that allows up to 10 bulk-billed sessions per calendar year with a registered psychologist. A single mental health day is short-term coverage; an MHTP coordinates ongoing support.

Is the consultation bulk billed?

Yes, for eligible Medicare cardholders. NewDoc bulk bills the consultation directly to Medicare, so there is no out-of-pocket cost for the consultation or the certificate.

Will my employer accept a telehealth-issued mental health day certificate?

Yes. Under the Fair Work Act and Fair Work Ombudsman guidance, an employer must accept a valid medical certificate from an AHPRA-registered medical practitioner, regardless of whether the consultation was in person or via telehealth. The NewDoc certificate includes the GP's name and AHPRA registration number for verification.

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