Frequently Asked Questions

A medical certificate—also known as a doctor’s certificate or sick note—is an official document issued by a licensed medical practitioner to confirm that a patient is unfit for work, school, or other responsibilities due to illness or injury. It may include details such as the nature of the condition, its severity, and the expected recovery time.

Medical certificates are often required for:

• Sick leave or carer’s leave
• Insurance claims or disability benefits
• Verification of absence by employers, schools, or other organisations

For Australian Employees

If you’re unable to work due to a medical issue, your employer may request a valid medical certificate. You must notify your employer as soon as possible—even if this is after your leave has started—and let them know how long you expect to be away.

If you’re asked to provide evidence and don’t do so, you may not be entitled to paid sick or carer’s leave.

Employer Requests for Evidence of Sick or Carer’s Leave

An employer is entitled to request evidence from an employee to confirm that their leave was taken due to:

• Being unfit for work because of illness or injury, or
• The need to care for or support an immediate family or household member experiencing illness, injury, or an unexpected emergency.

Evidence may be requested even for a single day or less of absence.

If the employee does not provide the requested evidence, they may not be entitled to paid sick or carer’s leave.

In some cases, awards or registered agreements may set out specific requirements for when and what type of evidence must be provided. Any evidence requested by the employer must be reasonable and appropriate to the circumstances.

The issuance of a medical certificate is based on the doctor’s clinical assessment of your condition. This includes a review of the information provided in your online declaration and the findings from your phone or video consultation.

Please note that not all requests will result in a certificate. If the doctor determines that an in-person assessment is more appropriate, you may be advised to visit your local GP for further evaluation.

Yes—online medical certificates are legally recognised in Australia and are considered acceptable evidence for sick leave, carer’s leave, and other situations requiring proof of illness or injury. They are commonly accepted by employers, insurance providers, and other organisations.

However, the certificate can only be issued following a doctor’s clinical assessment to determine whether it is appropriate. This assessment is based on the information you provide and a phone or video consultation.

Please note that not all requests will be approved. If the doctor believes an in-person consultation is necessary, you may be advised to visit your local GP for further assessment.

Yes.  An online medical certificate is valid if it has been issued by an Australian registered doctor. This serves as a valid proof for your employer.

Start by filling out a short questionnaire to help the doctor understand your current illness. The doctor will contact you to gather more information and offer clinical advice.

Please note: This is a clinical request, and doctors may decline to issue a certificate if it is not deemed safe or appropriate based on their assessment.

If approved, your medical certificate will be sent quickly and securely to your nominated email address.

With Medmate you can get an online medical certificate for:

• Work
• School
• University
• Carer’s Certificates

Medmate online medical certificates are $19.90 single day or $34.90 multi-day.

This can sometimes be confusing. The important point is this: the issue date on a certificate can never be changed. It must always reflect the day the doctor actually wrote the certificate.

What doctors can do, after a proper consultation, is certify that your illness began before today. This isn’t “backdating” in the legal sense — it’s a retrospective statement of your illness period. For most Australians, this is exactly what they need when they’ve been unwell for a couple of days before finally seeing a doctor.

Today’s issue date, the illness period, your details, and the doctor’s details. Medmate’s digital certificates include all of these automatically.

Your Privacy Is Our Priority

Medmate adheres to strict privacy and confidentiality standards. Your medical information is kept strictly between you and your doctor.

Under the Fair Work Act, it is not appropriate or lawful for employers to request specific details about your illness.

If required, Medmate can verify the authenticity of a medical certificate, but we will never disclose any personal medical information to your employer or any third party.