Medical certificates for work
Medical certificates for work through an online GP
If illness, injury or other symptoms are affecting your ability to work, you can talk to a HerDoc GP online about your health and a medical-certificate request. The GP will decide whether the information supports a certificate and the period it should cover.
Can I get a medical certificate online for work?
Yes. A HerDoc GP can assess your health and issue a medical certificate for work when the assessment supports it. You can discuss the days or shifts affected and what your job involves; the GP decides the wording and period they can certify.
How your health is affecting work
A medical certificate can provide evidence of a health-related absence. The GP needs to understand the illness, injury or symptoms behind the request and how they affect your ability to do your job.
You can describe what is difficult, such as standing through a shift, concentrating on detailed tasks or managing your usual hours. You do not need to decide the medical conclusion before the appointment.
Have the dates and work demands handy
A few notes can help the GP understand your situation. Include the dates you want to discuss, rather than assuming the requested period can be certified.
- When symptoms began and whether they are improving or worsening
- Which shifts or days are affected
- The usual tasks you are struggling with, including driving, machinery or other safety responsibilities
- Medicines, previous care and relevant records
- Any written instructions or form from your workplace
Check the notice and evidence requirements
Fair Work advises employees covered by the national workplace relations system to notify their employer promptly about sick or carer’s leave and its expected length. Evidence may be requested even for an absence shorter than a day.
The evidence must satisfy a reasonable person that the leave was justified. Medical certificates and statutory declarations are examples; awards or registered agreements may specify requirements, and requests must be reasonable. Check the guidance and your workplace arrangements.
Ask what the certificate will say
The GP decides what the health information supports, including the period and wording. If privacy is a concern, ask what information will appear before the certificate is issued.
A request for an ordinary sickness certificate is different from a request for detailed health information. Share any additional instructions with the GP and ask how your information will be handled.
If you have been asked for a particular form
Have the form and instructions available. Workplace injury, modified duties, insurance and fitness assessments may need records, examination or a different assessor. A sickness certificate does not automatically meet those requirements.
If the GP cannot support the requested certificate, they can explain why and discuss the next step for your health. Ask the requesting organisation what to do about its documentation deadline.
When telehealth may not be suitable
- Injuries that need physical examination
- Safety-critical fitness questions needing physical assessment
- Documents requiring a state, workplace or compensation process
When to seek urgent care
Call 000 or go to an emergency department for an emergency such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, stroke signs, severe bleeding or immediate danger. For other severe or rapidly worsening symptoms, seek urgent local care rather than waiting for a certificate appointment.
- Severe, sudden or rapidly worsening symptoms
- A serious or worsening workplace injury
- Symptoms that make a safety-critical role unsafe
Talk to a GP about work symptoms and evidence
Discuss the illness, injury or symptoms affecting your work, the dates involved and the evidence you have been asked to provide.
Related pages
FAQs
Is a certificate guaranteed if I have missed work?
No. Missing work explains the request, but the GP needs to assess the health concern and its impact before deciding whether a certificate is supported.
Can my employer ask for evidence for one day off?
Yes. For employees covered by the national workplace relations system, Fair Work says evidence can be requested for a day or less. The request must be reasonable; check your award or registered agreement and workplace instructions.
Will an online certificate meet my workplace’s requirements?
It depends on the document and the requirements that apply to your employment. For employees in the national workplace relations system, Fair Work says the evidence must satisfy a reasonable person that the leave was justified. If requirements are unclear or disputed, check the Fair Work guidance or seek independent advice.
What if only some duties or hours are difficult?
Describe those duties and how your health affects them. Advice about restrictions or fitness for a safety-sensitive role may need a more detailed assessment than an ordinary sickness certificate.
Can I ask for particular dates or wording?
Yes. Have the dates and any written request handy. The GP decides what they can support; the wording or time you request may differ from the certificate issued.
What if I am worried about sharing health information at work?
Ask the GP what the certificate would include and raise your privacy concerns before it is issued. If your workplace requests more information, ask what it needs and discuss that request with the GP.