Can I get a carer's certificate for my child?

A telehealth consultation can be booked for an unwell child. The doctor will assess the situation and determine whether a carer's certificate is appropriate.

Do schools and workplaces recognise these certificates?

Definitely, Carer's certificates issued following a telehealth consultation by an AHPRA-registered doctor are commonly accepted by workplaces and schools, subject to their internal policies, and are ready to consider these certificates as authentic proof for Carer's Leave under the Fair Work Act.

What is the period for which the certificates remain valid?

A Carer's Certificate is valid only for the period specified in the doctor's document. However, it cannot be used for future absences or "absence with an indefinite term".

Does the doctor need to speak with the person I care for?

Indeed. The doctor will conduct an appropriate clinical assessment based on the consultation. The primary reason is to assess whether a person is ill and requires ongoing care. A patient must attend a consultation.

Request a Carer's Certificate: Process & Purpose

Introduction

The juggling act between work and family health needs is something most Australians know well. A situation where a dependent, such as a child, your partner, or a parent, falls ill might mean that you require some days off from work to take care of them. If so, your boss may ask you for a Carer's Certificate as a condition of granting you leave.

A Carer's Certificate is a formal document issued by a medical practitioner that may be used to support a request for carer's leave when care is required for an immediate family member.

This guide outlines common reasons for carer's certificates, eligibility criteria, and how to request them via a telehealth consultation.

Contextual Bridge: This document falls within the general range of digital health services we provide. For an overall concept of digital documentation, refer to our Online Medical Certificates guide.

Definition of Carer's Certificate and Its Necessity

A Carer's Certificate is a physician's statement recorded on paper and issued by a qualified medical practitioner. This document differs from the standard medical certificate, which lists the patient as the certificate holder. In the case of the Carer's Certificate, it is established that the doctor-patient relationship is with someone else who is ill and requires the doctor to state the carer's presence.

Carers' Leave: What is It For?

Under the Fair Work Act 2009, employees may be eligible to take carer's leave in certain circumstances, subject to workplace policies and employment arrangements in the following cases:

A member of their immediate family or household suffers from a personal illness or injury.
There is a family emergency.

Employers are entitled to demand proof that would convince a "reasonable person" that the leave was for this purpose. Employers may request reasonable evidence to support a carer's leave request, such as a medical certificate issued after a clinical assessment.

Contextual Bridge: Different regulations exist for personal sickness and carer duties. To learn about the distinctions, see our comparison of medical certificate types.

Could a Carer's Certificate Be Issued to Me?

If you are the only person providing primary support to the sick person, you can book a doctor's appointment to obtain a Carer's Certificate.

Examples may include situations where

A child or dependent is experiencing a short-term illness or requires supervision following a health concern.
A spouse taking care of a partner who is temporarily incapacitated, like in the case of severe migraine or post-surgery recovery.
Adult children giving care to their elderly parent if the latter lives with them.

Compliance with the Law and Medical Guidelines

At the same time, as part of the consultation, the doctor will assess the patient's condition using information available during the appointment, which may include visual observation during a video consultation where appropriate.

The doctor issues a carer's certificate based on their clinical assessment and professional judgement during the consultation.

Contextual Bridge: Our doctors are fully qualified to perform such assessments. You can verify our high standards by visiting our quality compliance page or by conducting an AHPRA registration check for any of our doctors.

Steps to Obtain a Carer's Certificate through Telemedicine

With telehealth appointments, one can request these documents without travelling to a clinic, which may be difficult when caring for someone unwell.

Step-by-step Instruction

Appointment Booking: Go to the Prime Medic portal, log in, and click on "Book Appointment".
Video Call: Take the meeting from your place. The doctor's assessment of the patient's condition requires observation of the patient's symptoms and overall condition.
Communicating Care Requirements: Tell the doctor that you are going to show your employer a certificate to explain your absence as a carer.
Clinical Examination: The doctor assesses whether the patient's condition requires carer support during the relevant period.
Message Delivery: If a certificate is issued following the consultation, the digital document is delivered via a secure channel, either by email or through the app's dashboard.

Contextual Bridge: Why wait? Schedule a telehealth appointment now if you prefer. If you would like to learn more about the video call, please visit our page on online doctor consultations.

Typical Details of a Carer's Certificate

To meet common employer or institutional requirements and to ensure the protection of one's rights at the same time, a legitimate Carer's Certificate typically comprises

Physician's Information: The doctor's name and provider number, along with appropriate authentication or digital signature.
Date: The day when the consultation was held.
Care Statement: The statement that the patient has a health disorder and thus will be cared for / supported by the carer.
Length: Care time is from date to date as shown on the certificate.

Privacy Point: A certificate does not require disclosing the illness (e.g., "chickenpox") if you do not want to.

Contextual Bridge: Your family's data is very private. We always process personal data in accordance with our strict privacy policies.

Confidentiality of Carer Certificates and Their Authentication

The employer will likely want to verify the validity of the Carer's Certificate after the employee has provided it. However, the employee's right to privacy remains unchanged throughout the whole process.

Details of the Verification Procedure

Whether in print or digital format, the information provided includes a unique number or a QR code that enables the employer to verify with the doctor whether the certificate is legitimate. By doing this, the employer can verify the certificate's authenticity without accessing clinical notes or diagnostic details.

That is why it matters whether the patient is a minor or a dependent: this health information is safeguarded under the Privacy Act and the OAIC standards.

Contextual Bridge: For more information on how we protect your personal information during the verification process, see our medical certificate privacy standards.