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Personal & Carer's Leave
Carer's Leave & Fair Work Protections

Understand who qualifies for carer's leave, how 'immediate family' and 'household member' are defined, and the Fair Work protections that apply to personal and carer's leave in Australia.

Available 24/7
12.90 Starting From
Healthcare professional assisting with personal leave certificate
10 Days Entitlement
Carer's Leave Inc.
Valid Nationwide
Mental Health Inc.

When Can You Use Personal Leave?

Click any situation below to learn if you qualify for personal leave

Sick leave

Feeling unwell?

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Yes! Personal leave covers all illness - flu, cold, gastro, infections, and chronic conditions.

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Mental health

Mental health struggles?

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Absolutely. Stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout are valid reasons for personal leave.

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Carer's leave

Sick family member?

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Yes, personal leave includes caring for sick children, partners, parents, or household members.

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Medical care

Medical appointments?

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If you're unwell and need treatment, medical appointments are covered by personal leave.

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Recovery

Post-surgery recovery?

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Recovery from medical procedures and surgeries is a valid use of personal leave.

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Emergency

Emergency situations?

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Unexpected family emergencies affecting immediate family can qualify for personal leave.

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How to Get Your Personal Leave Certificate

Three simple steps to your certificate

Complete Form

Tell us why you need personal leave - illness or caring duties.

Quick 2-minute form about your symptoms or caring situation. Completely confidential and secure.

Doctor Consultation

Chat with an Australian registered doctor online.

AHPRA doctors available 24/7. They'll assess your situation and may ask follow-up questions.

Get Certificate

Receive your personal leave certificate instantly.

Valid certificate emailed immediately. Accepted by all Australian employers for personal leave.

Online medical certificate pricing

Transparent, flat pricing for a telehealth consultation with an AHPRA-registered Australian doctor. Price is set for clarity, not as a headline feature.

1 day

Good for a single sick day

$12.90AUD
  • Valid for 1 day off work or uni
  • Reviewed and signed by an AHPRA doctor
  • Emailed to you in minutes
  • Accepted by employers and unis
Get my certificate
Most chosen

2–5 days

Flat rate. Backdating included where clinically justified.

$28.00AUD
  • Valid for up to 5 days (at one flat rate)
  • Backdating included, no extra fee
  • Reviewed and signed by an AHPRA doctor
  • Emailed to you in minutes, 24/7
  • Accepted by employers and unis
Get my certificate

Telehealth medical certificates are suitable for common short-term illness. If your condition needs in-person examination, imaging, or urgent care, we will recommend appropriate alternatives instead of issuing a certificate.

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Personal Leave Questions Answered

Everything you need to know about carer's leave and Fair Work protections

What is personal leave?

Personal leave (also known as sick/carer's leave) is a paid entitlement for Australian employees to take time off when they're unwell or need to care for an immediate family member. Full-time employees get 10 days per year, which accumulates if unused. Doccy provides instant medical certificates for personal leave online.

Who counts as immediate family for personal leave?

Immediate family includes your spouse/de facto partner, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, and any of these relations of your partner. Household members who live with you permanently also qualify. You can use personal leave to care for any of these people when they're sick.

Can casuals take personal leave?

Casual employees are not entitled to paid personal leave under the National Employment Standards. However, they can still take unpaid time off when sick and may need to provide medical certificates. The 25% casual loading compensates for the lack of paid leave entitlements.

What evidence do I need for personal leave?

Employers can request 'reasonable evidence' which is usually a medical certificate, especially for absences over 2 days or frequent single days. Some employers accept statutory declarations for short absences. Doccy provides legitimate medical certificates that satisfy all employer requirements.

Can I take personal leave for mental health?

Absolutely. Mental health conditions including stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and burnout are valid reasons for personal leave. These are treated the same as physical illness under Australian law. Doccy's doctors understand mental health and provide appropriate certificates.

Does personal leave get paid out when I resign?

No, unlike annual leave, personal leave doesn't get paid out when you leave a job. Your accumulated balance is forfeited. This is why it's important to use personal leave when you genuinely need it rather than 'saving' it.

Can my employer refuse personal leave?

Employers cannot refuse legitimate personal leave if you provide required evidence (like a medical certificate) and have available entitlement. They can only refuse if you don't follow notification procedures, lack evidence, or have exhausted your paid leave balance.

How much notice do I need to give for personal leave?

You must notify your employer as soon as practicable - ideally before your shift starts or within your workplace's specified timeframe. For unexpected illness, this might be the morning of. For planned medical procedures, give as much notice as possible.

Can personal leave be used for medical appointments?

Yes, if you're unwell and the appointment is for treatment of that condition. Routine check-ups or preventative appointments typically aren't covered unless you're experiencing symptoms. Some employers are flexible, so check your workplace policy.

What happens if I run out of personal leave?

Once you exhaust paid personal leave, you can take unpaid leave if still unwell, use annual leave (if your employer agrees), or apply for extended unpaid leave for serious conditions. Always communicate with your employer about available options.

Can you use personal leave for a funeral?

No, funerals are covered by compassionate leave (bereavement leave) - a separate 2-day entitlement. Personal leave is only for illness or caring for sick family. You could use annual leave if you need more than the compassionate leave allowance.

Does personal leave accumulate year to year?

Yes, personal leave rolls over indefinitely with no cap. If you don't use your 10 days this year, you'll have 20 next year, and so on. Some long-term employees accumulate hundreds of days, though this isn't paid out upon leaving.

Can I work another job while on personal leave?

No, if you're too sick to work at your primary job, you shouldn't work elsewhere. This could be considered fraud and lead to dismissal. The exception is if your certificate specifies modified duties and your employer is aware.

Is personal leave different from sick leave?

No, they're the same thing. 'Personal leave' is the current legal term that replaced 'sick leave' in Australian employment law. It covers both your own illness and caring for sick family members from the same 10-day entitlement.

Can personal leave be taken in half days?

Yes, with your employer's agreement, personal leave can be taken in half-days or even hourly increments. This is useful for medical appointments or when you're well enough for partial work. Check your workplace policy for specific arrangements.

Do I get paid my full wage on personal leave?

You receive your base rate of pay - ordinary hours earnings excluding overtime, penalties, allowances, or bonuses. Part-time employees get their usual part-time rate. Casual employees don't receive paid personal leave.

Can personal leave be backdated?

Doctors can certify recent illness (usually within 1-2 days) if they're satisfied you were genuinely unwell. However, certificates can't be backdated beyond what's clinically justifiable. Always see a doctor as soon as possible when sick.

What if my child is sick but not seriously ill?

You can use personal leave to care for any sick child, regardless of severity. Whether it's a cold, stomach bug, or more serious condition, caring for a sick child is a valid use of carer's leave (part of personal leave).

Can contractors get personal leave?

True independent contractors aren't entitled to personal leave as they're not employees. However, some contractors may actually be employees misclassified - check if you have set hours, use company equipment, and can't delegate work.

Does personal leave cover stress from work?

Yes, work-related stress, burnout, and mental health conditions caused or exacerbated by work are valid reasons for personal leave. You may also be eligible for workers' compensation if the condition is primarily work-caused.

Can I take personal leave while on probation?

Yes, personal leave entitlements start from day one of employment, including during probation periods. You can use personal leave immediately if needed, though some employers may scrutinize usage more closely during probation.

What's the minimum personal leave I can take?

There's no legal minimum, but it depends on your workplace policy. Some allow hourly increments for appointments, while others require minimum half or full days. Check your employment agreement or HR policy.

Can personal leave be denied with a medical certificate?

Employers must accept legitimate medical certificates for personal leave within your entitlement. They can only challenge it if they reasonably believe it's fraudulent or doesn't meet requirements. Doccy's certificates are legitimate and legally compliant.

Do public holidays affect personal leave?

If you're on personal leave and a public holiday falls within that period, the public holiday is paid separately and doesn't count as personal leave. This preserves your personal leave balance.

Can I use personal leave for IVF treatment?

Yes, IVF and fertility treatments are valid medical reasons for personal leave. The physical and emotional demands of treatment, procedures, and recovery all qualify. Some employers also offer additional fertility leave.

Need a carer certificate for employer evidence? Use our online certificate service.

Get a Carer Certificate Online

Thousands of Aussies Trust Doccy

Australians trust Doccy when they need healthcare fast. Our AHPRA registered Australian doctors provide medical certificates online through a simple doctor consultation - no GP appointment required. Read what patients say about our telehealth service.

Mike A.

"Was quick and easy to use. The AI voice chat was easy to understand and communicate with. Very simple platform and pricing was really good."

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"Awesome idea… well done !!!"

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"Great service will use again thank you"

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"Love their easy and fast service"

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Bluegum

"Easy peasy! All done in around 10 minutes."

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Get Your Medical Certificate

Need a Personal Leave Certificate?

Whether you're sick or caring for family, get your certificate in minutes. Available 24/7.

Available 24/7 • Australian registered doctors • From $12.90