Medical certificates for work: what to check first

Start with your workplace’s requirements

Let your employer know about your absence using your workplace’s usual process. Requesting a certificate through Medigate does not notify your employer for you.

Fair Work explains that employees must give notice of sick or carer’s leave as soon as possible and may be asked for evidence. Check the requirements that apply to your employment, including your award or agreement. A certificate and a leave approval are different things.

Have the essentials ready

Medigate offers online certificate assessments for adults aged 18 and over. Choose the work certificate option for an absence relating to your own illness. If your request concerns looking after someone else, explore the carer’s certificate option instead.

• The dates you would like the doctor to assess
• An accurate description of your symptoms and relevant medical history
• Your personal and contact details, including an email address you can access
• Any specific evidence requirements your workplace has given you

Understand what the doctor assesses

You can request a single day, two to three days, or four or more days. The selected duration is a request for assessment, not a promise that those dates will be approved.

An AHPRA-registered Australian doctor reviews the information and may contact you for more details. Approval and delivery time depend on that assessment. If you need a particular form completed, check with our support team before paying.

After a certificate is issued

If approved, your signed certificate is sent by email. Check the details and follow your workplace’s process for providing it. Contact Medigate if something on the document needs attention.

The QR code on the certificate gives the recipient a way to check its authenticity. Verification confirms the document’s authenticity; it does not decide a leave entitlement or replace your employer’s requirements.