Many Australians look into getting a GP sick certificate online when they’re unwell. It provides evidence of your condition and helps meet the leave requirements of employers and educational institutions.
With OnCare Health, you can request a GP sick certificate from the comfort of your home. Every request is reviewed by a registered health practitioner, who will assess your symptoms and determine whether a certificate is clinically appropriate.
A GP sick certificate is a formal document issued by a registered health professional confirming that a person was unable to attend work or university due to illness or unexpected injury.
Under the Fair Work Act 2009, employers may request evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person that an employee was unfit for work, including for a single day. A GP medical certificate can be used to satisfy this requirement where appropriate.
Traditionally, obtaining a medical certificate from a GP would require you to:
While this process has its merits, obtaining a GP sick certificate online offers a convenient alternative when appropriate.
In Australia, a registered GP can legally issue a medical certificate when they have gathered enough information to make a clinical assessment. A face-to-face appointment is not always required. Where clinically appropriate, a GP may assess you through a telehealth consultation and determine whether a medical certificate can be issued.
As with any medical consultation, the decision to issue a certificate is based on the GP’s clinical judgement. If your condition cannot be adequately assessed online, you may be asked to attend an in-person appointment or seek further medical care.
Seeing a GP in person remains appropriate for many situations, especially when a physical examination, ongoing treatment, or further medical investigation is required. For straightforward, short-term illnesses, however, you can get a GP sick certificate online.
Access to same-day appointments can differ between clinics. It is not always possible to secure an appointment when you need one, which can be inconvenient when you only require a certificate for a brief absence from work or study.
Out-of-pocket costs also differ from one clinic to another. While many practices offer bulk billing, others may charge a gap fee after the Medicare rebate, depending on the consultation and location.
Attending a clinic also requires travelling for the appointment and spending time in the waiting room, which may not always be necessary for a straightforward condition that can be assessed online.
These considerations are not a reason to avoid appropriate medical care. Where a remote assessment is clinically appropriate, an online GP sick certificate offers a convenient alternative for accessing the documentation you need.
OnCare Health provides online medical certificates following an assessment by AHPRA-registered health practitioners, including pharmacists and doctors. Each request is reviewed individually, and a certificate is issued only when the practitioner determines that it is clinically appropriate.
The process is as follows:
Choose from sick leave certificates, carer’s leave certificates, or sick leave certificates for university.
Complete a short questionnaire covering your symptoms, personal details, and the date of absence. The information you provide helps the practitioner assess your request.
The application fee for an online certificate is $12.99. If you prefer a phone consultation, our pharmacist phone assessment service is available for $20.99. This allows you to discuss your symptoms and receive tailored guidance on the next steps. Depending on your symptoms or circumstances, a phone assessment may be required before your application can proceed.
Your application will be reviewed by an AHPRA-registered pharmacist. If your circumstances are outside the pharmacist’s scope of practice, your application may be referred to one of our registered doctors for further assessment. If approved, your certificate will be emailed to you.
OnCare Health also offers GP telehealth consultations at $45.00, providing another option for accessing medical care online when you need to speak with a GP.
OnCare Health provides three certificate types:
For employees unable to attend work due to a minor illness or unexpected injury. Suitable for single-day absences.
For those who need to take time away from work to care for an immediate family member or household member who is ill, injured, or experiencing an unexpected emergency.
For students who were unable to attend classes or lectures due to illness or unexpected injury.
Some employers or institutions may have a policy requiring a medical certificate to be issued by a specific type of health practitioner. While our standard process involves review by qualified health professionals, such as pharmacists, we can accommodate this requirement subject to practitioner availability. If you need a medical certificate issued by a medical practitioner, please contact us.
Before submitting a request, please note the following:
For many Australians, getting a GP sick certificate online is a practical solution for managing short-term absences from work or university.
OnCare Health provides certificates through a structured assessment process conducted by AHPRA-registered health practitioners. Certificates are issued following a clinical review and are designed to meet Australian workplace documentation requirements.
