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Save up to $15.90 on a Medical Certificate: Use a Statutory Declaration as Evidence for Sick/Carer's Leave @ Fair Work Ombudsman

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Save up to $15.90 on a Medical Certificate: Use a Statutory Declaration as Evidence for Sick/Carer's Leave @ Fair Work Ombudsman
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Goliegosh on 24/06/2024 - 12:04 fairwork.gov.au (23550 clicks)
Last edited 22/06/2026 - 13:07 by 3 other users

Hey OzBargainers,

Under Fair Work Australia guidelines found here, you can use a statutory declaration instead of a medical certificate as evidence for sick and carer's leave. Using a Statutory Declaration can save you up to $15.90 when compared to a medical certificate (like the one here) and potentially up to $40 for a GP consultation. It will also reduce time spent in waiting rooms. It’s a cost-effective and convenient solution that's not widely known, providing significant savings and benefits.

credit/thanks to @tunzafun001

edit 1: Was not aware this was not included in original post. You can also use myGov to generate a stat Dec, no need to get it witnessed or signed off. Instant and free. https://my.gov.au/en/about/help/digital-id/commonwealth-statutory-declarations/create-a-digital-commonwealth-statutory-declaration-through-mygov

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Comments

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  • pharkurnell on 24/06/2024 - 12:05

    and 99% of people DO NOT need to go into a GP and keep infections circulating

    Are you sure about that?

    • 5
    • Clear on 24/06/2024 - 12:07

      Yes we need this to be fact checked.

      • 0
      • thisisscotts on 24/06/2024 - 12:08

        I fact checked this and found that 90% of statistics are made up on the spot.

        • 41
      • zemphism on 24/06/2024 - 12:18

        Yeah it legit. I do it whenever I’m sick for 2 days plus if I do r need to see the Dr. just get the stat dec and write I was unable yadda yadda yadda because I was unwell.
        Get it stamped and swear that you are telling the truth. Than had it into your overseer at work.

        • 0
        • Clear on 24/06/2024 - 12:19

          I feel like you missed the start of the comment tree.

          and 99% of people DO NOT need to go into a GP and keep infections circulating

          99% of sick people do not need to see a doctor?

          • 1
          • zemphism on 24/06/2024 - 12:20

            @Clear: Didn’t miss anything. Just pointing out the process I use whenever I’m sick.

            • -1
          • King Steuart on 24/06/2024 - 12:22

            @Clear: 99% of the time, they're sick 100% of the time.

            • 1
          • HolyCr4p on 24/06/2024 - 12:48

            @Clear: 99% of sick people need to stay at home

            • 1
      • seefu on 22/12/2025 - 15:17

        It's close, I reckon maybe 95%.

        Source: Am a nurse and paramedic

        • 0
        • Clear on 22/12/2025 - 16:15

          Replying to a comment 18 months old. Crazy

          • 0
    • Miami Mall Alien on 24/06/2024 - 12:19

      It's a valid point.

      Paying $70-100 dollars just to go into a building and sit surrounded by other contagiously ill people to get a note for your employer is a horrendously inefficient use of the medical system and outdated. As is the concept of requiring medical "proof" for an absence of less than 3 days.

      • 29
      • pharkurnell on 24/06/2024 - 12:19

        That would depend on whats wrong with you… Ignoring some symptoms can have a deadly outcome.

        • 1
        • Aureus on 24/06/2024 - 12:27

          Yeah, but people should be visiting the GP because they feel like they need it, not because employer forces them to.

          • 13
        • Miami Mall Alien on 24/06/2024 - 12:54

          That would depend on whats wrong with you… Ignoring some symptoms can have a deadly outcome.

          Regardless, it's none of the employer's business anyway if you're just taking a day or two off work. Maybe if you're needing several months off for major surgery and recovery than it is but obviously that doesn't apply to a majority of sick leave which is predominantly taken for minor colds/flus.

          The real problem is that advocating for worker's rights is non-existent in Australia so we put up with asinine levels of petty bureaucracy from employers for no good reason, especially compared to civilised countries in Europe with strong IR laws.

          • 3
          • Ozbargainrule on 22/12/2025 - 14:52

            @Miami Mall Alien: "Regardless, it's none of the employer's business anyway if you're just taking a day or two off work."

            A very interesting viewpoint which seems reasonably ignorant of the stress that puts on the other employees and your employer, especially in a small and micro businesses. One may even say it seems like a reasonably selfish viewpoint: it is none of the business of the employer who pays me for my services if I decide not to deliver those services. Just keep on paying me mate, no questions asked.

            • 0
            • TheOtherLeft on 22/06/2026 - 14:17

              @Ozbargainrule: Have you read a Dr's medical certificate? All they says is the person is unwell between day X and Y. They don't need to give a reason.

              • 1
      • Pixie13 on 24/06/2024 - 12:21

        Agree. Employers want to make it incredibly difficult to use sick leave because it's a cost to them.

        • 6
        • Clear on 24/06/2024 - 12:26

          Sounds like your employer sucks. I had to take a couple of months off and mine said not to worry about it. Health comes first.

          • 4
          • RTX9090Ti on 24/06/2024 - 12:45

            @Clear: is your employer AliExpress?

            • 0
            • Clear on 24/06/2024 - 12:48

              @RTX9090Ti: Haha you don't get such rights in China. George Soros pays me $50 to attend rallies.

              • 1
              • RTX9090Ti on 24/06/2024 - 12:49

                @Clear: $50 not bad for decent lunch these days :p

                • 0
              • Naigrabzo on 22/12/2025 - 13:22

                @Clear: George Soros or George Santos? ;)

                • 0
          • dan76n on 14/07/2024 - 07:26

            @Clear: Having a couple of months personal leave available says to your employer you don’t abuse the system and would be enough evidence your request is legit.

            • 0
        • augernised on 24/06/2024 - 12:41

          Bad employers do this, good employers know that forcing workers into a small room with other very likely sick people will only make them miss more days of work and cost even more, when their workers could actually just be in bed resting with an over the counter cold medicine and bounce back the next day

          Ive worked in corporate world for my entire adult life and the number of people using sick leave to just 'get out of work' is so low, unless they're on an exit plan. Most people genuinely want to recover quickly and get back into it. Being babied by an employer like this is big red flag in my opinion

          • 1
      • RefusdClassification on 25/06/2024 - 22:28

        Yes, completely agree. Forcing workers with garden variety respiratory infections to go see a doctor for a few days sick leave was awful policy. It wastes the worker's time, the doctor's time, government resources (Medicare rebates + limited GP spots), the worker's money, and potentially exposes lots of other people to the pathogen. If the doctor is infected he/she could pass it on to their other patients and spread it even further throughout the community.

        • 1
      • CacheHunter on 24/07/2024 - 19:48

        Even worse is when you call all the local GPs and either their books are full or their first available slot is in 6 weeks.

        • 0
        • Chizzle on 23/06/2025 - 17:01

          I think I live near the very last walk-in bulk-billed GP in Aus

          • 0
          • bohn on 23/06/2025 - 17:18

            @Chizzle: one near us does phone appts, don't even need to walk in!

            • 0
    • B Wat on 15/09/2024 - 15:45

      They've done studies, you know. Sixty percent of the time, it works every time

      • 0
    • kungfuman on 23/06/2025 - 13:08

      i get them for free because my doctor bulk bills.

      • 1
    • damjam on 22/06/2026 - 21:34

      Yep, thought I’d save a Dr visit and use an online cert. But I should have presented and been given meds, then I may have avoided being sick for a month…

      • 0
  • AircraftFreight on 24/06/2024 - 12:09

    Not worthy of being posted in the "Deals" section of OzB. Forums would be better but thats just me

    • 14
    • timliu1996 on 24/06/2024 - 12:39

      I kinda get your point which is very valid but I never really check forums here so I would have missed this info

      • 15
      • AircraftFreight on 24/06/2024 - 12:48

        And thats probably why, maybe OzB mods should create some sort of forum box on the deals page where these sort of deals but not so deals can be seen.

        • 0
        • Wonderfool on 23/06/2025 - 14:55

          That makes 0 sense. So you want to make the deals page display forum posts? does that mean we need a forum page that contains deals that aren't really deals, just to display them in deals page?

          It's doable, but make 0 sense

          • 0
    • AustriaBargain on 23/06/2025 - 13:32

      This does keep this knowledge as a result when someone searches deals for "medical certificate", so it's bound to save someone some money.

      • 0
  • [Deactivated] on 24/06/2024 - 12:11

    This isn't true for all job as you sort of mentioned but needs to be clearer for some people. Some not only require a certificate but also the nature of the illness.
    Should be Forum post as mentioned above

    • -4
    • ballofspam on 24/06/2024 - 12:20

      Actually they can ask, you’re not obligated to detail anything. Unless it’s essential for them to know I.e work over etc..

      But obviously it will help maintain your relationship with the company if you do, but the point is you don’t have too.

      • 6
        • Clear on 24/06/2024 - 12:33

          There's a difference between providing evidence of your illness (medical certificate) versus providing details of your illness. If they were demanding that you tell them what your illness was then you have a pretty good case with fair work.

          https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/talking-to-your-employer-abo…

          • 4
            • Clear on 24/06/2024 - 12:42

              @[Deactivated]: Unions aren't always looking out for the employees best interests (cough SDA cough). Your best best is seeking advice from Fair Work instead. Unfortunately employers breaking the law around workers rights is widespread. Even in government and large corporations.

              • 1
    • [Deactivated] on 24/06/2024 - 12:53

      Deleted my comments because there in no convincing an echo chamber.
      I am right keep downvoting losers

      • -3
  • Cheap Skate on 24/06/2024 - 12:11

    " STATUTORY DECLARATIONS ACT 1959 - SECT 11
    False declarations

    A person must not intentionally make a false statement in a statutory declaration.

    Penalty: Imprisonment for 4 years. "

    Be careful chucking a sickie…

    • 10
    • UFO on 24/06/2024 - 12:14

      I'd like the imprisonment statistics on that. I predict 0% for people making a false declaration for one day sick leave :).

      • 4
      • seamonkey on 24/06/2024 - 12:23

        You willing to sign a stat Dec about your last comment?

        • 4
        • Assburg on 24/06/2024 - 12:29

          A prediction isn't an intentionally false statement, so yeah.. fine to stat dec it.

          • 3
    • Clear on 24/06/2024 - 12:16

      Yep that could have more legal ramifications than faking a medical certificate which is grounds to have your employment terminated.

      • 2
      • ArgentLynx on 23/06/2025 - 13:23

        It's true that lying on a statdec is inadvisable, but faking a medical certificate is also a very efficient way to get your employment terminated (it's literally fraud lol), and easier for an employer to check too (they can just email the practice and ask for the cert to be validated, takes 2 minutes).

        • 1
        • Clear on 23/06/2025 - 15:37

          Wow a reply to a comment 12 months old.

          • 0
          • Chizzle on 23/06/2025 - 17:03

            @Clear: This thread got revived

            • 0
            • Clear on 23/06/2025 - 17:09

              @Chizzle: Its always fun to see. Especially when there's ones years and years old and people are saying X is better when X didn't exist then.

              • 0
              • ArgentLynx on 24/06/2025 - 11:34

                @Clear: The best part is the date is more or less today, just the wrong year lol. My bad

                • 0
    • Harrash on 24/06/2024 - 12:18

      mental health day is a thing. just don't post your clubbing / skydiving photos on social media

      • 4
    • JIMB0 on 24/06/2024 - 12:39

      For this reason it's best to keep your statement rather vague.

      • 3
    • bargainluvr on 24/06/2024 - 12:48

      Imprisonment aside - fraud is fraud. You end up with that mark on your name - regardless of the severity and you'll see yourself overlooked by a large majority of future employers.

      • 0
    • Miami Mall Alien on 24/06/2024 - 12:58

      Penalty: Imprisonment for 4 years.

      Lol, if they actually enforced that law (which they don't) this country wouldn't be able to build enough jails to house all of the people in Australia who regularly take sick leave when they don't genuinely need to.

      That red herring aside, the real issue here is that the entire sick/medical leave provision in employment agreements is ridiculously outdated, overwhelmingly favours employers and is managed extremely poorly with both employers and employees not aware of the laws and their rights.

      • 1
    • BargainsGrabber on 24/06/2024 - 12:15

      It’s kinda sad to see that a member since 2014 still not following the voting guidelines…
      If you want to neg a deal, you need to provide a reason otherwise that counts as invalid negative vote

      • 10
      • topherboi on 24/06/2024 - 12:22

        They also aren't contributing deals either, beggers/choosers etc.

        • 0
      • Daabido on 19/07/2024 - 11:25

        and four years in the slammer.

        • 0
  • dj007 on 24/06/2024 - 12:15

    I can't remember the last time I needed a certificate for sick days for work

    Either if I'm sick and just stay home without going to GP or I'm sick and do go GP (and do get a certificate) but my work never asks for them

    • 4
    • BLAIL on 24/06/2024 - 12:19

      my work asks even if its one day if I take it on monday or friday

      • 0
    • pharkurnell on 24/06/2024 - 12:20

      Our work says its required for one for Monday OR Friday… But I dont think anyone has ever been asked to produce one..

      • 0
    • joelmuzz on 24/06/2024 - 12:38

      A lot do. As others have said a common tactic is to require them on mon, fri and days adjoining a long weekend. This is because they know people chuck a sickie to get an extra travel day for a "long weekend" away and the certificate in your home town makes that hard when you are on the road/airport.

      Its real easy to fake a note, doctors just print them on a basic printout, but that fraud does make for a firable offence if it was proven that someone was on holiday, you didnt just lie about being sick you created forged documents.

      • 0
      • SuperLate on 27/06/2024 - 22:37

        I remember submitting a med certificate from the city I was travelling to during a long weekend. Noone had any issues.

        • 0
  • Poor Ass on 24/06/2024 - 12:16

    some how I feel these quirky posts should have their own section

    not a deal and not a forum item

    • -4
  • mr_asstight on 24/06/2024 - 12:18

    GOAT post

    • 0
  • jv on 24/06/2024 - 12:18

    Get a Medical/Sick Certificate for Free

    It's not a medical certificate…

    • 6
  • chiesel21 on 24/06/2024 - 12:21

    I thought these days ppl use instant script, cost around $20 and you dont even need to get out of the bed, just a phone call they send you the email and forward that to your employer.

    Continue to sleep

    • 0
    • King Steuart on 24/06/2024 - 12:23

      Or save $20 and do this

      • 3
    • drfuzzy on 24/06/2024 - 12:26

      There are always people who will pay for convenience regardless of the cost.
      The same people who will order Uber Eats from the take away store one block walk away will prefer to part with $20 and save the hassle of filling a form.

      • 1
      • Harrash on 24/06/2024 - 12:30

        you still have to fill a form to get a cert from instantscripts. you have to sign up, fill in your details and go through the questionnaire. you can be pedantic and say there's a few more steps involved but really it takes you minutes

        • 0
  • sween64 on 24/06/2024 - 12:23

    You can get a stat dec done online through mygov after setting up digital identification. Don't even need to go anywhere to get it signed.

    • 22
  • Plebo2000 on 24/06/2024 - 12:27

    Coming from a Comm public service background, most Enterprise/Agency agreements allow an employee to utilise a Stat Dec in place of a medical certificate. The bonus being, that most public servants with 5 yrs continuous service can witness Stat Decs.

    Here's a link for creating/tailoring an online Stat Dec template for your needs.

    • 0
  • Fredorishi on 24/06/2024 - 12:30

    My doc issues medical certificates online too. Who woulda thunk in this day and age? Not free, but a lot easier than typing up a a stat dec and running around to find someone to sign it.

    • 0
    • ozilicious on 24/06/2024 - 12:44

      I have major issues with the requirements to create a Digital Identity but my.gov.au states:

      “You can create and download a digital Commonwealth statutory declaration in English using the myGov website or the myGov app.

      We use Digital Identity to verify your identity and ensure your declaration is legally binding without the need for a physical witness.“

      Also, the template is already provided so you don't need to write it up, just fill in a few blanks.

      • 0
  • loksmack on 24/06/2024 - 12:32

    My wife and I can both witness stat decs (Gov employee and Teacher) - so are able to witness each others. Seemed suss when we first did it, but couldn't find anything online disallowing it. Workplaces don't seem to care. Makes life much easier!

    • 3
  • jjcf on 24/06/2024 - 12:33

    If your work demands a sick certificate for any absence, the real bargain is getting out of the sweatshop.

    • 2
  • Pootie Tang on 24/06/2024 - 12:37

    Read your employment contract before you start using these left, right and center. Whilst acceptable under the FWA. Your company can request a sick certificate. YMMV

    • 0
    • kirkleton on 26/06/2024 - 14:14

      Just because something is in a workplace contract doesn’t mean it overrides workplace law. But really need to weigh up the pros and cons of rocking that ship haha

      • 0
      • Pootie Tang on 26/06/2024 - 18:44

        This specific instance, it does. The fwa doesn't specify the proof required (certificate, stat Dec etc). But if your contract does, go with the contract.

        • 0
        • SerialExperience on 26/06/2024 - 23:20

          "An award or registered agreement can specify when an employee has to give evidence to their employer and what type of evidence they have to give. The type of evidence requested must always be reasonable in the circumstances."

          https://www.fairwork.gov.au/leave/sick-and-carers-leave/paid…

          Per the example if you can't see the doctor then the stat dec is good. If your company fights this you really don't want to be working for them.

          • 1
          • Pootie Tang on 28/06/2024 - 00:21

            @SerialExperience: Yeah agreed. We don't need to supply them until the fourth day.

            I have worked for companies that lie or try enforce rules which are not in the guidelines covered above in the fwh. Namely retail.

            • 0
    • BradyOxfe on 13/07/2026 - 16:07

      Yeah, spot on. My workplace is one of those annoying ones that pushes back on Stat Decs and insists on an actual medical certificate, even for just a Monday or Friday off. The MyGov stat dec is amazing if your boss actually accepts it, but if they want to play hardball, I usually just use Hola Health or one of those other telehealth sites. It's about $15 so you still have to pay, but at least it saves you dragging yourself out of bed to go clog up a GP waiting room. It still sucks having to pay when a stat dec should be enough, though.

      • 0
  • profane01 on 24/06/2024 - 12:38

    I thought this was common knowledge

    • 0
    • PotatoCakes on 24/06/2024 - 12:44

      Most people may know but heaps of people will hear it for the first time.

      That's how something stays common knowledge!

      • 0
  • FlyerOne on 24/06/2024 - 12:41

    LOL so many awards are specific about what is required so this should be intersting, and as far as I know, a stat dec under the Oaths Act, needs to have a signature witnessed by a JP. Try finding one of those when you need one.

    • 0
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