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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 Ombusman

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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 Ombusman
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Goliegosh on 24/06/2024 - 12:04 fairwork.gov.au (16979 clicks)
Last edited 26/06/2024 - 19:11 by 2 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

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Comments

  • SerialExperience on 26/06/2024 - 23:15
    +1

    I always provide stat decs when sick for more than 2 days.
    "I was unfit for work on dates"
    That's it. Nothing more to it.
    The list of witnesses that can sign a stat dec is quite extensive you don't need a JP. If you have family that meet any of the requirements they can sign as well.

  • RonSchmegegge on 16/07/2024 - 16:29
    +1

    There's a lot of panicky mask wearers in this comment section. Personally I do a PCR test everyday and I go to the GP everyday also.

  • ilovefullprice on 20/10/2024 - 20:42

    Thanks OP.

  • fozzie on 01/11/2024 - 22:20

    Hi guys today I had to fill out a sick day (carer) and provided a digital Commonwealth one. Very easy to use via myGov and all digital

    https://my.gov.au/en/about/help/digital-id/digital-commonwea…

  • gougou8 on 24/12/2024 - 08:30

    Another kick in the guts for doctors. This will take a large portion of their income. Can't imagine how difficult it must be for them now with the flood of foreign doctors willing to be paid peanuts for dishing out scripts. Along with the rise of AI diagnosis I think this will be the nail in the coffin for GPs.

    • Lucille Bluth on 24/12/2024 - 08:57

      Did you forget to end this with a /s ?

  • RonSchmegegge on 27/01/2025 - 09:09

    What a waste of time. Printing up document. Then finding a JP who only work 2 days a week. This is lame.

  • pichxlonco on 13/04/2025 - 11:37

    Used these stat dec a few days ago. No one blinked an eye at it so all good. I used an online stat dec form on the mygov website, so you don't even have to visit someone to get it signed, it's all done online and the declaration comes with a qr code to validate it

  • Goliegosh on 13/05/2025 - 13:19

    Had to use a stat dec for my workplace, all accepted recently. Bumping for oversight

  • OfTheOverflow on 22/05/2025 - 17:45

    Cold and flu season, lfg

  • APN Adelaide on 23/06/2025 - 12:18

    Thanks OP 🙂

  • leiiv on 23/06/2025 - 12:32

    Wouldn't they have something like bulk-billed telehealth or online thing for this as well?

  • Protractor on 23/06/2025 - 12:33
    +2

    Is the Ombusman the local Buddhist passenger conveyor?

  • bohn on 23/06/2025 - 12:40

    luckily some of us still have access to a bulk billing doctor and can do phone appts

    • tunzafun001 on 23/06/2025 - 12:56
      -1

      Save the doctors appointments for those who need it.

      Got sniffles, poor sleep ..whatever reason..

      Stat Dec it.. reason "medical".

      • bohn on 23/06/2025 - 12:59

        nothing wrong with getting a spot if you are sick
        that's what it's there for

  • Bunnyburger on 23/06/2025 - 12:51

    Somewhere in the universe the collective soul of employers shuddered

  • Melburnian on 23/06/2025 - 13:18
    +2

    Yes! Please spare the poor GPs from wasting their precious available appointments and expertise on unnecessary employer bureaucracy when we desperately need them for what they do best - primary healthcare!

  • Phoebus on 23/06/2025 - 13:20

    this is literally stealing money from the pockets of GPs.

    • Melburnian on 23/06/2025 - 13:36
      +5

      GPs would prefer to use their limited appointment slots to do real medicine for patients who actually need their skills, rather than satisfying the Get A Note From Your Doctor demands of employers who don't trust their employees. If only childcare didn't demand clearance certificates. GPs are specialists in primary care, not pointless paperwork.

    • WilhelmBargo on 23/06/2025 - 21:58
      +1

      What will the poor GPs earning multiple hundreds of thousands a year do to survive???

    • topherboi on 25/06/2025 - 07:27

      Name one GP that is struggling financially.

  • Birdseye on 23/06/2025 - 13:23
    +4

    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-stat…

  • Grunntt on 23/06/2025 - 13:33
    +1

    I can't see why the cost of having a certificate issued isn't paid by the company that is insisting on it being done. Especially when it's becoming more and more common for doctors not to bulk bill.
    How is it fair that the company, that doesn't trust their employees, passes the cost of this requirement for a certificate to the employee?

    • Ughhh on 23/06/2025 - 20:13
      -1

      How is it fair that the company, that doesn't trust their employees, passes the cost of this requirement for a certificate to the employee?

      Seems like 'chuck a sickie' happens enough in the Aussie culture that it's an actual common Aussie slang.

      • Grunntt on 23/06/2025 - 21:54
        -1

        Seems like 'chuck a sickie' happens enough in the Aussie culture that it's an actual common Aussie slang.

        So exactly how does that relate to my question? (especially considering that 'chucking a sickie' tends to indicate a single day absence that would not require a certificate anyway).
        Are you trying to support the idea that a company can set any rule they decide and then expect the person impacted by that rule to pay for it?

        • Ughhh on 24/06/2025 - 08:31
          -1

          company can set any rule they decide

          Rules are set by the fairwork mate. If you think it's unfair, complain to Fairwork about having to produce evidence.

          I guess Chucking a single sickie once a week is a norm for you.

          • Grunntt on 24/06/2025 - 10:09
            -1

            @Ughhh: Do you really have a problem with understanding the written word or are you deliberately trying to be argumentative?

            Nowhere in the rules set by Fairwork do they say that anyone must supply a medical certificate - what it states is that this is a rule that is able to be set by the employer.

            Any chance you could explain how you leapt to the assumption you made about what I do?

            Feel free to support your argument with facts but there's no point just starting with a personal attack.

            • Ughhh on 24/06/2025 - 14:26
              -1

              @Grunntt: Your reading capability seems to be clouded by anger. Please calm down before replying.

              If you go back to my original comment, I never actually stated that I support or don't support medical certs, just the fact that "chucking a sickie" is an Aussie slang.

              Nowhere in the rules set by Fairwork do they say that anyone must supply a medical certificate - what it states is that this is a rule that is able to be set by the employer.

              Thank you for basically repeating what I said. If fairworks rule /statement is it that it's set by employer, then it's an open rule set by fairwork. . If you have an issue with rules allowed by fairwork, go express your concern to them.

              It was a guess, didn't say it was a fact, there's a difference. It seems you've never come across absences (sick) with workers on a Friday fortnightly basis.

  • dclee12 on 23/06/2025 - 13:44
    +1

    Easy to do it via mygov, but you need to supply extra ID etc and create a “Digital ID”. Not everyone will like that idea.
    Otherwise you will need valid person to witness stat dec.

    Also be aware most employment contacts can still legally state a med cert is required.. A Stat Dec is only valid in cases where med cert is reasonably unavailable… its not a blanket substitute.

    Lastly … its a legal document you’re signing, dont get caught at the footy.

  • Cheap Gamer on 23/06/2025 - 15:49

    Statdecs are wonderful. They get me out of work AND jury duty. They can probably cure cancer too!

    Definitely do the digital ID thing. Waiting for a JP can be longer than a GP. Always some clown who wants to do probate or something that takes ages.

  • hardya on 23/06/2025 - 16:41

    Can't you just use Microsoft Word and a ballpoint pen signature to give a certificate from Doctor Howlong, with a more authentic look?

  • niknikniknik on 23/06/2025 - 17:59
    -2

    And we wonder why Australia has a productivity crisis

  • BrownEyedGirl on 23/06/2025 - 19:58
    +1

    At its core, the evidence provided by an employee must convince (satisfy) a reasonable person (the employer) that the employee is genuinely entitled to the personal leave.

    For example, if a manager approaches me for advice regarding an employee supplying an absence from work certificate from a pharmacist, or a stat dec or a medical certificate that was obtained online, these to me, are all examples of evidence which would satisfy a reasonable person (me as the employer’s HR representative) that the employee is entitled to personal leave.

  • Aerith-Waifu on 24/06/2025 - 05:14

    This is for 1 day only or can be used for a few days?

    • dclee12 on 24/06/2025 - 08:36

      Can be multiple days. Though be aware in some workplace agreements a stat dec is only acceptable when a med cert could not be obtained.
      So the longer the period of the stat dec, the more likely you’ll need to explain why you couldn't get a med cert in that time.

  • KatieInAus on 24/06/2025 - 09:39

    I know the deal is about it being "free" with a stat dec, but lots of people here dont seem to know you can just get an absence certificate from a pharmacy. Nearly all pharmacies offer this as a service so you dont need to go into a doctors office to spend money and time there, just visit your pharmacy.

  • Hangryuman on 24/06/2025 - 14:21

    fraudulent stat dec risks a criminal record, likely job loss, and 4 years in jail

    sure - go for it … !?

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