Verifying InstantMed Medical Certificates

Since the expansion of telehealth during 2020, the Medical Board of Australia has formally recognised telehealth as a legitimate healthcare delivery method. Certificates issued via telehealth by AHPRA-registered practitioners carry identical legal weight to those from in-person consultations.

The Fair Work Act requires "a medical certificate or statutory declaration" as evidence of illness — it does not specify the mode of consultation. Multiple Fair Work Commission decisions have upheld telehealth certificates as valid evidence, and no distinction is drawn between certificates issued following a face-to-face appointment versus a telehealth assessment.

For employers, this means a medical certificate from InstantMed carries the same obligations and protections as one from any other registered medical practice in Australia.

A valid Australian medical certificate should include: the practitioner's full name, their AHPRA registration number (verifiable at ahpra.gov.au), the date of the clinical assessment, the patient's name and date of birth, the specific dates the patient is certified unfit for duties, and the practitioner's signature. Digital signatures are accepted under Australian law.

InstantMed certificates also include a unique verification ID and QR code for instant verification. This provides an additional layer of authenticity that traditional paper certificates from most GP clinics do not offer. You can verify any certificate at instantmed.com.au/verify.

Employers can request a medical certificate for any period of personal/carer's leave. However, this must be applied consistently — you cannot require certificates from some employees and not others for the same absence duration. Policies that single out individuals or apply different thresholds may constitute adverse action.

You must accept certificates from any registered medical practitioner, not just a specific clinic or your preferred provider. You cannot require the employee to disclose their diagnosis — the certificate confirms unfitness for work, and that is the extent of the information you are entitled to receive. Sick leave policies should be clearly communicated to all employees in advance, ideally in writing.

If you are concerned about frequent absences, the appropriate response is a formal performance management process — not challenging individual certificates. Employers can request a medical assessment through an independent medical examiner for ongoing fitness-for-duty concerns, but this is a separate process from standard sick leave and should be handled with legal advice.

The Fair Work Ombudsman provides detailed guidance on managing excessive absenteeism within the bounds of the law.

InstantMed provides instant certificate verification at instantmed.com.au/verify. Enter the unique certificate ID to confirm authenticity. This is more robust than paper certificates from traditional clinics, which typically have no verification mechanism beyond calling the practice directly.

If you encounter a certificate that does not verify, contact us at support@instantmed.com.au. We investigate all reports and take fraudulent use seriously.