Valid for work, uni, or carer's leave. Reviewed by an AHPRA-registered GP and delivered straight to your inbox.
Typically ~$72 at a GP clinic
Open today 8am–10pmAEST · 7 days
AHPRA-registered doctors · Accepted by all employers · Full refund if we can't help
Reason for absence
Duration
For
Reason for absence
Duration
For
97%
requests approved
24 min
avg turnaround
4.8/5
patient rating
98%
employer accepted
Accepted by 98% of Australian employers and universities — identical to an in-person GP certificate
One flat fee — no hidden costs. Full refund if we can't help.
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| Feature | InstantMed | GP Clinic | Walk-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost † | $19.95 | ~$72 | ~$100 |
| Turnaround * | ~38 min avg | Requires booking | 2–4 hours |
| No waiting room visit | — | — | |
| Employer accepted | |||
| AHPRA doctor | |||
| Open 7 days | Sometimes | Varies | |
| No appointment needed | — |
* Average review time based on recent requests. Individual times vary. † GP cost estimated from MBS item 23 standard consultation fee. Out-of-pocket costs vary by clinic.
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MedCert_2026.pdf
42 KB
Approved certificates are sent as a secure PDF straight to your email.
Same dayMost people are sorted in under an hour
Every certificate is issued by an AHPRA-registered GP and includes everything your employer or university needs. Identical to what you'd receive at a clinic.
InstantMed Telehealth Clinic
Level 1, 459 Elizabeth Street
SURRY HILLS, NSW, 2010
instantmed.com.au
To whom it may concern,
This is to certify that (DOB: ) has been reviewed and assessed on 3 April 2026. In my clinical opinion, they are medically unfit to attend work or fulfil their usual occupational duties on 3 April 2026.
They are advised to rest and recover and are expected to return to work the following day.
Dr.
MBBS, FRACGP
Medical Practitioner
AHPRA: MED00XXXXXXXX
CERTIFICATE ID: IM-WORK-20260403-XXXXXXXX
To verify the authenticity of this medical certificate, visit instantmed.com.au/verify or contact our clinic directly.
Your rights, what makes a certificate valid, and when telehealth is the right choice.
A medical certificate is an official document issued by a registered medical practitioner confirming that a patient has been assessed and is — or was — unfit for their normal duties due to illness or injury. In Australia, these are sometimes called "sick notes" or "doctor's certificates," but the correct term is medical certificate.
The certificate doesn't need to disclose your specific diagnosis. Under Australian privacy law, your employer is entitled to know that you were unfit for work and for how long — not what was wrong with you. A valid certificate states the doctor's name, AHPRA registration number, the date of assessment, and the recommended period of absence.
The Fair Work Act 2009 entitles full-time employees to 10 days of paid personal/carer's leave per year. Part-time employees accrue leave proportionally. Employers can request a medical certificate or statutory declaration for any period of leave, including a single day — though many employers only require one for absences of two or more days.
Importantly, the Fair Work Act does not specify that a medical certificate must come from a face-to-face consultation. Certificates issued by AHPRA-registered doctors via telehealth carry the same legal weight as those from an in-person GP visit. This has been confirmed by the Fair Work Commission in multiple decisions since 2020.
Casual employees don't accrue paid sick leave (unless they're long-term regular casuals), but a medical certificate still protects your working relationship and demonstrates good faith. Some enterprise agreements and awards have specific requirements — check yours if you're unsure.
Telehealth medical certificates are appropriate for straightforward, self-limiting conditions that don't require a physical examination. Common examples include cold and flu, gastroenteritis, migraine, minor back pain, period pain, mental health days, and general malaise. These are conditions where the doctor's assessment is based primarily on your reported symptoms and medical history — the same information available via telehealth.
For a standard 1–3 day absence, a telehealth certificate is clinically equivalent to an in-person one. The doctor reviews your symptoms, asks follow-up questions if needed, and makes a clinical judgement about whether a certificate is appropriate. If they're not satisfied that a certificate is clinically justified, they won't issue one — same as a GP clinic.
Some situations genuinely require an in-person consultation. Workplace injuries requiring WorkCover documentation need a physical examination and specific forms. Conditions requiring blood tests, imaging, or physical assessment (suspicious moles, joint injuries, chest pain) should be seen face-to-face. Extended absences beyond 3–5 days may benefit from an in-person assessment, and we'll recommend this where appropriate.
We're not trying to replace your regular GP. If you have an ongoing relationship with a general practitioner, they remain your primary care provider for chronic conditions, health checks, and complex care. We fill a specific gap: straightforward, time-sensitive needs where a clinic visit is impractical or unavailable.
A legally valid medical certificate in Australia must include: the practitioner's full name and AHPRA registration number, the date of the consultation, the patient's name and date of birth, the period the patient is certified as unfit for duties, and the practitioner's signature (digital signatures are accepted). InstantMed certificates include all of these elements.
Every certificate issued by InstantMed has a unique verification ID. Employers and institutions can verify any certificate at instantmed.com.au/verify — entering the certificate ID confirms it was genuinely issued by our practice. This provides an additional layer of trust that paper certificates from traditional clinics typically don't offer.
All clinical decisions are made by AHPRA-registered doctors following our clinical governance framework. We never automate clinical decisions.
15+ years of GP experience. Every request is reviewed and approved by a registered Australian doctor — no automated clinical decisions.
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