Kids Still on Holidays? How to Access Carer's Leave

More than two‑thirds of Australian parents miss work at least once a year because of their children – most often to look after a sick child or to cover school holidays when care falls through. Research from the Australian Institute of Family Studies has also found that over half of mothers and around a third of fathers take time off specifically to care for sick kids.

At the same time, recent survey data suggests about 4 in 5 Aussie working parents feel under serious pressure juggling work and family life – especially during school holidays when routines go out the window and viruses do the rounds.

So if your kids are still on holidays, someone’s got a fever, the daycare holiday program is cancelled, and your Slack is lighting up… you’re far from alone.

In this guide, we’ll unpack how carer’s leave works in Australia, especially when it comes to:

• Caring for sick children during school holidays
• When you can (and can’t) use carer’s leave
• What your employer is allowed to ask for
• How to get a medical certificate for a sick child – including telehealth sick notes
• How our doctors at NextClinic can help you sort a legit carer’s certificate online without dragging a miserable child to a waiting room

We’re writing this from our perspective as an Australian telehealth clinic. Every week we talk to parents who are:

• Sharing a couch with a clingy, coughing kid while trying to answer emails
• Unsure whether school holiday sickness really counts for carers leave Australia rules
• Getting pushback from their employer about “another day off”
• Scrambling to get a doctor’s certificate to prove they’re not just taking a cheeky sickie

This article is general information, not legal advice or individual medical advice. Workplace rights can also depend on your award, enterprise agreement, contract and state laws. If you need detailed employment advice, chat with your HR team, union, an employment lawyer, or the Fair Work Ombudsman.

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School holiday sickness: why it always hits at the worst time

If it feels like your kids always get sick right before you go back to work – or right in the middle of a busy project – there’s some logic behind that feeling.

• Respiratory viruses spike when kids mix. During the 2024 winter school holidays, NSW Health reported high flu levels across all age groups, with the highest rates in children under 16, and urged parents to vaccinate and keep sick kids home.

(See NSW Health’s school holiday respiratory illness update: Protect yourself and your family from respiratory illnesses these school holidays.)

• Children are very efficient at sharing germs. Healthdirect notes that when kids are sick, resting at home is usually the best way to help them recover – and to stop infections running through the entire household and classroom.

You can read more at Healthdirect’s guide to looking after a sick child.

• Parents are already stretched. A recent Real Insurance “working parents” report found the majority of Aussie parents feel under heavy strain trying to juggle work, parenting and the cost of living. Many report guilt about not spending enough time with their children and stress about taking time off work.

(See: How real Aussie parents are balancing work and family.)

Put those together and school holidays can feel like a perfect storm:

• Kids are out of routine (late nights, travel, different food).
• Viruses are circulating, especially in winter and after big social events.
• Normal childcare arrangements may not exist or fall over at the last minute.
• Work is still very much happening – even if you’re dialling in from the dining table.

That’s exactly where carer’s leave comes in.

Carer’s leave in Australia: the basics

Let’s start with the fundamentals of carers leave Australia rules, because the language can be confusing.

Under the National Employment Standards (NES), most Australian employees are entitled to personal/carer’s leave. This covers both:

• When you are sick or injured (sick leave), and
• When you need time off to care for or support an immediate family or household member who is sick, injured, or faces an unexpected emergency (carer’s leave).

The Fair Work Ombudsman summarises it like this:

• Full‑time and part‑time employees get 10 days of paid sick and carer’s leave per year, pro‑rata for part‑timers.
• This leave accrues gradually and carries over from year to year.
• Casual employees don’t get paid personal/carer’s leave, but can access unpaid carer’s leave.

You can read the full details straight from Fair Work here:

• Sick and carer’s leave – Fair Work Ombudsman
• Sick and carer’s leave and compassionate leave fact sheet

Who counts as “immediate family or household”?

For carer’s leave purposes, this usually includes:

• Your child (including adopted, step or foster children)
• Your spouse or de facto partner (current or former)
• Your parent, grandparent, grandchild or sibling
• The equivalent relatives of your spouse or de facto
• Anyone who lives in your household and depends on you

So if you’re looking after your sick child during school holidays, that’s exactly what this leave is designed for.

Can you use carer’s leave when kids are on holidays?

Yes – if there’s a legitimate reason that fits the rules.

Carer’s leave can be taken when you need to:

• Care for or support an immediate family/household member who is sick or injured, or
• Deal with an unexpected emergency affecting that person.

Some very common school‑holiday scenarios that usually fit:

• Your toddler wakes up with a high fever and vomiting.
• Your primary‑schooler develops flu, COVID‑like symptoms or an ear infection.
• Your teenager sprains an ankle badly at sport and needs you to attend hospital or manage medication and mobility at home.
• The holiday program or babysitter pulls out at the last minute due to illness, leaving your child with no safe care for the day.

Fair Work gives examples showing that an “unexpected emergency” doesn’t have to be an illness. For instance, if the person who usually picks up your child from school suddenly can’t and there’s nobody else, you may be able to use carer’s leave to pick them up and look after them.

What doesn’t usually count?

The tricky bit is that carer’s leave is aimed at unplanned needs – not long‑known gaps in routine care.

Generally, carer’s leave is not meant for:

• Covering the entire three‑month school holiday period because no childcare was arranged
• Routine days where your child is perfectly well and simply at home because school is closed
• Situations where you had significant notice and could reasonably plan other arrangements

That doesn’t mean you have to magically solve all childcare issues alone. It just means:

• Long‑planned holiday care is usually covered by annual leave, roster changes or flexible work, not carer’s leave.
• Sudden sickness or childcare cancellations during the holidays are much more likely to fit carer’s leave rules.

When in doubt, it’s worth:

• Checking your award or enterprise agreement
• Reading the Fair Work guidance
• Talking honestly with your HR team or manager

How much carer’s leave do you actually get?

For most employees covered by the NES (which is the majority of Australians):

• Full‑time employees
  • Get 10 days of paid personal/carer’s leave per year.
  • This covers both your own sickness and carer’s responsibilities.
  • It accrues progressively based on your ordinary hours.
• Part‑time employees
  • Get a pro‑rated amount based on their ordinary hours – still equivalent to 10 days a year if they worked full‑time.
• Casual employees
  • Don’t get paid sick or carer’s leave.
  • Are entitled to 2 days of unpaid carer’s leave per occasion when an immediate family/household member is sick, injured or in an unexpected emergency.
• Unpaid carer’s leave for permanent staff
  • If you’re full‑time or part‑time and have used up all paid personal/carer’s leave, you can take 2 days unpaid carer’s leave per occasion when needed.

Fair Work explains unpaid carer’s leave here: Unpaid carer’s leave – Fair Work Ombudsman

A quick note on “days”

Personal/carer’s leave is based on your ordinary hours, not necessarily an 8‑hour block. The technical calculation is 1/26 of your annual ordinary hours, but in practice:

• If you normally work 7.6 hours a day, a “day” of leave is 7.6 hours.
• If you work compressed or varied hours, your leave is adjusted accordingly.

If you’re confused about your exact leave balance, your payslip, HR portal or payroll team are your best first stop.

What your employer can (and can’t) ask for

Under the NES, when you take sick or carer’s leave you must:

1. Let your employer know as soon as practicable, which might be after the leave starts if it’s an emergency.
2. Tell them how long you expect to be away (or that you’re not sure yet).

Your employer can also ask for evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person that the leave is genuine. Fair Work says this is usually:

• A medical certificate, or
• A statutory declaration.

You can read the plain‑English summary here: Sick and carer’s leave – Fair Work (language help version)

Will you always need a medical certificate for a sick child?

Not always – it depends on:

• Your workplace policy or enterprise agreement
• How many days you’re taking
• Whether there have been frequent absences

Many employers are more relaxed about a single day of carer’s leave, especially if you don’t take it often. But they might:

• Require a medical certificate for two or more consecutive days
• Ask for evidence any time if that’s written into their policies
• Be stricter during busy periods

If your child is quite unwell, or you’re taking more than one day, it’s usually smart to organise some form of evidence. That could mean:

• An in‑person GP visit, or
• A telehealth sick note / carer’s certificate from an Australian‑registered doctor.

That’s exactly the kind of documentation we can issue at NextClinic, if it’s clinically appropriate.

Remote work parenting vs carer’s leave: what’s realistic?

Working from home has blurred a lot of lines. Many parents wonder:

"“If I’m remote anyway, do I really need to take carer’s leave – can’t I just work with my sick child at home?”"

Sometimes, yes – but not always.

Fair Work suggests that when deciding if carer’s leave is appropriate for an “unexpected emergency”, factors can include:

• How much notice you had of the situation
• Whether you can work from home or shift your hours
• The age and independence of the child or family member needing care

In real life, that might look like:

• Mildly unwell child + flexible role
  • You might manage with “soft” work from home: answer urgent emails early/late, block out a few hours to cuddle them on the couch, then catch up later.
  • Your manager may agree you don’t need to formally take leave.
• Very sick or distressed child (high fever, vomiting, constant supervision, doctor visits)
  • Realistically, you’re providing full‑time care. Trying to juggle remote work parenting and proper care can be unsafe and exhausting.
  • In this scenario, taking carer’s leave is appropriate.
• Multiple days of illness
  • After the first day of “I’ll try to juggle it”, many parents realise it’s not sustainable.
  • Carer’s leave exists so you can focus on your child without feeling like you’re failing at work.

If you’re dealing with ongoing stress and dread about work – especially after time off for illness or holidays – you might also find our blog on return‑to‑work anxiety helpful: Dreading Tomorrow? How to Handle “Back‑to‑Work” Anxiety

Step‑by‑step: using carer’s leave for a sick child these holidays

Let’s make this practical. Here’s how to navigate school holiday sickness without losing your mind (or your job).

1. Check what you’re entitled to

Before you’re in crisis mode, it’s worth knowing:

• How much personal/carer’s leave you have accrued
• Whether your award/enterprise agreement has extra rules about when evidence is needed
• Whether your workplace offers flexible work arrangements around caring responsibilities

You can:

• Check your payslip or HR portal for leave balances
• Read your employment contract or enterprise agreement
• Use the Fair Work Ombudsman tools or ask them for guidance via their website:

Fair Work sick and carer’s leave page

2. Work out if this situation fits carer’s leave

Ask yourself:

• Is my child sick, injured, or genuinely needing care/support that they can’t safely provide for themselves?
• Did this situation arise unexpectedly (e.g. sudden gastro, overnight flu, last‑minute childcare cancellation)?
• Realistically, can I perform my job properly while giving them the care they need?

If the honest answer is “no, I can’t reasonably work and care at the same time”, that’s what carer’s leave is there for.

3. Coordinate with your partner or other carers (if you have them)

If there’s another parent or family member in the picture, talk openly about:

• Who has more critical deadlines that day
• Who has more leave available
• Whether you can split the day (e.g. one parent in the morning, the other in the afternoon)

Australian research has historically shown that mothers tend to take more time off for sick children, but attitudes are shifting. Many families now try to share caring days more evenly where possible. (The AIFS “When roles overlap” report is a good deep dive: When roles overlap: workers with family responsibilities.)

4. Notify your employer clearly and early

Once you’ve decided you are taking carer’s leave, let your manager know as soon as you can.

You don’t need to share intimate medical details. Something like:

"“Hi [Manager], my 6‑year‑old has woken up with a high fever and vomiting. I’ll need to take personal/carer’s leave today to look after them and get medical advice. I’ll keep you updated if I need more than one day. Please let me know if you require a medical certificate.”"

If you’re partly able to work, you might say:

"“Hi [Manager], my son is unwell today and can’t attend his holiday program. I’ll need to take carer’s leave this morning to manage his care and a telehealth consult. I expect to be back online from around 1pm; I’ll prioritise [Project X] and [urgent tasks]. Let me know if you’d prefer I record the whole day as leave.”"

Being upfront builds trust and makes it easier next time you genuinely need time off.

5. Organise medical care for your child if needed

Not every snotty nose needs a GP, of course. But you should seek medical advice urgently (via GP, after‑hours clinic, ED or 000) if your child:

• Has difficulty breathing
• Is extremely drowsy, difficult to wake, or unusually floppy
• Has a rash that doesn’t fade when pressed
• Is younger than three months with a fever

Healthdirect has a helpful overview of red‑flag symptoms and practical care tips: Looking after a sick child – Healthdirect

If they’re mildly unwell and you mainly need rest, fluids and monitoring at home, a telehealth consult may be enough for guidance – and, where appropriate, for a medical certificate for a sick child to support your leave.

6. Get evidence if your employer requires it

If your workplace policy or manager has asked for proof, you usually have two main options:

1. In‑person GP visit
   • Necessary if your child is very sick or needs a physical examination.
   • Can be stressful during school holidays with long waits and a miserable child in tow.
2. Telehealth sick note / carer’s certificate
   • For many minor, self‑limiting illnesses (colds, mild flu, tummy bugs) a telehealth doctor can assess the situation and issue a carer’s leave certificate online.
   • This is where services like ours at NextClinic come in handy, especially when clinics are booked out or you don’t have easy transport.

We’ll walk through how that works next.

Getting a medical certificate for a sick child online

If you’ve ever paced a waiting room with a feverish, clingy child just to get a piece of paper for your boss, you’ll understand why online carer’s certificates have become so popular.

At NextClinic, we offer Online Carer’s Certificates Australia‑wide, issued by Australian‑registered doctors and delivered straight to your inbox – often within an hour. You can read more here: Online Carer’s Certificates – NextClinic

Here’s how our process typically works:

1. Start a digital consultation

You fill out a short, secure online questionnaire explaining:

• Who you’re caring for (e.g. your 4‑year‑old child)
• Their symptoms (e.g. fever, vomiting, flu‑like symptoms)
• How long they’ve been unwell
• Any relevant medical history or red flags

This takes just a few minutes and can be done from your phone while you sit on the couch with your child.

2. Doctor review (and call if needed)

An AHPRA‑registered Australian doctor reviews your information. Depending on the situation and our clinical protocols, they may:

• Approve the certificate based on your written answers, or
• Call you for a quick clarifying chat if something isn’t clear or they have safety concerns

Our doctors work within Medical Board of Australia telehealth guidelines, so we won’t issue certificates in situations where telehealth isn’t appropriate or safe.

For more about how we handle telehealth safely (and why most of our consultations happen by phone, not video), you might like: Can You Get a Script Without a Video Call?

3. Receive your carer’s certificate

If it’s clinically appropriate to issue a certificate, you’ll receive a digital carer’s leave certificate via email and your patient portal. It includes:

• Our clinic details
• The doctor’s name, signature and AHPRA registration number
• The dates you’re certified as unable to work due to caring responsibilities

For privacy, we don’t list your child’s specific diagnosis, just that you were required to care for an ill family member.

Because our doctors are Australian‑registered and our certificates meet standard employer requirements, they’re suitable for most workplaces and educational institutions across the country.

And if you are also unwell and need cover, our doctors can often issue a telehealth sick note for you at the same time (if clinically appropriate), via a separate consultation.

When telehealth is (and isn’t) right for carer’s certificates

Telehealth is incredibly helpful – but it’s not the right tool for every situation.

Telehealth carer’s certificates are usually suitable when:

• Your child has a common, mild illness (cold, mild flu, simple gastro, ear infection already assessed by a doctor) and mainly needs rest and supervision.
• You’ve already seen a doctor (in person or via telehealth) and now just need documentation for work.
• You can clearly describe their symptoms and there are no red flags suggesting serious illness.
• You mainly need short‑term leave (1–2 days), not long blocks of time.

You should seek in‑person care (and possibly emergency help) when:

• Your child is acutely unwell – struggling to breathe, very drowsy, in severe pain, or you’re worried they’re seriously ill.
• Symptoms are sudden and severe (e.g. stiff neck + fever, a rash that doesn’t fade when pressed, severe abdominal pain).
• A physical examination, tests or imaging are clearly needed.

In those cases, telehealth (with us or any other service) should never be used as a shortcut. Call 000, an after‑hours GP service, or head straight to your nearest emergency department if you’re really worried.

At NextClinic, our doctors are trained to err on the side of safety. Sometimes the right call is:

"“We can’t safely manage this online. You need an in‑person assessment.”"

We know that’s inconvenient in the short term, but it’s the safest option for your child.

How our telehealth doctors can support you during school holidays

Juggling remote work parenting, school holiday sickness and fair work rules is a lot. Our whole model at NextClinic is built to take at least one layer of stress out of that equation.

Here’s where we fit in:

• Online carer’s certificates
  • Request a single‑day or two‑day carer’s certificate entirely online.
  • Our doctors review your case and, if appropriate, issue a certificate within about an hour during operating hours.
  • See: Online Carer’s Certificates – NextClinic
• Medical certificates for you
  • If you’ve caught the same bug and also need time off, our telehealth consultations can assess your symptoms and, where appropriate, provide a medical certificate for your own sick leave.
  • Details here: Online Doctors: Telehealth Consultations
• Prescriptions if your regular GP is unavailable
  • For many stable, ongoing medications (like asthma preventers or the pill), we can often provide telehealth prescriptions after a proper clinical review.
  • If you’ve lost scripts in the chaos of holidays, you might find this post handy: Lost Your Prescription? Here’s the Fastest Fix
• Sexual and general health for parents
  • While this article is about kids and carer’s leave, many parents also use their telehealth time to catch up on their own health – like contraception, sexual health checks or managing chronic conditions. Our blog has a lot of guides in those areas too.

We’re not a replacement for your regular GP or hospital. But if your situation is suitable for telehealth, we can often turn a stressful, half‑day saga into a short online process.

Putting it all together this school holidays

Let’s recap the key points:

• Carer’s leave is there for exactly these moments. When your child is sick or faces an unexpected emergency, and you can’t reasonably work and care at the same time, using carer’s leave is legitimate – even if you’re a remote worker.
• Most permanent employees get at least 10 days of paid personal/carer’s leave per year, and this covers both your own illness and caring for immediate family or household members. Casuals and those who’ve used up their leave can usually access unpaid carer’s leave.
• School holiday sickness often qualifies for carer’s leave when it’s unplanned – sudden flu, gastro, injuries, or last‑minute childcare failures. Long‑known gaps in holiday care are usually better handled through annual leave or flexible work.
• Your employer can ask for evidence – often a doctor’s certificate or statutory declaration – especially for multiple days. Knowing your workplace policy upfront helps you avoid last‑minute stress.
• Telehealth sick notes and carer’s certificates are a legitimate, convenient option when your child has a minor illness that doesn’t require a physical exam. Services like ours at NextClinic can often get you a certificate within an hour, Australia‑wide, without dragging a sick child to a clinic.
• This is all about balance: protecting your child’s health, respecting your own limits, and meeting your obligations at work.

Your challenge for this week

If you’ve read this far, you’re clearly someone who cares deeply about doing the right thing by your family and your employer.

This week, we challenge you to pick one of these actions:

1. Check your entitlements. Log in to your HR portal or check your latest payslip and make sure you understand how much personal/carer’s leave you actually have.
2. Agree a “sick day plan” with your household. Talk with your partner or co‑parent about who does what when the next “Mum, I feel sick” moment hits – especially during holidays.
3. Set up your telehealth backup. Bookmark our Online Carer’s Certificates page or Telehealth Consultations page so you’re not scrambling for help mid‑crisis.

Then come back and tell us in the comments:

• Which strategy did you choose?
• Has it made the next round of school holiday sickness a little less stressful?

The more we normalise using carer’s leave properly – and planning for it – the easier it becomes for Aussie parents to look after their kids and keep their careers on track.

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