How Much Carer’s Leave Do You Get? Understanding Your Entitlements in Australia

Key Takeaways:

1. Carer’s Leave Is a Legal Right for Most Workers
   Both full-time and part-time employees in Australia are entitled to carer’s leave under the National Employment Standards (NES). This includes both paid and unpaid leave options, depending on your employment type and situation.
2. Know the Difference Between Paid and Unpaid Carer’s Leave
   Full-time and part-time employees can access paid carer’s leave from their personal leave entitlements. Casual employees, on the other hand, are entitled to two days of unpaid carer’s leave per permissible occasion.
3. Documentation Matters: Medical Certificate or Statutory Declaration
   To access carer’s leave, you may need to provide evidence such as a medical certificate or a statutory declaration stating why the leave is necessary.

When a loved one falls ill or faces an emergency, you naturally want to be there for them. But what does the law say about taking time off work to care for a family member? If you’re wondering how much carer’s leave you get, here’s everything you need to know, especially if you live in Australia.

What is Carer’s Leave?

Carer’s leave allows an employee to take time off work to care for a member of their immediate family or household who is sick or injured, or to help during an unexpected emergency. This leave type is part of personal/carer’s leave, a broader category that also includes sick leave.

Who Can You Take Carer’s Leave For?

Under Australian law, you can take carer’s leave to look after:

• Your spouse or de facto partner
• Child or parent
• Grandparent, grandchild or sibling
• A person who lives with you and depends on you for care

This coverage ensures you can support close family or household members during medical needs or crises.

How Much Carer’s Leave Do You Get?

For Full-Time and Part-Time Employees

Under the National Employment Standards (NES):

• Employees are entitled to 10 days of paid personal/carer’s leave per year.
• This leave accumulates based on your ordinary hours of work and carries over from year to year.

So, if you work full-time, you earn 10 days per year. If you’re part-time, your entitlement is calculated pro-rata based on your weekly working hours.

For Casual Employees

Casual employees are not entitled to paid personal leave. However, they can take:

• 2 days of unpaid carer’s leave per instance, for each permissible occasion.

This unpaid leave allows casual workers to still support their families during emergencies or illnesses without risking their job security.

When Can You Take Carer’s Leave?

You can take carer’s leave when your family member or household member:

• Has a personal illness or injury
• Faces an unexpected emergency

It’s essential to notify your employer as soon as possible, ideally before your shift or workday starts, and let them know how long you expect to be away.

Evidence Requirements

To access carer’s leave, your employer may ask for:

• A medical certificate confirming the illness or injury
• A statutory declaration explaining the situation

At TelehealthDr, we make it easy to obtain a carer’s certificate through a quick online consultation. Our AHPRA-registered doctors can issue certificates for eligible cases without requiring you to leave your home.

Annual Leave vs Carer’s Leave

It’s important not to confuse annual leave with carer’s leave:

• Carer’s leave is separate and reserved for health-related emergencies.
• Annual leave is for planned vacations and can’t be automatically used for carer purposes unless agreed upon by your employer.

If you exhaust your paid carer’s leave, you might be able to use your annual leave if your employer permits.

Paid vs Unpaid Carer’s Leave

• Full-time and part-time employees get paid carer’s leave as part of their personal leave balance.
• Casual employees are only eligible for unpaid carer’s leave, but their job is still protected under the Fair Work Act 2009.

Even unpaid leave entitlements are important, offering job security and compassionate flexibility.

How Does Carer’s Leave Accrue?

Carer’s leave accrues over time as part of personal leave. It begins accruing from your first day of work and builds up progressively. For example:

• A full-time employee earns about 1.44 hours of personal/carer’s leave per week.

This accrued leave can be used for either personal illness or to care for a family member.

Multiple Days and Unexpected Emergencies

You can take multiple consecutive days of carer’s leave if needed, as long as your leave is covered by appropriate evidence. There’s no cap on how many days you can take as long as you have the leave accrued and the situation is valid.

For unexpected emergencies, even if they don’t involve an illness or injury, carer’s leave may still apply if the person needs your help and no one else is available.

Sick Leave vs Carer’s Leave

While both fall under personal/carer’s leave, here’s the key difference:

• Sick leave: When you are unfit for work due to illness or injury.
• Carer’s leave: When you need to care for someone else who is ill or injured.

In both cases, your employer may request a medical certificate or carer’s certificate to verify your absence.

Using Telehealth for Carer’s Leave Certificates

At TelehealthDr, we understand that emergencies don’t wait. That’s why our online doctors can assess your situation quickly and provide a valid medical certificate or carer’s certificate within minutes.

Why choose us?

• No need to travel when you’re already stressed
• AHPRA-registered doctors available 7 days a week
• Secure and legal online certificates sent directly to your email
• Fast and confidential consultations

Final Thoughts

Understanding how much carer’s leave you get is essential for protecting both your job and your family. Whether you’re a full-time employee caring for a sick child or a casual worker dealing with a family emergency, knowing your entitlements ensures peace of mind.

If you need a carer’s certificate today, book a consultation with TelehealthDr. We’ll help you take the right steps while making sure everything is legally compliant and stress-free.

Book Your Carer’s Certificate Online Today
Need time off to care for a loved one? Don’t wait. Speak with an online doctor at TelehealthDr and receive your certificate from the comfort of your home.

Visit TelehealthDr or call us at (02) 4081 0884 to get started.