What is Carer’s Leave? All You Should Know About

Carer’s leave is a form of workplace leave available to Australian employees who need to care for a family member or household member experiencing illness, injury, or an emergency. It falls under the broader category of personal leave in Australia and is protected under the National Employment Standards (NES), as outlined in the Fair Work Act 2009.

Understanding your entitlements is important, especially when unexpected life events arise and you need time off work to support someone close to you.

How Much Carer’s Leave Do You Get?

Under the National Employment Standards (NES), full-time and part-time employees are entitled to:

• 10 days of paid personal/carer’s leave each year (pro-rata for part-time employees).
• This leave covers both personal illness/injury and carer responsibilities.

Casual employees are not entitled to paid personal/carer’s leave. However, they are entitled to 2 days of unpaid carer’s leave per occasion when a family or household member requires care or support.

Paid carer’s leave accumulates progressively and carries over from year to year if not used.

Examples of eligible relationships include:

• A spouse or de facto partner
• Child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling
• A member of the employee’s household

Do You Get Paid for Carer’s Leave?

• If you’re a full-time or part-time employee, yes — you are entitled to paid carer’s leave.
• If you’re a casual employee, your entitlement is 2 days of unpaid carer’s leave per eligible occasion.

Remember, paid carer’s leave is deducted from your total personal leave balance.

How Many Carer’s Leave Days Per Year?

• Full-time employees get 10 days of paid personal/carer’s leave annually.
• Part-time employees get a pro-rata amount based on their regular hours.
• Casual employees get 2 days of unpaid leave per occasion.

This allocation includes both sick leave and carer’s leave. So if you’ve already used some of your balance for sick days, the remainder applies to carer’s leave. For permanent staff, you can take as much paid carer’s leave as your accrued balance allows; casual workers (or anyone who has used up their paid leave) can take 2 days of unpaid carer’s leave per instance.

Do You Need Evidence for Carer’s Leave?

Yes, in most cases, employers can request reasonable evidence to approve carer’s leave. Acceptable forms include:

• A medical certificate from a registered practitioner
• A statutory declaration outlining the situation

For short or unpaid periods, some employers may waive the need for evidence — but providing it is always a safe way to protect your leave entitlements. If you need documentation, an AHPRA-registered doctor can assess your situation and issue a carer’s certificate after a short telehealth consultation.

Final Thoughts

Caring for someone else is a big responsibility, and Australian employment law recognises this. Whether you’re looking after a sick child, an ageing parent, or another dependent, carer’s leave means you don’t have to choose between your job and your family.

If your employer asks for evidence, you can arrange a carer’s certificate online through TelehealthDr after a brief consultation with a registered Australian doctor — without adding stress to an already difficult time.