All services
Person with a minor illness at Heathershaw's Compounding Pharmacy

Available at

Absence from work
certificate.
Same day.

How it works.

If a certificate isn't appropriate, we'll explain why and help you with next steps, including seeing a doctor when needed.

  1. Walk in any time, no booking needed

  2. Bring your ID, then a quick, private consult in store

  3. Certificate for up to two days, for personal or carer's leave

Walk in at a store ↓

When it may help.

Your pharmacist will decide based on your presentation. This is a guide only - not a guarantee of issue.

Often suitable for

  • Short absences due to minor, self-limiting illness
  • Documentation for work or study, straightforward symptoms
  • Same-day assessment when you can't easily reach a GP
  • Adults comfortable discussing symptoms in a private consult
  • Carer's leave, where practical for the pharmacist to also assess the family member you're caring for

Better with a GP or urgent care

  • Severe, complex conditions needing full diagnosis or specialist care
  • Backdated, extended, or multi-day certificate requests
  • Return-to-work, compassionate, maternity or worker's compensation certificates
  • Third-party or phone requests, without an in-person consult
  • Anything your pharmacist judges outside their scope
FAQs →

Available locations.

Four Melbourne pharmacies. Walk-ins welcome.

Questions people actually ask

Can a pharmacist give me a certificate for missing work?
In many cases, yes - for minor illness, our pharmacists can assess you and issue an absence certificate when it is clinically appropriate. The pharmacist decides based on your consult; it is not automatic.
What sort of conditions can I get a certificate for?
Our pharmacists can only issue certificates for conditions within their scope of practice - generally minor, self-limiting ailments such as allergies, asthma, minor burns, colds and coughs, constipation, pain, nausea and vomiting. If your illness or injury is beyond what a pharmacist can safely assess, they'll refer you to a GP or other appropriate healthcare professional.
Is this the same as a doctor's medical certificate?
No. An absence from work certificate is issued by a pharmacist, stating that you're unable to attend work or study due to illness, injury, or needing to care for an immediate family or household member. It's a different document to a medical or doctor's certificate, which can only be issued by a medical practitioner (GP). Many workplaces and education providers accept a pharmacist certificate, but requirements vary - check your employer's or school's policy if you're unsure.
How much does it cost?
There is a consultation fee for this service. Ask when you arrive - we will confirm the cost before proceeding. Your consult is not intended to replace medical treatment, opinion, or diagnosis, and issuing a certificate is at the discretion of the pharmacist conducting your consultation.
Do I need to book?
No booking needed. Walk-ins are welcome at all four Melbourne locations.
Can you backdate a certificate?
No. Certificates are issued for the assessment on the day of your consult. If you need documentation for a past period, speak with a GP.
What if the pharmacist declines to issue one?
That can happen when symptoms are complex, outside scope, or when more investigation is needed. We will explain the reason and point you toward appropriate care.
Can I get a certificate for study as well as work?
Where appropriate, yes - for short absences due to minor illness. Bring any forms your institution requires.
What should I bring to my consult?
Bring photo ID (driver licence, passport, or similar) and any notes your workplace or school has asked you to provide. A Medicare or healthcare card isn't required for this consult.
How do I prepare for the consultation?
Check with your employer or school that they'll accept a pharmacist-issued certificate, and note any specific details they need included. Be ready to describe your symptoms and relevant history in full, and bring any related documentation - for example a prescription or a previous certificate. A certificate can only be dated from your consult onwards, so book as soon as you know you need one.
Can I do this over the phone or by video call?
No. Your consultation needs to be conducted in person, in store, with a pharmacist - this is how they can properly assess your fitness for work or your carer's leave request.
Can I get a certificate for carer's leave?
Yes, where appropriate. For a carer's leave certificate, your pharmacist may need to speak with the family or household member you're caring for, as well as you. Where that isn't practical, the pharmacist will use their professional judgement to decide whether the request can be met.
When might a certificate be declined?
Pharmacists aren't authorised to issue certificates for return-to-work purposes, compassionate or maternity leave, most pregnancy-related requests, or to extend an existing certificate. A pharmacist may also decline where your condition needs immediate medical attention, where you're fit to work without risk, for absences longer than a day or two, for non-illness reasons such as court dates or sporting or school commitments, for workers' compensation claims, or where a request is made by a third party or over the phone rather than in a proper consult.

The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute medical advice. Speak to your pharmacist or doctor for advice tailored to your circumstances.

Issue of an absence certificate is subject to the pharmacist's scope of practice and professional judgement. Not every request will result in a certificate.

Fast Certificate Consults

Just walk in - four Melbourne locations.

Find a Location →
Walk in at a store