Member's Guide to ADF Pay and Conditions in Australia – see Disclaimer – check PACMAN for full details

5.2 'Sick leave'

Do you get sick leave?

There are no 'sick leave' provisions for ADF members. When you are sick though, you are not able to do your duties. A sick day or absence is not called leave. It is a time when you are stood down because you are not able to perform duty.

How do you get time off work?

You will need to get a medical certificate from your medical officer to confirm that you are too sick for duty. You will need to show the medical certificate to your Commanding Officer. Then you are excused from duty for the time the doctor has written on the medical certificate.

A toll-free health advisory service telephone number is available for ADF members in Australia. It is 1800 IMSICK (1800 467 425).

This service allows ADF members to discuss health concerns with trained health staff over the phone and to receive immediate advice about where they need to go to get treatment.

What if it is your dependants who are sick?

See 5.9, Carer's leave, for how to get time off to take care of a sick dependant.

What if you are sick for a long time?

If you are on leave due to illness or injury for more than 28 days, your employment category will be reviewed. In some cases you may be medically discharged, depending on the extent of your incapacity and your capacity for rehabilitation.

The Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Scheme (MRCS) also helps members deal with the effects of illness or injury related to ADF service. See http://www.mrcs.gov.au/.

Application to Reservists:  This applies to Reservists on continuous full-time service. The 1800 IMSICK service is not available to members on Reserve service. Members on Reserve service should advise their unit that they will not attend due to illness. They may be required to produce a medical certificate.

Reference:  ADF Pay and Conditions Manual, Chapter 5 Part 1

Defence Health Services manages health care for the ADF. Its Defweb site is at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/dsg/sites/dhsd/.