Special Circumstances Supporting Documentation

Your supporting evidence must include either a completed medical certificate template or an original medical certificate

Medical/Health Certificates must include:

1. Name of practitioner, Signature on letterhead/official stamp including contact details
2. The date on which the health practitioner examined you.
3. The nature, severity and duration of the medical complaint
4. The date when the complaint began and the expected date that the condition will resolve. These dates must cover the date of your examination/assessment submission.

Online Consultations

Supporting documentation for medical or psychological reasons must have resulted from a face to face or online consultation with a medical practitioner. Medical certificates where there has been no consultation (e.g. receiving a medical certificate based on a questionnaire a student has submitted) will not be accepted.

AccessAbility Adjustments

Students who have obtained reasonable adjustments through an Access Plan can use their Access Plan as supporting documentation where applicable. If the special circumstance is outside the scope of the Access Plan, an application with separate supporting documentation must be lodged.

The University will not accept medical certificates issued by a person who is a close associate or near relative of the student. Examples of near relatives are: partner, child, brother, sister or parent. Examples of close associates are: close friends, neighbours and partners or children of colleagues.

JCU conducts regular audits of medical certificates, letters and supporting documents issued by registered health practitioners to confirm the authenticity of the document.

Examples of evidence for Compassionate or Emergency Events may include:

• A Police report,
• bereavement or funeral notice,
• medical certificate in relation to carer responsibilities
• correspondence from a JCU Sexual Misconduct Officer
• Psychologist report.

If no independent evidence is available a Statutory Declaration detailing the circumstances and signed by an authorised signatory may be submitted. (A digital statutory declaration is not acceptable)

Need Help?

• JCU's Counselling Services;
• JCU Respect Misconduct Officers;
• Domestic and Family Violence (Student Support) Procedure;
• Gender-based Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedure.

For any Defence force or SES call out, a statement signed by an authorised officer and detailing the dates of the required service.

A student who is currently recognised as an Elite Athlete under the Defence Force, National Service and Elite Athlete Friendly University Procedure

Signed notification from a relevant religious leader or if not independent evidence is available a Statutory Declaration detailing the circumstances and signed by an authorised signatory may be submitted. (A digital statutory declaration is not acceptable)

Official court summons or documentation, including the dates of the required absence.

Your documentation must be submitted electronically with your application however please hold onto the originals as you may be requested to verify their authenticity by the University.

Documents must be issued by an independent third party and will not be accepted from family members.