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Why Swinburne University Requires a Medical Impact Statement, Not Just a Certificate
Swinburne University grades how badly you were affected, not what you had. A certificate that says "unfit for duty" does not answer the question it is asking.
5 min readMedically reviewedAustralia-wide
Swinburne requires a Medical Impact Statement for all medical special consideration claims. Your practitioner completes it and submits it with your application form. A standard medical certificate alone does not meet the requirement. The statement asks the practitioner to rate the impact on your ability to study as minor, moderate or severe, and Swinburne may contact the practitioner directly to verify it.
A certificate alone will not carry a medical claim at Swinburne
Swinburne's special consideration page states that all medical claims must include a Medical Impact Statement completed by your professional practitioner and submitted with your application form. This is the strictest own-form requirement among the universities covered in these guides, and it is not optional for medical grounds.
Download the statement before you book your student medical certificate online and upload it at booking so your GP can complete it during the consultation.
The form asks for a graded impact, not just a diagnosis
The Medical Impact Statement asks the practitioner to record the degree to which your ability to undertake or complete the assessment was affected, choosing between minor, moderate and severe. Swinburne's guidance describes minor impact as a condition that is not serious and has not significantly affected your ability to attend or complete assessment, and severe impact as a condition that left you unable to attend. This is why a certificate that says "unfit for duty" is weaker at Swinburne than elsewhere: the University is assessing impact, not illness.
The practitioner can record a confidential illness
The statement allows a practitioner to indicate that you are experiencing an illness of a confidential nature rather than naming a diagnosis. If privacy is a concern, this option exists.
You are authorising Swinburne to check with your doctor
By submitting the statement, you authorise Swinburne to seek information directly from the originating source. Swinburne can and does contact practitioners to verify.
An automatic extension may remove the need entirely
Swinburne offers an automatic extension of up to three days on eligible assessments. If you need more than three days, or the automatic extension is not available for your assessment, that is the point at which special consideration and the Medical Impact Statement become necessary.
Documentation must be in English
If a document is not in English, you must provide a certified translation.
Keep the originals
Swinburne requires students to retain originals of documents submitted in support of a special consideration request and may require them at any point during enrolment.
What your practitioner records on the statement
| Section of the statement | What the practitioner records |
|---|---|
| Consultation | A declaration by the registered practitioner that they had a consultation with you, and the date it took place. |
| Nature of the condition | A diagnosis, or a note that you are experiencing an illness of a confidential nature, or that symptoms were no longer present and could not be assessed. |
| Minor impact | The condition was not serious and did not significantly affect your ability to attend or complete assessment. |
| Moderate impact | The condition caused considerable discomfort but did not severely affect your ability to attend or complete the task. |
| Severe impact | The condition severely affected you, and you were unable to attend. |
| Verification consent | Your authorisation for Swinburne to seek information directly from the practitioner. |
Vocational and higher education students use different forms
Swinburne runs separate special consideration forms and timelines for higher education, Vocational Education and Swinburne Professional, and for pathway programs. Download the Medical Impact Statement that matches your course type from Swinburne University's current special consideration page.
Bring the statement to the consultation.
Download the Medical Impact Statement, tick the university form option when you book, and upload it. Your GP completes the impact section during the consultation if a certificate is clinically appropriate. You can also learn more about getting an online GP medical certificate in Melbourne.
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Frequently asked questions
View all FAQsYes, provided the GP can properly assess your presentation that way. The impact rating is a clinical judgement, so the GP decides whether a camera is needed.
For medical grounds, Swinburne asks for the Medical Impact Statement. A certificate alone may not be sufficient.
No. Non-medical grounds such as bereavement or hardship use different documentary evidence.
Swinburne may contact the practitioner or their office to confirm the authenticity of medical evidence. Its Medical Impact Statement includes consent for this verification, so the practitioner's contact and registration details should be accurate.
Yes. Swinburne's automatic extension is a separate process that can provide up to three calendar days for eligible assessments. If you need more time, the assessment is not eligible, or the due date has already passed, you may need to apply for Special Consideration instead.
