New doctor’s certificate helping Schools Strike 4 Climate protesters chuck a sicky

Victorian students who are planning to skip school to go to Friday’s climate change protest are using a mock medical certificate signed by two university professors.

Students chucking a sicky to attend a national climate rally will have access to a mock medical certificate signed by professors from two leading Australian universities, indicating a “major climate health concern” is preventing them from being in the classroom.

Environmental activist group Schools Strike 4 Climate is hosting its national strike on Friday which will see thousands of young Australians ditch the schoolyard for city streets in a bid to raise awareness about climate change.

In previous years, participating students, teachers and parents have copped backlash for taking the day off school to attend the rally.

But this year, the climate group is providing a “safety buffer” in the form of a doctor’s certificate to explain their absence.

One of the doctor's certificates signed off by the University of Melbourne’s Dr David Karoly.

Dr Nick Abel from the Australian National University added his name to the climate doctor’s certificate.

The certificate says strikers are experiencing symptoms of “increased anxiety”, “elevated stress” and “feelings of despair”, and thus the doctor recommends they “take a sick day to protest for a sick planet”.

University of Melbourne and Australian National University climate scientists David Karoly and Nick Abel have signed off on the medical certificates available for download on the Schools Strike 4 Climate website.

Dr Abel told the Herald Sun he feels guilty about the “tonnage of greenhouse gases” his generation will leave behind, which inspired him to help school-aged activists in their endeavours to protest for a healthier planet.

“I’m incredibly enthused by the initiative of the Climate Medical Certificate and hope it helps ensure more students can take action and attend the rallies,” he said.

While the medical certificate has no official status and its acceptance is at a school’s discretion, Dr Abel hopes by putting his name to it, it will “add a degree of authority” and encourage school’s to support the movement.

There’s been mixed opinions about whether the medical certificate is a good idea.

While most student protesters are grateful to have access to the medical certificate, it has received mixed views from parents and members of state parliament.

Parents Victoria CEO Gail McHardy has welcomed the innovative idea, so long as the document doesn’t genuinely certify a student has been ill.

“Students are constantly encouraged to be active learners, learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom and it’s important for students as they develop into responsible adults,” she said.

Ms McHardy also encouraged students under 16 to come to a decision with their parents about whether they should attend the rally.

Meanwhile, opposition education spokeswoman Jess Wilson contested the notion, insisting absenteeism at Victorian schools was already at unprecedented levels and that school time should be for learning and development.

“We need to be reinforcing that school attendance is paramount for school students across the state, not allowing professional political activists to encourage school students to use a fake doctor’s certificate to skip school,” she said.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said normal school attendance expectations will apply on Friday.