SICK LEAVE POLICY

- For “normal” sick leave period up to one month – nothing changes. The priest is remunerated from presbytery account; supply paid from Church account – even if full time supply. Periods longer than one month would be deemed to be “temporary sickness or incapacity”.

- Then the Archbishop or VG is to request formal care from the Foundation with the clear understanding that conditions of Clause 13 apply. If the inability of the “church” account to meet the cost of the supply priest is alleged, a financial assessment would be made by the Vicar General and/or an assessor of the OPD (old DEMF) before an additional payment is made by the Foundation.

- Any period of sick leave beyond one month requires that a Doctors certificate be presented to the PRF (Foundation) and that the priest in question, or another on his behalf, provide evidence of application to Centrelink for sickness allowances and benefits. The replacement priest (administrator or assistant) would be remunerated from presbytery account.