"Yeah I do now, but I thought I would do the right thing and help give the young girl some security in the work place, I have now learnt a lesson, but I think she must have been brought up in the household that says you need to take your 10 sick days a year whether you sick or not."
In your opening post you said she has had 6 sickies since February. How is this possible? I worked for a large major with a very good award and we got 8 sickies a year and then 10 a year once you were employed 10 yrs or longer. Sick days were accrued, not handed out up front. We were allowed 2 single separate days without a certificate and then the rest certified. Any double days or more required instant certification. Also, technically any days taken immediately before or after a public holiday could be refused payment unless a certificate was produced.
There is no such thing as being 'entitled' to 10 sickies a year. Also, certified or not an employee's absence can be questioned.
As to the $17 increase, I realise it impacts also on Superannuation contributions, but the minimum wage is laughable as a rate of pay. Businesses make it sound like they are doing the employee and country a service.
