A long-serving Brisbane CityCat worker has lost her unfair dismissal claim after the Fair Work Commission ruled her employer was justified in terminating her employment due to excessive sick leave. Jodie Daunis, a customer service operator on Brisbane's iconic ferries, was dismissed by transport company Kelsian Group in July last year after taking 114 sick days in a 12-month period.
Ms Daunis' health issues began escalating around April 2024 when she developed deep vein thrombosis and recurrent blood clots, causing inflammation and persistent pain. She was referred for surgery in November 2024 but was placed on a public hospital waitlist after her insurance declined coverage. In April 2025, she was hospitalised with DVT for about a week, and upon return managed only two shifts before pain made her duties difficult.
In late April 2025, Ms Daunis informed Kelsian that a vascular surgeon and blood specialist had advised she remain off work for three months. A June independent medical examination became a point of contention: Ms Daunis and the Maritime Union of Australia argued it indicated she could return after surgery, while Kelsian interpreted it as showing she could not perform essential ferry duties. The company also said reduced hours would disrupt staff rosters.
Kelsian terminated Ms Daunis on July 1, stating it could not modify her role to accommodate medical restrictions. Commissioner Chris Simpson ruled that the medical report “fell well short” of proving she could return to full duties soon, and agreed that rostering constraints made reduced hours impractical. The commission dismissed her claim, upholding the dismissal as fair.
