Interpreters
Find out if you are eligible for the Free Interpreting Service HERE
Private medical practitioners are eligible to access the Free Interpreting Service when delivering services that are:
- Medicare rebateable
- Delivered in private practice
- Provided to anyone in Australia who has a Medicare card.
Nursing and practice support staff who are working with a private medical practitioner registered with TIS National can also access the service using the same client code. A free interpreter is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Free Interpreting Service – For Medical Specialists (including GPs)
Doctors Priority Line 1300 131 450
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The ‘Working effectively with interpreters and translators’ e-learning packages, developed by Children’s Health Qld provide education for clinicians, interpreters and translators to develop collaborative interprofessional partnerships. Three packages are currently available:
- E-learning package for clinicians
- E-learning package for speech pathologists
- E-learning package for interpreters and translators to work with speech pathologists.
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Migrant and Refugee Women’s Health Partnership – Guide for clinicians working with interpreters in healthcare settings (Jan, 2019)
Working with patients when there are language barriers (Updated Nov 2018)
- HOW TO USE TIS NATIONAL TELEPHONE SERVICE
- The dangers of working with a family member as interpreter: This video demonstrates the importance of using interpreters when seeing patients who do not speak English.
Rez Kempton – Husband, Goldy Notay – Wife, Clementine Wade – Doctor (2012) University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust Watch it here.
Further reading and links
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- Critical Case Analysis of adverse event associated with failure to use interpreters with non English speaking patients – ANU Research Summary
- Using interpreters – A Guide for GPs – Christine Phillips (2010)
- Working with Interpreters – Queensland Health Guidelines
- TIS (Translating and Interpreter Service)
- Video – “Working with Interpreters in the Healthcare Setting” – Western Sydney Health
NOTE: Telephone and Onsite Interpreters can be booked in advance to ensure that an interpreter is available for the consultation. Book an on site interpreter online with as much notice as possible. Make a note of the patient’s need for an interpreter and the patient’s preferred language/s in their chart for future reference. Document that an interpreter was used in the patient’s record including the interpreter’s code.
- Digital copy of the TIS National multilingual poster
- Interpreter Identification Card – Put this sign in Practice Reception so that patients can point to the language they speak. Practice staff can then arrange an interpreter at no charge. Developed by Metro South Health, 2016.
- Languages of the world – Use this list to assist you to identify which language your patient may require an interpreter for.
- CALD Assist – A way for nursing staff and allied health clinicians to communicate with patients from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds when an interpreter is not available. Includes: 10 common languages, 5 allied health disciplines: Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry and Speech Pathology and nursing specific module. Read more here.
Qld Health – Interpreters and healthcare
- Language Services Policy and Guidelines – Qld Government
- Guide to clinicians working with interpreters in health settings and Competency Standards Framework for Clinicians – Migrant and Refugee Health Partnership
- AUSIT Guidelines for Health Professionals
- AUSIT Best Practice resources
This program supports access to private allied health services by non-English speaking clients and ensure free interpreting services are available to AHPs working in private practice to communicate with non-English speaking clients. Registered AHPs can receive FREE access to Immediate phone interpreting, Pre-booked phone interpreting and On-site interpreting.
Brisbane South
Download the FLYER and expression of interest or contact 3864 7580 or refugeehealth@bsphn.org.au.
Due to the high number of Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) now registered for the ‘Interpreting for AHPs Program,’ Brisbane South PHN are reviewing each new application with consideration to local need and program capacity. If an AHP would like to be considered for the program, they should send a completed EOI to refugeehealth@bsphn.org.au or fax to 07 3864 7599. Brisbane South PHN will communicate the outcome of the EOI via email.
Brisbane North & Moreton Bay Region
Download the FLYER and expression of interest or contact 3864 7580 or refugeehealth@bsphn.org.au.
Darling Downs & West Moreton
Darling Downs & West Moreton PHN has established the trial program.
More information or contact Francene Bain (Program Officer) francene.bain@ddwmphn.com.au or Ph. (07) 4615 0995
Free Translation
The Free Translating Service is provided for people settling permanently in Australia, to support participation in employment, education and community engagement.
Permanent residents and select temporary or provisional visa holders are able to have up to ten eligible documents translated, into English, within the first two years of their eligible visa grant date. The Migration Translators delivers the Free Translating Service on behalf of the Department of Social Services. More information here.
Further Reading and Links:
- Critical Case Analysis of adverse event associated with failure to use interpreters with non English speaking patients – ANU Research Summary
- Using interpreters – A Guide for GPs – Christine Phillips (2010)
- Working with Interpreters – Queensland Health Guidelines
- TIS (Translating and Interpreter Service)
- Video – “Working with Interpreters in the Healthcare Setting” – Western Sydney Health