Interpreters

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For Medical Practitioners

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.
More information about FREE Interpreter Services for Medical Practitioners
Doctors Priority Line 1300 131 450

Working with patients when there are language barriers; A guide to engaging interpreting services for primary care health professionals working in private practice (BSPHN, Updated Aug, 2024)

Interpreter Engagement in General Practice in Australia – May 2020

For Allied Health Professionals

Allied health professionals in private practice delivering services to patients within approved Local Government Areas can now access the Free Interpreting Services (FIS) for allied health professionals.

Eligibility

Each allied health professional will need to apply for their own personal account, we are unable to approve applications for single accounts with multiple allied health staff.

PHN funded Allied Health Interpreter Program

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

Darling Downs & West Moreton

Darling Downs & West Moreton PHN has established a program.
More information or contact (07) 4615 0933

Tips for working with Interpreters

Further Reading

Resources
  • 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.
  •  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