This output supports access to free translating and interpreting services for eligible clients. These services are provided through the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National—see Output group 2.2).

Description

Free interpreting services are provided to approved individuals and organisations to help them communicate with non-English speaking migrants and humanitarian entrants who are Australian citizens or permanent residents. Free services are available to:

• private medical practitioners providing services under Medicare
• non-profit, non-government, community-based organisations providing settlement services and casework (subject to their funding arrangements)
• Members of Parliament for constituency purposes
• local government authorities
• trade unions
• Emergency Management Australia
• pharmacies for the purpose of dispensing PBS medications.

Free translations of personal settlement-related documents are provided to permanent residents and some temporary visa holders and returning Australian citizens within their first two years of arrival or grant of permanent residence.

Documents eligible for free translation include identity and relationship documents (for example, birth and marriage certificates), facilitation documents (for example, drivers licences), and education and employment documents.

Performance

The number of free translation and interpreting services provided in 2008–09 was significantly higher than that provided in 2007–08.

A total of 170 005 interpreting services were provided. Of these services, 149 720 were telephone interpreting services and
20 285 were on-site interpreting services. The number of documents translated was 9956 (see also Output 2.2.1).

Based on the success of a pilot program in 2007, free access to telephone interpreting services for pharmacies was extended on a permanent basis on 8 December 2008 in recognition of the importance of clear communication in dispensing medicines to non-English speakers.

The department has undertaken a range of promotional strategies to advertise the service nationally. Since the launch of the service, over 1200 pharmacies have registered for free interpreting services across Australia (approximately 25 per cent of all pharmacies).

The department is considering the possible expansion of free interpreting services to additional groups.

Table 64: Free translating and interpreting services—performance information

Key performance indicators	2008–09
Quality: Payment to translating and interpreting services for estimated number of free services administered efficiently
Planned	No increase in cost of administration
Result	Cost of administering the payment has not increased despite an increase in client numbers