About TIS National
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TIS National overview
TIS National is an interpreting service, provided by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, for people who do not speak English and for the English speakers who need to communicate with them. TIS National has more than 30 years of experience in the interpreting industry, and has access to over 1900 contracted interpreters across Australia, speaking more than 170 languages and dialects. TIS National is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for any person or organisation in Australia requiring interpreting services. It provides immediate telephone interpreting services, as well as pre-booked telephone and on-site interpreting.
Why should I use an interpreter?
TIS National recommends that interpreters should be used:
- to ensure accurate communication between people who have different language needs
- because effective professional practice requires both parties to have a clear understanding of each other
- because in times of crisis or stress, a person's second language competency may decrease
- because all Australians have the right to access services freely available to English speaking Australians – irrespective of their ethnic background and first language preference.
Why should I use TIS National's interpreters?
TIS National's resources and depth of experience makes it ideally placed to provide professional interpreting services for all Australians.
TIS National is a leader in the interpreting industry and exclusively uses contracted interpreters who:
- are insured for professional indemnity, public liability and workers compensation
- have been cleared by Australian Federal Police checks
- are bound by the Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators Code of Ethics.
Interpreting tasks are assigned to contracted interpreters based on their accreditation standard, geographical location and availability. Priority is given to interpreters with National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) professional accreditation or recognition when allocating assignments.
Requests can also be made for male and female interpreters in sensitive or gender-specific interpreting assignments.
NAATI accredited and recognised interpreters
NAATI is the national standards setting body for the translating and interpreting industry in Australia. It was established in 1977, and is owned by the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments of Australia.
NAATI manages the testing and accreditation of translators and interpreters in Australia. It also serves the community by providing industry advice, consultancy services and skills training for people who use interpreters.
TIS National gives priority to contracting interpreters who have language skills that are accredited or recognised by NAATI. In some cases TIS National may also recruit interpreters who speak new and emerging languages who are not yet accredited.
To find out more about NAATI, please visit the NAATI website.
See: NAATI
Access and Equity strategy
The Australian Government aims to achieve fairer and more accessible government services and programs through its Access and Equity strategy. The strategy seeks to promote fairness and responsiveness in the design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of government services in a culturally diverse society.
Between 1996 and 2005 the department published the Access and Equity annual report which reported on progress in implementing the Charter of Public Service in a Culturally Diverse Society.
In 2007, the Charter was replaced by a new strategy, Accessible Government Services for All (AGSFA). This framework was adopted to promote fairness and responsiveness in the design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of government services in a culturally diverse society.
In 2008, AGSFA reverted to the Access and Equity name. However, the strategy remains the same.
See: Access and Equity