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Resources > Multicultural Health

New service arrangements - impact on community members

The aim of the new interpreter service arrangements is to provide effective interpreting services for people accessing or receiving Queensland Health services and who require an interpreter.

As from 26 November 2007, interpreting services in Queensland Health will be based on:

  1. the use of staff or internal NAATI accredited or recognized interpreters where possible (ie. where demand for a language is high enough).  NAATI is the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters
  2. all other interpreter services, including those for the hearing impaired, across the state provided through the Queensland Health External Interpreter Service Provider.


Each Queensland Health District will have an Interpreter Services Coordinator who will coordinate the requesting, booking and confirmation of interpreter services.  These are the officers to contact if you have any concerns about interpreting services in your local Queensland Health service.

You may contact these officers directly or ask your support worker to contact them. If your support worker is making enquiries on your behalf, you will need to authorise them to do so.  Contact Us – Health Service District Interpreter Coordinator

The District Interpreter Services Coordinators will be supported by an Interpreter Quality Officer. There is one officer in each of Queensland Health’s three Area Health Services. Contact Us – Area Health Service Interpreter Quality Officer.

You may contact these officers directly or ask your support worker to contact them. If your support worker is making enquiries on your behalf, you will need to authorise them to do so.  

Interpreter service types - onsite, telephone

Interpreters may be booked for onsite (ie. will be there in person) or telephone. 

Queensland Health staff determine what type of interpreter they require by the nature of the health related appointment. Generally, onsite interpreters will be required for most health related appointments.

Telephone interpreters can be engaged at short notice for administrative communication, when a person presents without an appointment, for medical emergencies or when an onsite interpreter is not available (eg. rural or remote areas). 


Last Updated: 12 September 2007
Last Reviewed: 12 September 2007