Multicultural Health - interpreting and translating
Interpreter services
A culturally competent organisation addresses the language barriers of consumers.
The Queensland Government recognises that a significant number of people do not speak English well enough or are not able to communicate adequately with Queensland Government staff and Queensland Government funded non-government organisations. The Queensland Government Language Services Policy states that clients should be provided with fair and equitable access to services that are responsive and high quality.
Queensland Health provides interpreters on-site and by telephone and video-conference 24 hours a day, seven days a week in more than 130 languages for clients who are not proficient in English. More information can be found here.
It is Queensland Government policy to use professional interpreters when possible.
About interpreting and translating
- An interpreter deals with the spoken word.
- A translator deals with written text.
Queensland Health provides interpreting services for spoken languages. To access translated health information and resources to assist in completing translations, go to the Translating health information section.
Links to professional bodies
The National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) is the national standards and accreditation body owned by the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments of Australia.
The Queensland Government Language Services Policy states that NAATI accredited or recognised professional interpreters should be used and that non-professional interpreters should not be used unless the situation is urgent and a professional interpreter is unavailable.
The Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators (AUSIT) is the professional association for translators and interpreters in Australia.
