Accessing interpreter and translation services
Queensland Health clients who are not proficient in English will be provided with an interpreter at no charge.
The Queensland Language Services Policy outlines the Queensland Government's commitment to use interpreters and translated information to improve access to the full range of government and government-funded services for people with difficulty communicating in English.
The Queensland Health Working with Interpreter Guidelines (PDF 438 kB) state that a professional interpreter should be engaged when:
- the client/consumer/patient requests an interpreter.
- the information to be communicated to the patient is significant for health and/or health outcomes.
- the person’s English skills are assessed to be inadequate to properly understand the situation or the instructions they are being given.
- the client/consumer/patient produces a Queensland Government interpreter card.
Professional interpreters should be engaged through each Hospital and Health Service interpreter service coordinator.
Queensland Health's interpreter service is available 24 hours, 7 days a week in more than 130 languages for those who prefer their information in:
- languages other than English
- deaf languages
- sign language.
Interpreters are available onsite as well as via telephone or video conference.
Standing Offer Arrangement (SOA)
HSQ81638, the Provision of Language Services (Interpreting and Translation) is the whole-of-government SOA available to all Queensland Government agencies and other eligible Queensland Government-funded service providers.
In accordance with principle 5.3 of the Queensland Procurement Policy (PDF, 480KB), common-use supply arrangements are mandated to achieve savings and benefits wherever practical.
Language service providers
The below language service providers are accessible via SOA arrangements:
First Nations
Captioning services
Captioning services are also available to Queensland Health clients. Captioning is the text version of speech and other sounds that can be provided onscreen. Captioning services can be delivered in real-time and are useful for people who have a hearing impairment.
SOA enquiries
If you have any queries about the SOA, please contact Craig Pyke (Procurement Officer) at 07 3096 2270 or email at SPLanguageServices@health.qld.gov.au.