Ward Communication Tool
Queensland Health Ward Communication Tool
The Ward Communication Tool was developed by Queensland Health to assist staff to communicate with people who do not speak English well, or at all, about simple day-to-day issues. It may also assist staff to initiate communication.
The tool contains words commonly used in hospital wards, together with a translation of the word, a picture and a phonetic (sounds like) spelling of the word.
The Ward Communication Tool should not to be used in lieu of professional interpreters. However, it can be used to communicate simple needs. For more complex communication, staff should engage a professional interpreter.
How the Ward Communication Tool can be used:
- Select the relevant language
- Point to the relevant word and picture
- Say the word by using the phonetic 'sounds like' (written in black text)
or
- Place the appropriate page in front of the person
- The person can point to the word and picture
Languages available
The tool is available in the following 30 languages*, including Auslan:
*some languages must be downloaded separately from the main tool.
| Download the Ward Communication Tool |
| 1. Arabic | 13. Italian | New additions |
| 2. Chinese (Mandarin) | 14. Japanese | Auslan |
| 3. Croatian | 15. Khmer | Burmese |
| 4. Dinka | 16. Korean | Hmong |
| 5. Dutch | 17. Malay | Kirundi |
| 6. Filipino | 18. Polish | Lao |
| 7. French | 19. Russian | Thai |
| 8. German | 20. Samoan | |
| 9. Greek | 21. Serbian | |
| 10. Hindi | 22. Spanish | |
| 11. Hungarian | 23. Turkish | |
| 12. Indonesian | 24. Vietnamese |
Other communication tools
Cue Cards is a resource developed in Melbourne. It contains many words and languages not covered by the Ward Communication Tool. It is available without charge.
