Information for Clients who need an Interpreter:
If you need an interpreter for a Tasmanian State health service, we will provide one that is free and confidential.
When making an appointment - Please tells us when you make your appointment or on your admission that you need an interpreter, and we will arrange one for you.
Please let us know which language or dialect you prefer. Please show your Interpreter Card.
If you need to cancel or change an appointment, it is important you tell us in advance. It may also help to please remind us if an Interpreter was booked for the original appointment, and needs to be re-booked for the new appointment.
Do not bring or hire your own interpreter and expect the doctor or the health service to pay your interpreter for you. The Doctor or Health Service must themselves make the booking for a Professional Interpreter and organise to cover the costs.
If your doctor or a health service asks you to bring in a family member or a friend, say NO.
Family members and friends cannot be expected to be neutral and interpret everything they hear. They may be emotionally or personally involved with you and this may affect their interpreting. Your confidentiality as a patient and the objectiveness of the information cannot be guaranteed. Professional Interpreters must be used wherever possible for legal and ethical reasons.
More Information
If you need an interpreter to help you to contact a Tasmanian State health service,
Telephone the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 13 14 50 and tell them the name of the service or worker you want to speak to and their phone number. They will find the right Interpreter and connect you to the service. The Interpreter will help you and the service or worker to talk together. The service will pay for the Interpreter.
The Tasmanian government is committed to the rights of all Tasmanians from a different culture or language background. The State Government’s policy is to provide professional interpreting services to clients free of charge in situations where communication is difficult. This is in accordance with the Government's policy for Tasmania's Culturally Diverse Society.
Either the client or a staff member may request the assistance of an Interpreter. This is to help with communication to ensure you can both understand what each other is saying.
It is the responsibility of all DHHS services to arrange and pay for a professional interpreter when needed; a client should never be asked to pay for an interpreter or to bring their own.
If you have any other queries, contact Multicultural Health and Wellbeing on Tel: 03-6222-7656 or multiculturalhealth@dhhs.tas.gov.au
Interpreting Services Fact Sheet