Interpreter Services

Our practice provides health services to a diverse and multicultural population, including people with disability and those from non-English-speaking backgrounds (NESB). We recommend NESB patients use a professional interpreter service to assist them during consultations.

You may wish to enlist a translator who is a family member or friend, however we discourage children from translating on their parent's behalf. In some cases, having a family member or friend translate is also not appropriate, for the following important reasons:

• Sometimes you may be reluctant to disclose information to someone you know.
• A relative or friend may inadvertently or deliberately relay biased translation of information.

Our practice is committed to ensuring patients with limited English or are deaf or have loss of hearing, are provided with interpreting and other communication services to assist them to communicate with and understand information and recommendations provided by the doctor and/or clinical team members.

Our practice also encourages patients with minimal English proficiency to request for language assistance, to ensure any communication barriers are overcome and we meet the needs and deliver the highest quality service to our patients.

We use the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS). This is a free service, available 24 hours a day by phone at the time of consultation or with 48 hours’ notice, onsite at our practice. TIS can be contacted on 131 450.