Interpreters

• TIS National Educational Video for Pharmacists

• Free Interpreting Service – Information and resources for Pharmacies – TIS
• Myths and Facts about Pharmacy and Interpreters
• Information about Free Interpreting for Pharmacy – Refugee Health Network Qld

Allied health professionals in private practice delivering services to patients within approved Local Government Areas can now access the Free Interpreting Services (FIS) for allied health professionals.

Eligibility

Each allied health professional will need to apply for their own personal account, we are unable to approve applications for single accounts with multiple allied health staff.

PHN funded Allied Health Interpreter Program

This program supports access to private allied health services by non-English speaking clients and ensure free interpreting services are available to AHPs working in private practice to communicate with non-English speaking clients. Registered AHPs can receive FREE access to Immediate phone interpreting, Pre-booked phone interpreting and On-site interpreting.

Brisbane South

Download the FLYER and expression of interest or contact 3864 7580 or refugeehealth@bsphn.org.au.
Due to the high number of Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) now registered for the ‘Interpreting for AHPs Program,’ Brisbane South PHN are reviewing each new application  with consideration to local need and program capacity.  If an AHP would like to be considered for the program, they should send a completed EOI to refugeehealth@bsphn.org.au or fax to 07 3864 7599. Brisbane South PHN will communicate the outcome of the EOI via email.

Brisbane North & Moreton Bay Region

• Download the list of AHPs
• Fill in an Expression of Interest to join the program or contact 3864 7580 or refugeehealth@bsphn.org.au.

Darling Downs & West Moreton

Darling Downs & West Moreton PHN has established a program.
More information or contact (07) 4615 0933

• How to assess if an interpreter is needed
• Working with Interpreters – Communicate
• ‘Working effectively with interpreters and translators’ e-learning packages, developed by Children’s Health Qld – Education for clinicians, interpreters and translators to develop collaborative interprofessional partnerships. View them here.

Further Reading

• Development and evaluation of interprofessional e-learning for speech pathologists, interpreters and translators by Claire Xiaochi Zhang, Jeanne Marshall, Anne Bernard, Katie Walker-Smith The International Journal of Translation and Interpreting Research Vol 12, No.1  (2020).
• Migrant and Refugee Women’s Health Partnership – Guide for clinicians working with interpreters in healthcare settings (2019)
• Compassionate conversations: A Guide to using an interpreter in virtual communication
• Useful information for health care providers in preparing for difficult conversation virtually can be found in the compassionate conversations guide.
• HOW TO USE TIS NATIONAL TELEPHONE SERVICE
• The dangers of working with a family member as interpreter: This video demonstrates the importance of using interpreters when seeing patients who do not speak English (2012) = University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust Watch it here.
• What’s wrong with using family and friends to interpret? Watch here

• Language Services Policy and Guidelines – Qld Government
• Guide to clinicians working with interpreters in health settings and Competency Standards Framework for Clinicians – Migrant and Refugee Health Partnership
• AUSIT Guidelines for Healthcare settings

• Metro South Health Equity and Access – information for Queensland Health staff – Visit QHEPS 
• Regional Interpreting Internship Model (2021)- CatholicCare Social Services

• Digital copy of the TIS National multilingual poster
• Interpreter Identification Card – Put this sign in Practice Reception so that patients can point to the language they speak. Practice staff can then arrange an interpreter at no charge. Developed by Metro South Health, 2016.
• Languages of the world – Use this list to assist you to identify which language your patient may require an interpreter for.
• CALD Assist – A way for nursing staff and allied health clinicians to communicate with patients from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds when an interpreter is not available. Includes: 10 common languages, 5 allied health disciplines: Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry and Speech Pathology and nursing specific module. Read more here.
•  The Free Translating Service is provided for people settling permanently in Australia, to support participation in employment, education and community engagement.Permanent residents and select temporary or provisional visa holders are able to have up to ten eligible documents translated, into English, within the first two years of their eligible visa grant date. The Migration Translators delivers the Free Translating Service on behalf of the Department of Social Services. More information here.

Further reading