The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) is an interpreting service provided by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and has a range of interpreters speaking various languages. TIS can arrange an interpreter to assist over the phone or to attend in person.

You can call TIS on 131 450 to make an enquiry. 

Multicultural NSW

The Language Services unit of Multicultural NSW provides comprehensive interpreting and translation services in many languages and dialects, including Auslan. Their services are available to all New South Wales Government departments and agencies, as well as private and commercial organisations, community groups and individuals.

For more information, go to the Multicultural NSW website.

National Relay Service (NRS)

The NRS is a phone service for people who are Deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment.

For more information, go to the National Relay Service website.

Sign Language Communications (SLC NSW/ACT)

Sign Language Communications (SLC NSW/ACT) provides interpreting and note taking services in a range of settings where deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind people as well as hearing people are able to communicate effectively with each other. They also provide deaf interpreters for deaf and deafblind people who require additional communication support.  They can provide services for you either on-site or remotely via Video Conferencing Technology (Video Remote Interpreting).

For more information, go to the Deaf Society NSW website.

Other interpreting options

If you do not want to pay for an interpreter, you can consider:

• hiring a lawyer that speaks your language
• bringing a support person with you to the meeting who can help translate the advice given to you by your lawyer. You should be careful if you decide to do this, and make sure that you can trust your support person to interpret exactly what you and the lawyer say to each other.

 It is always best to use a qualified interpreter.