Tools for professionals

SBS has launched a new interactive tool in eight languages, to help you explore the 2021 Census results, extending the reach of these fascinating insights to communities across Australia.  

Alongside English, the SBS Australian Census Explorer is available for the first time in Arabic, Greek, Italian, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese, presenting a powerful visual of who we are as Australians today through fun and easy-to-use interactive elements.    

VĀSĀ Consultancy provides resources in Pasefika languages for communities in Victoria. It was formed in response to the urgent need for culturally-appropriate, grass-roots engagement between the Pasefika communities of Victoria, and Victorian state and local government organisations.

Eastern Health Transcultural Services
Cue cards to assist health professionals and clients/carers who have low English proficiency or difficulty in communicating with each other.

https://www.healthtranslations.vic.gov.au/resources/cue-cards

Victorian Multicultural Commission
The Victorian Interpreter Card is a wallet-sized card which helps Victorians with limited English access government services. The card can be used to help request interpreter assistance as well as making it easier for staff to arrange language assistance in the correct language. The Victorian Interpreter Card features the national interpreter symbol, and is available in 30 languages.

https://www.vic.gov.au/interpreter-card

Centre for Culture, Ethnicity & Health, Melbourne Primary Care Network, St Vincent’s Melbourne

Teach-back is a method used by health professionals to check if patients understand the health information they have been given. This tool is a teaching video which demonstrates the use of the “teach-back”  technique at a hepatitis B consultation. 

http://www.ceh.org.au/new-resource-showing-the-teach-back-technique-in-hepatitis-b-context/

Centre for Culture, Ethnicity & Health, North Western Primary Healthcare Network
This resource outlines how to use the ‘teach-back’ technique via an interpreter. This is a straightforward method that can simplify a potentially complex situation in day to day practice.

http://www.ceh.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/CEH_Teach-back_WEB.pdf

NSW Refugee Health Service
The NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service's online Appointment Reminder Translation Tool allows you to translate appointment details into your client's language. 14 New Languages have been added to the Tool that can be used to assist health services with sending translated messages (including SMS) to patients. One of the added languages includes  Ukrainian which means there are now 64 languages with 15 appointment types available.

https://www.mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au/publications/appointment-reminder-translation-tool/create_an_appointment

Victorian Government

AskVic’ is the Victorian Government’s new multilingual WhatsApp chatbot, developed to assist Victorians to get the questions they need answered, as quickly as possible, in 8 languages. Languages currently available include: Arabic, English, Hindi, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, Turkish, and Vietnamese.

Users can connect with AskVic by texting ‘hello’ in their preferred language to 0480 032 278 on WhatsApp and can ask questions around topics including COVID-19, vaccinations, financial assistance, housing and more.

https://www.vic.gov.au/askvic-multilingual-chatbot

Western Health
The award-winning CALD Assist iPad app is a simple and dynamic way for allied health clinicians to communicate with patients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds when an interpreter is not available. Featuring phrases commonly used during assessments translated and recorded in 10 common languages, the CALD Assist app facilitates assessments to support the development of clinical recommendations.

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/cald-assist/id1181619372?mt=8

Migration Council Australia

MyAus App is the ultimate in-language directory for creating your life in Australia. A multilingual app assists the settlement and integration of permanent and temporary migrants by providing them with authoritative and consistent information about systems and services in Australia.

https://www.myausapp.com/

Centre for Culture, Ethnicity & Health
Health literacy techniques can improve clients’ understanding of health information and the health system. These tipsheets will help you plan, implement and monitor health literacy strategies.

https://www.ceh.org.au/resource-hub/category/health-literacy/

Centre for Culture, Ethnicity & Health
These tipsheets assist you to provide language services to your clients with low English proficiencies. The tipsheets include information on how to use interpreters effectively, working with bilingual staff and providing effective translations.

https://www.ceh.org.au/resource-hub/multicultural-language-services-guide/

Department of Premier and Cabinet
Using translation services - Victorian Government guidelines, policies and procedures. Topics include planning and preparation, credentials, target audiences, and engaging translation services.

https://www.vic.gov.au/using-translation-services

Infoxchange
Use the ‘Advanced Search’ feature in Infoxchange Service Seeker, to find health practitioners who speak a language other than English. Service Seeker is Australia's most extensive electronic health, welfare and community services directory. Service Seeker provides up-to-date information across a number of classifications including aged, counselling, disability, drug & alcohol, education & training, employment, ethnic, family, financial, health, housing, law, recreation and youth.

https://www.serviceseeker.com.au/

AMPARO Advocacy Inc
This fact sheet from AMPARO Advocacy in QLD support interpreters and translators working with people with disabilities in the framework of the NDIS.

https://www.amparo.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/230118_Updated-int…