5.13 Language services policy
The Department of Human Services Language Services Policy outlines the requirements for departmental services and funded organisations to enable people with a low level of English proficiency, or who use Auslan as their first language, to access professional interpreting and translating services when making significant life decisions or where essential information is being communicated.
The policy assists in the identification of critical points for language services provision to ensure clients can make informed decisions about their lives and their health.
Departmental services and funded organisations should have policies and procedures in place to meet the following three minimum language service requirements:
- Clients who are not able to communicate through written or spoken English have access to information in their preferred language at critical points;
- Language services are provided by appropriately qualified professionals;
- People, including family members, under 18 years of age are not used as interpreters.
An electronic copy of the Language Services Policy can be downloaded at:
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/multicultural/html/langservpolicy.htm