The Department of Home Affairs’ Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) has launched a new video interpreting service to help non-English speaking medical patients access telehealth consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Acting Minister for Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alan Tudge said the new telehealth video interpreting service was developed in response to a growing demand for online services during the pandemic.
“It allows medical professionals to book an interpreter remotely to assist during video consultations with patients with limited or no English-language skills,” Mr Tudge said.
“The new telehealth video interpreting service adds another level of useability to TIS National which is already providing critical telephone interpreting services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, right across Australia,” he said.
“The video service will make it easier for medical professionals to connect with their patients, while enabling the COVID-safe delivery of vital health services.”
Mr Tudge said the service was already predominately being used by people locked down in Victoria, and the most common languages requested were Vietnamese, Arabic, Mandarin, Greek, Italian and Farsi.
“TIS National connects government, businesses, and the Australian community through the provision of credentialled and secure interpreting services in more than 140 languages,” he said.
TIS National said GPs, medical specialists, nurse practitioners and allied health professionals, could book an interpreter to join a Telehealth video consultation using the practitioners preferred choice of video conferencing platform.
