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About
The Sydney Health Care Interpreter Service (SHCIS) provides professional health care interpreting and translation services for patients and health care providers in hospitals, community-based locations, and in the homes of our patients.
Clear and effective communication is important for good health care, and our service is designed to ensure that people with limited or no English language proficiency can access the services and programs they need in our public health system.
| What is interpreting? | What is translation? |
|---|---|
| Interpreting is the process of transferring meaning between languages in the spoken or signed form. | Translation is the process of transferring meaning between languages in written or recorded texts. |
Our interpreters and translators
Our interpreters and translators are certified or recognised by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). In addition, they attend ongoing professional development and training to ensure that they are skilled to work within the health care sector.
Sydney Health Care Interpreter Service can provide health care interpreters in most community languages, including Auslan for people who are deaf.
Our interpreting services include:
- Onsite or face-to-face interpreting
- Telephone interpreting
- Video conference interpreting
- Group interpreting
- Home visits
We provide services to patients in Sydney Local Health District, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, St Vincent's Hospital Network, Sydney Children's Hospital Randwick, Department of Forensic Medicine, Justice and Forensic Mental Health Network, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse and non-government organisations.
Hours of operation
Our Service Centre is available 7am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, to manage booking requests for interpreters, including standard bookings and bookings in advance for after-hours or weekend appointments. For urgent interpreter requests outside these hours, please contact TIS National on 131 450. A valid TIS client code is required, which can be obtained from the department manager.
Translation services
Our team of certified translators can best be used for medical, technical, legal and complex written information as we have expertise and training in health-related subject matter.
Examples include:
- Direct patient care related documents and medical reports
- Research-related forms
- Surveys and questionnaires
For the development of other in-language written materials (for example, posters, pamphlets, brochures, signage), we work closely with the Diversity Programs and Strategy Hub. Together we provide a unique combination of skills and knowledge for producing written materials to meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse individuals and communities.
Contact
Phone: 1800 477 233
Email: SLHD-Interpreters@health.nsw.gov.au
Mailing address:
Level 8 South, King George V Building,
Missenden Road, Camperdown NSW 2050