Multicultural services
Australia is home to many people from different cultures. We provide a range of services to help you talk to us or get information in your own language.
Who does this information apply to?
This information is for people who would like to:
- talk to us or see information in their own language
- help others to access Australian government services in languages other than English
Information in your language
A range of translated information is available in many languages. This includes Centrelink and Child Support publications, as well as the Medicare information kit.
The Centrelink, Child Support and Medicare programs also offer a additional multicultural services such as translators and interpreters to help you in dealing with us.
Centrelink
Centrelink provides an interpreting and translation service to make it easier for you to get our payments and services. If you need an interpreter when you are talking to Centrelink, tell us and we will provide one free of charge. We can also provide a free translation service for your documents when you are making a claim.
Centrelink produces a range of resources for working with people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and operates a national network of Multicultural Service Officers.
Bilingual staff may be available in some Centrelink Service Centres to help with enquiries. You can call Centrelink Multilingual Call on 13 1202 to speak to a staff member in your own language about your situation.
A range of information products in other languages such as factsheets, newsletters and DVDs are available to explain Centrelink services and programs.
More information
- Centrelink website - We speak your language
Medicare and Child support customers
If you are dealing with the Medicare or the Child Support program and need help in a language other than English, you can call the Translating and Interpreting Service and speak to a person in your own language. The number to call is 13 1450. The service is available between 8.30am and 4.45pm (local time), Monday to Friday.
Medicare has an information kit that has been translated into 19 languages. It tells you about the main health programs including Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. It may be useful even if you have lived in Australia for some time.
- Medicare website - Foreign language support
- Child Support website - Help in other languages