Immigration sets new record for interpreting services
Friday 22 August 2008
Interpreting services provided through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) increased by 11 per cent in 2007-08, Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services, Laurie Ferguson, said today.
The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) provided a record 627 865 telephone interpreting services for the year at an average of more than 1700 a day.
‘Record demand for interpreting services indicates multicultural Australia is thriving,’ Mr Ferguson said.
‘Interpreting services are invaluable to non-English speaking members of the community.
‘Our non-English speaking clients use interpreters to connect with government agencies, private businesses, emergency services and community-based organisations.
‘In many situations, TIS National’s interpreters offer a lifeline to non-English speakers.’
Demand for TIS National’s telephone interpreting service has grown by an average of 12.3 per cent over each of the past three years.
The highest demand languages in 2007-08 were Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Korean, Persian, Spanish, Turkish, Serbian and Greek.
The Melbourne-based TIS National Contact Centre services the whole of Australia and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. On-site interpreting is available by appointment. Translating for new settlers can also be arranged.
TIS National has access to more than 1300 contracted interpreters, living and working around Australia. In the 2007-08 financial year, TIS National recruited 159 new interpreters, speaking 85 different languages and dialects.Media Contact: Khaldoun Hajaj - 0404 078 692
URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au
/parlsec/media/media-releases/2008/lf08052.htm
Last update: 22 August 2008 at 09:20 AEST