Interpreting services extended for pharmacies
Monday 8 December 2008
Free telephone interpreting services will be extended to pharmacies across Australia on an ongoing basis, the Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services, Laurie Ferguson, announced today.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship, through the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) and the assistance of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, recently conducted a pilot extension of free telephone interpreting services.
TIS National provided more than 500 000 telephone interpreting tasks in 2007-08 to assist with communication between English speaking and non-English speaking members of the Australian community.
For six months, 331 participating pharmacies were provided with unlimited access to telephone interpreting services, 24 hours a day.
The pilot showed that pharmacies using the service found it to be a valuable tool when communicating with non-English speakers and would use it again.
The need for this service is highlighted by the health care needs of recent refugee arrivals and elderly former migrants
'The tendency to revert to a first language as experienced by some older Australians, who have acquired English as a second language, is one of the greatest issues facing our ageing population. This was demonstrated by the heavy usage of the TIS services by post-war aged European Communities throughout the duration of the pilot,' Mr Ferguson said.
'Interpreting services are crucial for the proper distribution and usage of prescription medicines by non-English speaking Australians.
'Pharmacies who participated in the pilot used interpreting services more frequently and reported improved outcomes in terms of client understanding of medications.'
The service has been welcomed by other stakeholders, such as refugee health nurses and settlement services providers, for its value in addressing some of the challenges in providing effective health care to non-English speakers.
Registered pharmacies around Australia will be able to access the service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Further information about TIS National can be found at www.immi.gov.au/tis or by calling 1300 655 820.
Media Contact: Sarah Gestier-Garstang (Mr Ferguson) 02 6277 4920 or 0432 283 020
URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au
/parlsec/media/media-releases/2008/lf08070.htm
Last update: 22 September 2009 at 10:11 AEST