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COVID-19 vaccinations: Extensions of the Free Interpreting Service to non-Medicare patients

Published 06 October 2021

To support the Australian Government's objective to encourage non-English speaking cohorts in the Australian community to the vaccinated against COVID-19, the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) has temporarily extended the Free Interpreting Service to now cover non-Medicare patients receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

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Further, medical practices can bow book onsite interpreters on weekends for COVID-19 vaccination purposes. Telephone interpretation services continue to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Pharmacists are able to utilise interpreters from TIS National to assist in their consultations with patients and to ensure informed consent is given for COIVD-19 vaccines.

Medical practices and Pharmacists can use their existing TIS client code to request interpreters for both their Medicare and non-Medicare patients. For those who are not already registered with TIS National, registration can be done online at https://tisonline.tisnational.gov.au/registeragency 

For more information, contact the TIS Free Interpreting Service Team on 1300 575 847 or email tis.freeinterpreting@homeaffairs.gov.au

Last updated: 24 February 2022