A move forward to make all our services more accessible to all Tasmanians, including new Tasmanians.
We are thrilled to announce a significant advancement at Family Planning Tasmania. We have been granted access to the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National). This development promises to enhance our communication and outreach capabilities considerably.
With this partnership, we’ve secured a fully funded arrangement with TIS for our SoSAFE sessions and Additional Needs education sessions. For those unfamiliar, SoSAFE is a set of visual and conceptual tools designed to promote social safety for people with an intellectual disability or Autism Spectrum Disorder. We hold workshops for SoSAFE, and you can read more about that here >>.
“AN” refers to our “Additional Needs” one-on-one sessions, aimed at offering tailored assistance and information to our clients in a one-on-one or small group setting. Read more about that here >>.
There is no payment required from our end for utilising TIS for SoSAFE or tailored education sessions. However, it’s essential to note that while we can use TIS for other communication needs, there will be an associated fee for those services.
To use this service, clients can let us know when they are booking their education session so we can pre-book an interpreter. Otherwise, we can call the service on the day, subject to availability.
Pre-booked telephone assignments with TIS come with multiple benefits. They support complex or highly sensitive topics, allow us to brief the interpreter about essential information in advance, and give us a higher chance of securing interpreters for less commonly spoken languages or those with limited availability. We can also provide important documentation to the interpreter before the session for pre-reading. Appointments can be booked a minimum of 30 mins in advance and up to 90 days prior, all coordinated through TIS online.
The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) is an initiative by the Department of Home Affairs. With over 70 years of experience, they bridge the communication gap for non-English speakers. Their vast network provides access to over 2700 interpreters across more than 150 languages. Their services range from immediate phone interpreting to pre-booked sessions, video remote interpreting, and even on-site interpreting. TIS is available around the clock, every day of the year.
TIS National’s commitment to ensuring all Australians can access vital services equitably, regardless of their linguistic background, resonates with our mission at Family Planning Tasmania. We’re eager to embrace this collaboration, anticipating a more inclusive communication environment for all our clients and partners.
For more details on TIS and the services they provide, feel free to visit their website: TIS National.
Thank you for your continued support. We’re excited about this new phase, and together, we aim to make a difference!
