Attending hearings
If you need an interpreter to understand what is being said at a court hearing, you can arrange for any interpreter that you or your witnesses may require. In some circumstances, the Court will arrange an interpreter for you.
Communicating with registry staff
If you need an interpreter to communicate with registry staff, you can call 131 450 (the Translating & Interpreting Service) and speak to an interpreter.
Translating documents - Accredited translations
All documents must be prepared in English. If you want to rely on a document that is in a language other than English, it must be translated into English by a qualified and certified translator.
The National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) NAATI is the national standards and certifying authority for translators and interpreters in Australia. When using a private translator (or interpreter), look for NAATI certification.
The following services might be helpful to you.
Language services
National
Find an interpreter or translator
Online database of the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd (NAATI), listing all certified translators and interpreters in Australia.
Phone: 1300 557 470
Translating and Interpreting Service
Interpreting service provided by the Department of Home Affairs.
Free Translating Service
The Free Translating Service is provided by the Australian Government for people settling permanently in Australia to support participation in employment, education and community engagement. Permanent residents and some temporary or provisional visa holders can have up to ten eligible documents translated, into English, within the first two years of their eligible visa grant date. Eligible documents include identity and relationship documents, facilitation documents such as driver’s licences, education documents and employment-related documents.
For more information, go to the Free Translating Service website. The website is available in English, Arabic, Farsi and Simplified Chinese.
New South Wales
Legal Aid NSW
- Fact sheets and resources searchable by language.
- Free telephone service with access to TIS.
Northern Territory
Legal aid information in other languages
- Information about contacting NT legal aid.
South Australia
Interpreting and Translating Centre
- Interpreter and translation services.
Victoria
Speak to us in your language
- Phone services to speak to Victoria Legal Aid in a range of different languages.
Get help in your own language
- Written advice in a range of different languages.
