Hello. My name is Jacob Clarke and I am a committee member of Deaf Advocacy, Sports and Recreation ACT (DeafACT).

I am going to explain the new service available to the ACT Deaf Community. This service is important for interpreting access in emergency situations.   

The service is called the "24 Hour Emergency Interpreter Service". This service is operated by Sign Language Communications NSW (SLC NSW) and is funded by the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services ACT (DACT). SLC NSW is working in partnership with DeafACT to raise awareness about this service in the deaf community and to Emergency Service Providers.

How to use the 24 hour emergency interpreting service?
If you have an emergency you can contact the emergency service to organise an Auslan interpreter. You can contact the service at anytime of the day or night.

Emergency situations include: police interview, hospital.

In an emergency situation you should first contact the Emergency Services by calling 000 or 106.

Once you have called the emergency services, you or the emergency service provider can then call or SMS the 24 hour Emergency Interpreting service on 0412 422 059.

When you call or SMS you will be in touch with staff from SLC NSW and you will need to give them important information so that they can organise an interpreter. This information includes:

1. your name,
2. the name of the Deaf person who needs the Auslan Interpreter (if different person),
3. an address for the interpreter to go and meet you or the Deaf person,
4. a brief detail about the situation for the Auslan Interpreter. For example, heart attack, police interview.

SLC NSW staff will be in touch with the emergency services provider to let them know that an interpreter will be organised and will keep in touch with you until an available interpreter can be confirmed.

It would be a good idea to save the Emergency Interpreting Service contact number in your mobile phone.

Hello. My name is Jasmine Fox and I am the Manager of SLC NSW. We are very excited about this new service which has been established for the ACT Deaf Community.

SLC NSW encourages the community to provide feedback about this service to ensure it is continually improved. If you have any questions or feedback you can contact SLC NSW via phone, fax, email or provide feedback through the SLC website.

SLC NSW and DeafACT would like to thank DACT for funding this important service and we would also like to thank the Deaf Community for its support in establishing this service.

Thank you, Bye.

Making a Complaint If you would like to make a complaint about the 24 hour Emergency Interpreting Service, you can make a complaint to either:

• Deaf Society of NSW - click here - or
• ACT Disability Services Commissioner – for more information about how to do this click here.