Community Partners Program (CPP)

The Slovakian Way

Information Kit

2012

Information Kit

The purpose of this information kit is to provide professionals working with people of Slovakian background with practical, up-to-date, accurate information, while its main aim is to assist both the worker and the client. Most problems encountered in daily life are due to

Community Partners Program (CPP)miscommunication and we hope that this short guide will facilitate understanding between the various service providers and the 46,510 strong eastern European communities in Queensland.Steering clear of stereotypes, we hope to have dispelled some common myths and misconception. We believe that the information provided within this kit will give you an overview of the Slovak history, customs and various resources which should form a basis for developing better relationships with your clients.Please also remember that, just like in any other ethnic group, each Slovak person is an individual and what might be appropriate for one will not be for another. The best line of action is to always ask questions of the person concerned to find out why they do what they do.We hope you find this information kit useful, your feedback and comments are always welcome.

Table of Contents

1. Slovakia at a Glance

2. Demographics

3. Migration Trends

4. Culture and Customs

5. Language

6. Religion and Tradition

7. Food and Diet

8. Attitudes to Aged Care

9. Working with Interpreters and Bi-lingual Staff

10. Key Issues for the Slovakian Community

11. Resource Guide

Slovakia at a Glance

Background: In 1918 the Slovaks joined the closely related Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. Following the chaos of World War II, Czechoslovakia became a Communist nation within Soviet-ruled Eastern Europe. Soviet influence collapsed in 1989 and Czechoslovakia once more

Community Partners Program (CPP)became free. The Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate peacefully on 1 January 1993. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Location: Slovakia is a landlocked country located in Eastern Europe with a total area of 48,845 sq. km. Slovakia shares boundaries with Poland (on the N ), Ukraine (on the E ), Hungary (on the S ), and Austria and the Czech Republic (on the W ), and has a total boundary length of 1,355 km (842 mi).

Languages: Slovak (Slovakian) is the official language of Slovakia, spoken by about 5 million people in Slovakia, and by about half a million people outside the country. Hungarian, Romanian, Ukrainian are other languages spoken on a regular basis in Slovakia.

Capital: Bratislava, (located on the south-western border of the country).

National Holidays: Slovaks celebrate a number of public holidays, several of which are associated with the Christian calendar and beliefs. January 1 is both New Year's Day and Independence Day. January 6 is Epiphany, a Christian festival celebrated especially in Catholic communities, where boys dress up as the Magi and go in a procession from house to house. Other Christian spring holidays on the public calendar include Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday, when young men used to visit homes of single young women and whip them with whips made of willow branches tied with ribbon and douse them with cologne. May Day (1 May), a survival from a much older annual round of Slavic and Slovak festivals signifying the major spring celebration, was transformed during the decades of communism into a celebration of workers, with political speeches and shows of military force. The liberation of the Slovak Republic is commemorated on 8 May. Another Christian and national holiday (observed mostly by Catholics), 5 July, honours Saints Cyril and Methodius, who brought Christianity to the Slavs. The anniversary of the Slovak national uprising in World War II is celebrated on 29 August. Constitution Day of the new Slovak Republic is celebrated on 1 September, and 15 September marks another Christian holiday: Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows. All Souls' (Saints') Day on 1 November is observed by many Christians; visits are made to relatives' cemetery plots, where candles are lit. Christmas, the final holiday of the calendar year is celebrated on 25 December, and 31 December marks the celebration of Sylvester (New Year's Eve).

Climate: Temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters.

Natural Recourses: Slovakia is an industrialized nation with a growing service sector. The economy was privatized amid accusations of racketeering in the 1990s. Many former collective farms have been transformed into agricultural cooperatives, with varying degrees of success.

Ethnic Groups: Slovaks have experienced adversarial relationships with four major ethnic groups as a consequence of wars, conquests, and political configurations: Hungarians, Czechs, Germans, and Russians. Nomadic Hungarian peoples conquered the ancestors of the Slovaks in 907 C.E. and retained control over them until the end of World War I. While closely related to

Community Partners Program (CPP)Czechs culturally, Slovaks generally felt marginalized in the various permutations of the unified or federated Czecho-Slovakia and Czechoslovakia from 1919 to the end of 1992. This nonviolent ethnic conflict, sometimes called the "Slovak Question," ended in the "Velvet Divorce" in which two sovereign nations of the Czech Republic and Slovenia were formed.

Religions: The monks Cyril and Methodius brought Christianity to the Great Moravian Empire in the ninth century, but there is evidence of an earlier traditional religion among western Slavs that involved a pantheon of supernatural beings. Today, 70 to 75 percent of Slovaks are Christian, and the majority (60.3 percent) are Roman Catholics. This figure includes Rom, most of which are Catholic. Other major religions include Evangelical Lutheran, nearly 7 percent; Orthodox Christian, 4.1 percent; and Judaism (greatly reduced by the Holocaust), around 1 percent). Atheists may constitute nearly 10 percent of the population, and other faiths (especially Christian) account for the rest.

Demographics

The latest Census in 2006 recorded 3320Slovakia-born people in Australia, anincrease of 10.9 per cent from the 2001 Census. The 2006 distribution by state and territory showed New South Wales had the largest number with 1580

Community Partners Program (CPP)followed by Victoria (650), Queensland (440)and South Australia (320).

Age and SexThe median age of the Slovakia-born in 2006 was 43.5 years compared with 46.8 years for all overseas-born and 37.1 years for the total Australian population. The age distribution showed 2.3 per cent were aged 0-14 years, 8.1 per cent were 15-24 years, 41.6 per cent were 25-44 years, 29.2 per cent were 45-64 years and 18.7 per cent were 65 and over. Of the Slovakia-bornin Australia, there were 1630 males (48.9 per cent) and 1700 females(51.1 per cent). The sex ratio was 95.8 malesper 100 females.

LanguageThe main languages spoken at home by Slovakia-born people in Australia were Slovak (60.9per cent), English (27.5 per cent) and Hungarian (3.2 per cent). Of the 2400 Slovakia-born who spoke a language other than English at home, 93.1 per cent spoke English very well or well and 5.9 per cent spoke English not well or not at all.

ReligionAt the 2006 Census the major religiousaffiliations amongst Slovakia-born wereCatholic (2090 persons), No Religion (570persons) and Not Stated (200 persons).Of the Slovakia-born, 17.2 per cent stated'No Religion', this was lower than that of the

Community Partners Program (CPP)total Australian population (18.7 per cent).5.9 per cent of the Slovakia-born did not state a religion.

Migration Trends

ArrivalCompared to 67.9 per cent of the totaloverseas-born population, 65.1 per cent ofthe Slovakia-born people in Australia arrivedin Australia prior to 1996.Among the total Slovakia-born in Australia atthe 2006 Census, 12.4 per cent arrivedbetween 1996 and 2000 and 20.2 per centarrived during 2001 and 2006.

Slovak Population Distribution in Queensland – ABS Census 2006

AGE 0-44 45-59 60-69 70-79 80+Brisbane North 17Brisbane South 62 49 18 7 7Logan 52 39 32 6 1

Culture and Customs

The Family

Slovakians maintain a typically Western distance (about three feet) when conversing. Greetings are expected, and consist of "good morning," "good day," and "good evening." "Good night" is reserved for the last leave taking of the evening. Both men and women shake right hands with acquaintances and newly introduced strangers, whereas men and women may kiss close friends and relatives on both cheeks during greeting and leave taking. Slovakians, as a group, tend to share thoughts and ideas freely and are very friendly. A guest in a home is warmly welcomed and may be overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity. Most Slovakians enjoy a robust conversation and have a keen sense of humour. They talk of their jobs, politics, health problems and misfortunes as an Australian would of football or cricket accordingly. They are very fond of music and joke telling. Folklore plays a key role in preserving the culture. Life experiences are translated into verse, poetic songs, melodies, fairy tales,

Community Partners Program (CPP)symbolic rituals, music, dance, costumes, and jewellery. Folksongs and poems often attest to the sentiment and regard between family members. Touch as a form of caring is common among family members and friends, but Slovakians may be quite formal and reserved. Once you develop a personal relationship they open up a bit, but they are never overly emotional. Although always polite, they seldom move to a first-name basis with people outside their extended family or very close friends. Slovakians tend not to acknowledge people whom they do not know as they walk along the street or ride the train . For some, alcohol can serve a culturally important function, particularly during social occasions, such as name day or birthday celebrations. The family is still the basis of the social structure. The extended family is the norm and relatives remain quite close with both the mother and the father’s sides. The family provides its members with a social network and assistance in times of need. Even though it is becoming increasingly common for the nuclear family to have its own house, Slovakians will take in elderly parents rather than send them to a nursing home. Weekends are considered family time.

Meeting and Greeting

Initial greetings are formal and reserved. Most greetings include a handshake, direct eye contact and the appropriate greeting for the time of day.Wait to be invited before using someone’s first name or an informal greeting, as these are all signs of friendship.The offer to move to the informal is generally offered by the woman, the older person or the person of higher status.

Moving to the informal without an invitation insults the person and may be viewed as an attempt to humiliate them.

Language

Slovak, the national language, uses the Roman alphabet. Along with Czech and Polish, it is classified as a western Slavic tongue in the Indo-European language family. Slovak is very closely related to Czech. Political circumstances beginning nearly a thousand years ago separated populations, but Slovak and Czech are still mutually intelligible. There are three main dialects of Slovak, corresponding to the western, central, and eastern regions. It is said that the pronunciation of particular sounds in the western region is hard, while the dialect of central Slovakia is said to be softer sounding and was adopted historically as the norm. In all but the eastern parts of Slovakia, the stress is on the first syllable of a word; longer words (three or more syllables) have secondary accents. There are Slovak words that appear to be formed entirely or mostly of consonants, such as the term for death: smrt’.

Community Partners Program (CPP)Slovak was designated the official language by the Slovak State Language Law of 1 January 1996. This measure curtailed the use of minority languages in the public sphere and mostly affected the Hungarian minority. The language law has now been revised and is less restrictive. Many Slovaks and most non-Slovaks know a second language. Besides Magyar (spoken by Hungarians) and Rusyn (spoken by Rusyns in eastern Slovakia), German, English, Russian, French, and Czech are used.

Religion and Tradition

Special Days

EasterCelebrations of Easter in Slovakia continue for a week that is also referred as the Holy week. These rituals are observed throughout the nation primarily during the five days of festivity. Here is a look at some of the Easter traditions in Slovakia that marks the festival in the nation:Maundy ThursdayEaster in Slovakia begins with the Green Thursday that is also known as Maundy Thursday. On this day, the people in the country indulge in cleaning their household. Running water is often used for the clean-up purposes. This tradition of cleaning with running water is an age-old custom that is still being followed in the nation, with a belief of the water symbolizing purity and being alive. Women in the nation also observe a custom of cleaning oneself with flowing water during the festival to have a spotless complexion.Good FridayOn Good Friday, people in the nation observe various customary rituals that offer great significance to the festivity. One of the most interesting rituals observed on the day is using garlic to ward off evil. According to the popular belief, witches, evil souls, and warlocks can cause possible harm to the human, cattle, food and farms. To do away with the evil, people eat garlic and even offer it to their cattle. Easter SaturdayOn Easter Saturday, the entire nation witness a celebration including age-old customs like, burning old gods and delving into grand feasts. This day is also termed as White Saturday in the nation. The burning old things signify the “burning of Judas”. A grand feast follows the ritual that is believed to offer protection against the veil. The traditional Easter dishes in Slovakia include Pork recipes. Pork is believed to symbolize wealth, power and prosperity.

Easter SundayMajor celebrations of Easter in Slovakia are held on Easter Sunday. On this day, Jesus came back to life; this rebirth of the Christ is the reason of the fun and festivity that is observed in the nation on the particular day. On this day, people take their food churches for blessings. This blessed food is offered to the hens to ensure that they lay more eggs. Easter Monday

Community Partners Program (CPP)Easter Monday is observed through most distinct traditions of the country. On this day, girls are lightly whipped with willow branches. Boys are also seen pouring water over the girls. This pouring of water is one of the most significant Slovakian Easter traditions. It is followed throughout the nation with great enthusiasm until date. Easter traditions in Slovakia are a manifestation of deep-rooted religious customs.

ChristmasOn Christmas Eve, the meal is meatless and usually begins with a blessed wafer that is drizzled with honey. An alcoholic beverage based on honey called medové also is prepared for this occasion. A vegetable-based based soup is served first, followed by small baked pieces of dough that are moistened in milk and coated with a sweetened poppy seed mixture. On Christmas and other occasions for feasting, a roasted goose may be served, along with sausage (klobása). Fresh sausages (jaternica, for example) made from barley, pork meat, blood, and rice also appear on special occasions. There is toasting with alcoholic beverages and a dessert of small cakes made with fruit or cheese fillings or log-shaped strudels with nut or poppy seed fillings. Salads tend to be made from sliced cucumbers prepared with a clear sweet and sour dressing or sour cream. New Year The adults as well as the young, take part in the festivities associated with the festival of New Year. New Year's Eve in Slovakia is celebrated with great pomp and vigour. The most important event that is associated with New Year's Eve in Slovakia is the large street party that takes place in Bratislava (the capital of Slovakia). People from all over the world amass at Bratislava to witness the party as well as to join in the party celebrations of Bratislava.

At the time of New Year's Eve in Slovakia the citizens of Slovakia either enjoy the New Year's Eve by watching the shows or the concerts that takes place at the Slovakia National Theatre or by being a part of the New Year party festivities. Drinks, food and music are an integral aspect of these parties.Slovakians enjoy using a variety of noisemakers on New Year holiday. Favourite among them is a wooden ratchet or rehtacka. These come in many sizes, with loud clattering sounds. Firecrackers are lit to welcome in the New Year and drive out evil spirits with loud noises and sparkling, flashing pyrotechnics.A long practiced and well-known New Year tradition among the various New Year Traditions in Slovakia is Lead Pouring or Das Bleigieen. A small amount of lead is melted in a tablespoon by candle flame and then poured into a bowl of water. The shape the lead takes into after hardening is interpreted to predict the ensuing year. For instance, if the lead forms a ball it means luck will roll ones way. The shape of an anchor means help in need but a cross signifies impending death.

Food and Diet

Community Partners Program (CPP)Potatoes, wheat flour, cow and sheep cheese, cabbage, onions and garlic are the bases of the traditional food in Slovakia. Pork, beef, chicken and fish are the most popular meats. Less frequently one will be offered lamb, goose, duck, turkey or venison. Bread is very important in the nutrition. Most people in Slovakia eat it for the breakfast and also quite often with their dinner.Bryndzove halusky: If you ask one hundred Slovak people to tell you one and only one Slovak traditional meal, usually at least 90 of them will say "bryndzove halusky" ("bryndzové halušky"), small dumplings made of potato dough with sheep cheese and topped with scrambled bacon (‘Speck’ in German).Parenica, ostiepok, korbacik ("oštiepok", "korbáčik") different sorts of cheese, either smoked or not. Treska: a cold salad made of codfish, mayonnaise and some vegetables. Quite popular snack in the Bratislava region, and lately also in other parts of Slovakia. Buy it packed in supermarket or visit a buffet and ask for "patnast deko tresky a dva rohliky" (five ounces of treska and two rolls).

Food in Daily Life

Slovak food exhibits much regional variation, but generally is based on soups, stewed and boiled vegetables, stewed fruits, smoked meats (especially sausages), roasted meats, gruels, and dairy dishes. Sheep cheese with small dumplings, bryndzové halušky , is among the most typical Slovak dishes. Traditionally in peasant households, five meals would be taken: early in the morning upon rising ( raňajky ), a snack at about ten A.M. ( desiata ), the main meal of the day at noon ( obed ), another snack around four P.M. ( olovrant ), and supper in the evening after chores ( večera ). Tea with sugar is the most popular hot beverage. Bread is served with every meal, and hot soup is a fixture as the first course at the main noon meal, with meat dishes commonly served at that time as well. The evening meal is usually light and may include bread, cheese, and vegetables and whatever is left over from lunch can be used as well. Beer, wine, juices, and carbonated water or flavored sodas are served with most meals. The main distilled beverage is plum brandy (slivovica), and borovička (gin) is quite popular. The above food preferences are to be regarded as a guideline only, and it is always advisable to ask about personal preferences. As it is the case in most communities, Slovakians have varied tastes, likes and dislikes, and one must not assume that they are a homogenous group.

Food Sources

More and more of the larger food stores e.g. Woolworths, Coles stock Russian (or European) foods, and you should check what is available at these types of stores in the first instance. Below is the list of known suppliers of food in South-East Qld. These businesses are often used by Russian people.

Community Partners Program (CPP)German Butcher Heinz 611 Stanley Street Woolloongabba Qld 4102; (07) 3391 3530 Rene’s Smallgoods 41 Tubbs Street Clontarf Qld 4019 Ph. (07) 3283 7711 Adams’s Continental Smallgoods 206 Cobalt Street Carole Park Qld 4300; (07) 3271 3044Swiss Gourmet Deli 181 Boundary Street West End Qld 4101 Ph. 3844 2937Euro Continental Food Quality Greek & European Products Shop 1/75-77 Russell St West End Qld 4101Franz Continental Smallgoods 15 Industrial Avenue Caloundra Qld 4551; 07) 5493 936

Attitudes to Aged Care Role of the Family in Caring for the Elderly

The elderly person generally prefers to stay at home rather than to be admitted into the Age Care Facility. It is expected that family will care for their parents and relatives at home for as long as possible. Extended family ties are especially strong. The elderly are respected and the role of the male as the head of the family tends to be a dominant one.

Attitude Toward Residential Aged Care

The elderly do not readily accept being admitted into residential care. Generally, this is the option considered only as the last resort. However those Slovaks who lived in Australia for a long time have come to accept these services more readily than new arrivals. They respond with appreciation to carers making genuine efforts to overcome the feelings of dependency and isolation.

Attitudes Toward Illness and Hospitalisation

Slovaks used to attribute illness and misfortune to supernatural causes and sought curers to diagnose their problems and provide remedies. They made extensive use of medicinal plants and mud poultices. Linden (lipa) blossoms were collected and dried to make infusions for various maladies. Serious cuts could be treated with the sap of red milkweed, and a beverage brewed from the plant called mouse's tail reportedly lowered blood pressure. Slovaks continue to value home natural remedies but the importance of Western medicine is well appreciated. Hospitalisation, although feared is an acceptable form of intervention. Respecting the needs for privacy is an important factor that must be taken into account by service providers. A clear description of illness the probable outcome and the treatment is most appreciated.

Elderly people who speak little or no English may suffer frustration, as they do not understand what is going on around them and/or why. Family will generally try to ‘protect’ them by keeping them in the dark as to the true nature of their illness. This is why it is recommended for the staff to use a qualified interpreter when it comes to discussing an important issue with the resident.

Community Partners Program (CPP)

Dying and Burial Rituals

Slovak Christians believe that the soul survives death, and they bury their dead below ground in cemetery plots rather than cremating.Roman Catholic ritual: Traditionally a twenty-four hour vigil is held at the bedside of the dying person. The priest is generally invited to pray with the relatives and anoint the dying person. The deceased is bathed and dressed in clothes selected by the family. The rosary is recited in the church or funeral parlour, depending on where the body of the deceased is located. Mass is held prior to the burial and prayers are said at the gravesite. Following the funeral friends and family are invited to the family home of the deceased for light refreshments. Mourners wear black clothes for forty days, but in some cases for a year or for life. Many Slovaks that were born overseas wish to be buried in their homeland. Visits to cemeteries are very important to older people especially on the ‘Day of the Deceased’, when a bunch of chrysanthemums are usually taken to the graves. Elderly residents in residential care may be quite superstitious. People from rural areas believed that ghosts of the deceased could come back and cause mischief; some people still attribute various types of misfortune to the activities of ghosts.

Interpreters and Bilingual Staff

Although people with moderate English skills may appear to understand discussions, use of professional interpreters to communicate complex information is advisable. For many professionals the need to work with interpreters may seem awkward and time consuming, but effective use of interpreting services leads to successful communication. The role of bilingual staff is distinctly different from that of an interpreter or translator. The fact that a worker speaks Slovak does not mean that he/she is able to accurately convey messages of complex nature between clients and service providers. Although very valuable on a daily basis, the language assistance of a bilingual worker should be limited to simple matters, in order to avoid possible misunderstandings and complications of a legal nature.Service providers are encouraged to deal only with accredited interpreters and translators. The national Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) tests and accredits translators and interpreters, at different levels and in most languages. These professionals may work in interpreting and translating assignments as independent (freelance) specialists, or under contract to a commercial or government agency.Work of translators and Interpreters is codified by the AUSIT Code of Ethics which obliges members to:

Respect their clients’ rights to privacy and confidentiality; Decline to undertake work beyond their competence or accreditation levels; Decline to mix promotional activity for clients with interpreting work; Maintain professional detachment, impartiality and objectivity.

Community Partners Program (CPP)Information shared in interpreting and translating assignments is strictly confidential. Disclosure of information may be permissible with clients’ agreement or when disclosure is mandated by law. Interpreters are required to observe impartiality in all professional contracts disclose any possible conflict of interest and take all reasonable care to be accurate. Interpreters and translators are not responsible for what clients say or write they cannot voice an opinion, solicited or unsolicited, on any matter or person in relation to an assignment. For example, it is wrong to ask of an interpreter: “Does this person seem depressed to you?” because this kind of assessment would be outside of their area of expertise. In order to ensure the same access to all that is said by all parties involved in a meeting, interpreters relay accurately and completely everything that is said. They convey the whole message, including derogatory or vulgar remarks as well as non-verbal clues and they cannot alter, make additions to, or omit anything from their assigned work. In general, interpreters are not allowed to accept gifts and tips. However, some discretionary latitude may be exercised in accepting a gift such as a small box of chocolates as a token of gratitude.

Key Issues for the Slovakian Community

Most Slovakian people in Australia lead a very fulfilling life. Many can speak English, work, study or enjoy their retirement and feel part of the Australian fabric. While maintaining strong links with the Slovakian community in Australia and their families in Slovakia, they feel that Australia is their home. The elderly of Slovakian background however, have a range of un-met needs. Service needs of the Slovakian community have increased dramatically in recent years as a larger percentage of the community is ageing.Research and statistical information to date indicate a very low level of usage of support services such as Home and Community Care (HACC) services by Slovakian people. Above average incidence of cancer and mental problems is prevalent in the elderly.

Slovakian Community-Specific Issues

Fear of authority and reluctance to seek assistance until crisis point is reached; Cases of social isolation and limited English; Service system disorientation; Refusal to accept help due to cultural expectations that the family’s role is to provide the

necessary support; Refusal to accept help from outsiders; Experiencing embarrassment or even shame of having to deal with one’s personal problems in

public.Many Slovakian elderly can speak and understand English. However, some of them cannot read or write English and may have problems with filling out forms. Some of those who say that they can speak English can often understand and respond to simple sentences and situations and are able to express their needs in a limited manner.

Key Issues for Service Providers

Community Partners Program (CPP)

The need for appropriate dementia care support services for the elderly and their carers. The need for in-home support services that is culturally and linguistically relevant to potential

Slovakian consumers. More strategic focus on the primary importance of carers. Work on the eradication of under-utilisation of mainstream services, such as HACC and

Residential Care. The need for culturally appropriate grief and death counselling.

Resource Guide

Australian Slovak Association Queensland PO Box 2304 SOUTHPORT Q 4215Activities: Cultural, social

Additional Resources:Useful Websites Cross Cultural Health Program (USA)www.xculture.org/resources/order/index.cfm?Category=Articles

Centre for Culture Ethnicity and Health – Video Cataloguehttp://www.ceh.org.au/video_catalogue.htm

Alzheimer’s Australia NSWwww.alzheimers.org.au

Queensland health – Multicultural Health Publicationswww.health.qld.gov.au/publications/restopicmaster.asp?Rec=40&frmHealthTopicMulticulturalHealth

Queensland Transcultural Mental Health Centrewww.health.qld.gov.au/pahospital/qtmhc/multilingual_resources.asp

Cancer Foundationhttp://www.cancerindex.org/clinks13.htm

Nutrition Australiawww.nutritionaustralia.org

Free interpreting services

Community Partners Program (CPP)The Australian Government, through TIS National, provides free interpreting services to non-English speaking Australian citizens and permanent residents communicating with the following approved groups and individuals:

private medical practitioners providing Medicare-rebateable services and their reception staff to arrange appointments and provide results of medical tests

non-profit, non-government, community-based organisations for case work and emergency services where the organisation does not receive funding to provide these servicesNote: Organisations that require language services (such as interpreting) and receive government funding should incorporate the cost of these services into their application for funding

Members of Parliament for constituency purposes local government authorities to communicate with non-English speaking residents on issues

such as rates, garbage collection and urban services trade unions to respond to members' enquiries or requests Emergency Management Australia pharmacies for the purpose of dispensing Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medications.

Non-profit, non-government, community-based organisations can apply for a fee exemption for calls through TIS National. Please download and complete the Application for exemption from TIS charges form. Applications should be faxed to the attention of the on-site supervisor.See: Application for exemption from TIS charges (67KB PDF file)Fax: 1300 654 151If you have questions about your eligibility for free interpreting, please contact the Client Liaison and Promotions team.Telephone: 1300 655 820Email: tispromo@immi.gov.au Free document translation serviceThe Australian Government also provides a free document translation service through TIS National, for people settling permanently in Australia. Permanent settlers are able to have their personal documents translated into English during their initial two year settlement period. Returning Australian citizens may also be eligible for the free translation service within two years of returning to Australia to settle permanently.Detailed information about the free document translation service is available online. See: Help with TranslationsDoctors Priority LineThe Doctors Priority Line is a free telephone interpreting service which helps medical practitioners to communicate with their non-English speaking patients.General practitioners and specialists can use the Doctors Priority Line when providing services that are:

claimable under Medicare delivered in private practices provided to non-English speakers who are Australian citizens or permanent residents.

The Doctors Priority Line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Community Partners Program (CPP)Doctors who are not currently registered for the Doctors Priority Line can arrange access to the service with TIS National by filling out an online registration form.See: Medical Practitioners Free Interpreting Registration FormThe form is also available to download as a PDF file which can be faxed or posted as per instructions on the form.See: Medical Practitioners Request Form for TIS National Client Code (41KB PDF file)Telephone interpreting service for pharmaciesFree interpreting services are available to pharmacies for the purpose of dispensing Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medications. This scheme is aimed at assisting pharmacists to communicate with people about the proper use of medications. To date more than 1200 pharmacies have registered for use of the service. Lists of the pharmacies that have registered in Queensland See: QLD registered pharmacies (96KB PDF file)