Multilingual employment services

As one of the Australian Government's key service delivery organisations Centrelink provides a wide range of employment-related services specifically designed to help people who do not speak English as their first language.

Multilingual telephone access

Call 13 12 02 to have Centrelink information provided in your language.

Language Services

Centrelink provides a free interpreting and translating service for customers from multicultural backgrounds. Interpreters are generally available by appointment and can easily be arranged upon request. Translation services are provided where necessary to help establish a customer’s entitlement to a payment or service provided by Centrelink.

Interpreters and translators contracted by Centrelink are bound by confidentiality provisions and a code of ethics. This means customers can be reassured that any information learned through an interview conducted with an interpreter will remain confidential. In some Centrelink offices, bilingual staff are available to assist with brief customer enquiries. If an interpreter is not immediately available, a telephone interpreter service is available on demand to assist with more urgent customer enquiries.

Multicultural Service Officers (MSOs)

MSOs are in most Centrelink Customer Service Centres and forge links between Centrelink and migrant and refugee communities. They consult and liaise widely and provide customer feedback on the impact of government initiatives on migrant and refugee communities so Centrelink can improve service delivery.

Centrelink International Services

Centrelink's International Services handle the day to day details of making social security payments to over 60,000 customers who are outside Australia indefinitely or for more than 26 weeks. They also handle more than 10,000 pensions paid in Australia under International Social Security Agreements. More information is available by calling Centrelink International Services on 13 16 73.

Translated Booklets

Centrelink produces six translated information booklets, which have been translated in up to 34 community languages. Booklets are available at Centrelink Customer Service Centres and by calling Centrelink on 13 12 02. The six booklets are titled:

• Are you looking for work?
• Are you planning for or needing help in retirement?
• Are you planning to study or train (or currently studying or training)?
• Are you a parent or guardian, or have you recently separated or divorced?
• Are you someone who is ill, injured or has a disability, or caring for someone who is frail aged, ill or has a disability?
• Have you recently moved to Australia to settle?

Fact Sheets

Translated fact sheets supporting translated booklets and explaining a range of Centrelink issues are available on the Centrelink website.

Multicultural Media

Centrelink provides information about its programs and services in many languages via regular broadcasts on SBS Radio and community radio across Australia and in articles in a number of multicultural newspapers.

The Journey

The Journey is Centrelink’s magazine for refugee and migrant communities and their representative community agencies. The magazine is produced quarterly and provides all the latest information of Centrelink services for multicultural Australia.