❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the implementation and funding of the Western Australian Languages Services Policy within the Minister's departments, specifically Child Protection and Communities. The response details policies implemented, expenditure, accessibility of guidelines, and situations requiring interpreters/translators.
AnsweredQoN 6481Legislative Assembly
Asked
1 November 2011
Member
Portfolio
Child Protection; Community Services; Seniors and Volunteering; Women's Interests; Youth
QuestionView source ↗
In relation to the Western Australian Languages Services Policy, launched by Premier Colin Barnett in 2008, which states that Government agencies are required to have policies for funding and delivering translating and interpreting services that take account of relevant Government policy, legal circumstances and the needs of potential and current clients, I ask:
(a) what policies in each agency in the Minister’s departments have been implemented, and when;
(b) what funding and expenditure has been incurred since 2008 on translation and interpreting services by which agencies and to whom was the funding paid;
(c) can the Minister please table all policies which have been produced and are readily available to agency staff and clients; and
(d) in each agency, can the Minister please list which situations have been identified where interpreters and translators must, should or may be used?
(a) what policies in each agency in the Minister’s departments have been implemented, and when;
(b) what funding and expenditure has been incurred since 2008 on translation and interpreting services by which agencies and to whom was the funding paid;
(c) can the Minister please table all policies which have been produced and are readily available to agency staff and clients; and
(d) in each agency, can the Minister please list which situations have been identified where interpreters and translators must, should or may be used?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
30 November 2011
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Child Protection; Community Services; Seniors and Volunteering; Women's Interests; Youth
Response time
29 days
Department Child Protection
(a) The Department for Child Protection (the Department) has developed Language Services guidelines. These guidelines were implemented in February 2011.
(b) The Department does not provide funding for interpreter services.
The Department incurred the following expenditure since 2008 for interpreting and translation services for its customers:
Financial Year Total
(incl. GST)
2008 - 2009 $74 027.57
2009 - 2010 $102 356.85
2010 - 2011 $136 946.85
(c) The Department's Language Services guidelines are available to staff in the Casework Practice Manual which is available on the Department's intranet.
Clients and the general public can access these guidelines through the internet on:
http://manuals.dcp.wa.gov.au/manuals/cpm/Pages/21LanguageServices.aspx
(d)
The Department's staff are required to use interpreters or translators when working with clients who are not proficient in English or are hearing impaired.
Department For Communities which includes Seniors and Volunteering; Women's Interests; Youth
(a) Language Services Policy, implemented 4 February 2011
Substantive Equality Policy, implemented 4 February 2011
(b) A total of $5 092 has been paid on translation and interpreting services since the Western Australian Language Services policy was launched in November 2008 to date. Agencies funded to provide the services were:
(i) The WA Deaf Society
(ii) Immigration Australia
(iii) Department of Immigration.
(c) The Department for Communities' Language Services Policy (Attachment 1) and the Substantive Equality Policy (Attachment 2) are available on the department's intranet site for staff and the website for clients.
(d) Situations identified where interpreters and translators must, should or may be used include:
(i) At events where it has been identified that people with a hearing disability will be attending, such as the Youth and Seniors Awards.
(ii) For programs such as the Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors (ASeTTS) playgroup where it is known that many people attending will speak a known language other than English and that English is not understood easily.
(iii) In parent support situations where an interpreter or translator has been requested or it is evident that one is required.
(iv) When customers enquire about, or apply for, a Seniors Card where it is evident that an interpreter is required, either face to face or via telephone.
(v) When people enquired about or were completing Redress applications where it was evident assistance was required.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
(a) The Department for Child Protection (the Department) has developed Language Services guidelines. These guidelines were implemented in February 2011.
(b) The Department does not provide funding for interpreter services.
The Department incurred the following expenditure since 2008 for interpreting and translation services for its customers:
Financial Year Total
(incl. GST)
2008 - 2009 $74 027.57
2009 - 2010 $102 356.85
2010 - 2011 $136 946.85
(c) The Department's Language Services guidelines are available to staff in the Casework Practice Manual which is available on the Department's intranet.
Clients and the general public can access these guidelines through the internet on:
http://manuals.dcp.wa.gov.au/manuals/cpm/Pages/21LanguageServices.aspx
(d)
The Department's staff are required to use interpreters or translators when working with clients who are not proficient in English or are hearing impaired.
Department For Communities which includes Seniors and Volunteering; Women's Interests; Youth
(a) Language Services Policy, implemented 4 February 2011
Substantive Equality Policy, implemented 4 February 2011
(b) A total of $5 092 has been paid on translation and interpreting services since the Western Australian Language Services policy was launched in November 2008 to date. Agencies funded to provide the services were:
(i) The WA Deaf Society
(ii) Immigration Australia
(iii) Department of Immigration.
(c) The Department for Communities' Language Services Policy (Attachment 1) and the Substantive Equality Policy (Attachment 2) are available on the department's intranet site for staff and the website for clients.
(d) Situations identified where interpreters and translators must, should or may be used include:
(i) At events where it has been identified that people with a hearing disability will be attending, such as the Youth and Seniors Awards.
(ii) For programs such as the Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors (ASeTTS) playgroup where it is known that many people attending will speak a known language other than English and that English is not understood easily.
(iii) In parent support situations where an interpreter or translator has been requested or it is evident that one is required.
(iv) When customers enquire about, or apply for, a Seniors Card where it is evident that an interpreter is required, either face to face or via telephone.
(v) When people enquired about or were completing Redress applications where it was evident assistance was required.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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