Language practitioner travel in agency client vehicles
TIS National prefers that language practitioners do not travel in an agency client vehicle if alternative options are available. In exceptional circumstances a language practitioner may travel in an agency client vehicle where:
- the non-English speaker (NES) is also travelling in the vehicle
- it is likely that the NES will require interpreting services during the journey, and
- there are no other practical or appropriate options (such as the interpreter using their own car or taking public transport).
A driving lesson or a practical driving licence test is an example of a time where a language practitioner may be required to travel in an agency client’s vehicle to provide interpreting services for a NES.
Wherever possible, agency clients must provide advance notice of any requirement for an interpreter to travel in their vehicle during a job. This can be noted in the ‘Additional requirements’ section of the booking form in TIS Online.
In order for TIS National to approve a request for a language practitioner to travel in an agency client’s vehicle, you must submit a completed declaration form, available from the Service Delivery team. The agency client is responsible for providing safe travelling arrangements for the practitioner in accordance with this declaration.
Occasionally, an agency client may need to make a request for a language practitioner to travel in their vehicle once they have arrived at the initial site location. In such cases, the agency client must call the Service Delivery team to obtain verbal approval before proceeding. Requests related to driving lessons or licence test must be made in advance and will not be approved once the practitioner is on-site.
It is important to note that language practitioners must never travel in a NES clients’ vehicle in the course of providing language services.
