On-site interpreting

About on-site interpreting

The on-site interpreting service is available for agency clients to book an interpreter to attend an appointment face-to-face.

When using a phone interpreter would not be suitable, TIS National can arrange for an interpreter to visit your location. On-site interpreting services can be arranged for any location in Australia (subject to interpreter availability).

An on-site interpreter may be most appropriate when:

  • you have a scheduled appointment with a client

  • the appointment is of a sensitive or serious nature

  • you anticipate that the appointment will go for an extended period of time.

Booking an on-site interpreter

On-site appointments are usually booked by the organisation that needs to communicate with their non-English speaking client.

You can easily request and manage all of your on-site interpreter bookings through TIS Online. Using TIS Online allows us to secure an interpreter for your request in the shortest possible time frame. To use TIS Online you need to register an account with TIS National. All agencies registered with a TIS National account are automatically registered to use TIS Online. Find out more about TIS Online or visit the TIS Online login page to get started.

TIS National will notify you once an interpreter has been allocated to your request.

On-site interpreter requests can be accepted up to 90 days in advance and we endeavour to allocate an interpreter within three days of receiving the request.

If you need to update the appointment details after you have submitted your request, you can do this easily through your TIS Online account.

If your interpreter does not arrive to the appointment on time, contact the Service Delivery Team by phone and we will contact the interpreter to find out why they have been delayed.

On-site interpreting service charges

Please view our interpreting service charges before submitting a booking request. You can also estimate the cost of your booking using our cost calculator.

Types of on-site interpreting assignments

Standard On-site Assignment 

A face to face interpreting assignment which:

  • is located less than 100 km from the interpreter’s usual place of residence
  • attracts a minimum charge for a job of 90 minutes duration or less, with additional charges in 30 minute increments thereafter at applicable standard on-site rates.            

Full Day On-site Assignment

A face to face interpreting assignment which:

  • is 6.5 hours or greater in duration, or is classified as such upon a client’s request
  • attracts a minimum daily charge in accordance with applicable full day on-site rates.

If the actual duration of a Full Day On-site Assignment realises a higher charge amount (calculated on the basis of the number of 30 minute time blocks and applicable full day rates), then the higher amount applies.

IMA Assignment

 A face-to-face interpreting assignment provided to Illegal Maritime Arrival (IMA) clients, generally at an Immigration Detention Facility or other Department of Home Affairs location, or a Regional Processing Centre. These assignments attract charges in accordance with full day rates (that is, a minimum daily charge applies unless the actual duration of the assignment realises a higher charge amount, calculated on the basis of the number of 30 minute time blocks and applicable full day rates). 

Travel time (door to door) is included in the actual duration of these assignments. Clients also need to pay additional travel costs for these assignments.