Need an interpreter after a car accident in NSW?

After a car accident, you may need to explain symptoms, understand treatment instructions and speak with an insurer. If you would feel more comfortable discussing these matters in another language, ask about a professional interpreter when arranging each conversation.

This guide explains practical next steps for NSW motor-accident care. For a medical emergency, call 000. Do not wait for an enquiry reply.

Tell the service what you need when booking

Contact the medical practice or service before your appointment. Tell them your preferred language and dialect, and that the appointment concerns a motor-accident injury. If you need Auslan, make that clear too.

You can ask:

Can you arrange a professional interpreter for this appointment?
Will the interpreter join in person, by telephone or by video?
Do we need a longer appointment?
Who will confirm the booking and any costs?

Check the arrangements with each service. An interpreter organised for a hospital visit may not be booked for your later GP or rehabilitation appointment.

Public hospital and private-practice arrangements differ

Ask staff about the free, confidential professional interpreting available through NSW public health services, including Auslan. Staff arrange the booking; patients cannot book NSW Health care interpreters directly. See NSW Health’s interpreting information.

Private medical practices have separate arrangements. NSW Health’s interpreter service does not provide interpreters for private-practice doctors. Ask the practice how it can support your appointment and whether any interpreting fee applies. If you are seeking CTP funding, clarify the proposed arrangement with the practice and insurer before agreeing to a paid service.

Prepare the points you want to explain

Write a short list in the language you are comfortable using. Include the symptoms you want assessed, what has changed since the accident and the everyday activities you find difficult. Bring available hospital information, a current medicine list and insurer or claim details if you have them.

At the appointment, speak directly to the clinician and pause to allow interpreting. Ask for a question or explanation to be repeated if you are unsure. Before leaving, check what you need to do next and whom to contact with questions.

If your appointment includes a Certificate of Fitness, our guide to preparing for that consultation explains the information to bring. The doctor makes the clinical assessment and determines what they can certify.

Ask your CTP insurer about communication support

Let your insurer contact know your preferred language and ask how an interpreter can be arranged for calls or meetings. You can also ask them to explain a letter or form with interpreting support before you respond.

Useful questions include: What information is needed from me? Who is arranging the next step? Is there a date I need to respond by? Keep the agreed actions somewhere you can find them.

For help navigating a NSW CTP claim, SIRA’s CTP Assist is available on 1300 656 919. For spoken-language interpreting, call TIS National on 131 450 and ask for CTP Assist on 1300 656 919. If you are Deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment, SIRA also lists the National Relay Service as a contact option. CTP Assist operates 8:30am–5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. SIRA lists these contact and language-assistance options.

A support person can still help

You may want someone you trust to attend for reassurance or help remembering questions. Ask the service how they can join while a professional interpreter supports the clinical conversation. NSW Health recommends professional interpreters rather than relying on family or friends, who may find medical language or sensitive discussions difficult.

Tell the service if you want part of the conversation to be private. If someone will communicate with your insurer on your behalf, ask how to record your permission and its limits.

Finding the right next contact

COH Rehab can help you explore an independent GP connection and discuss CTP rehabilitation needs. Medical care is provided by the independent practice. Our guide to GP and rehabilitation roles explains whom to contact for different questions.

To ask about a GP connection, call Charlie on 0477 224 404 or visit our CTP doctor enquiry page. Tell us your suburb, preferred language and whether you need an initial appointment or ongoing care. The practice confirms suitability, availability, interpreting arrangements and fees. A particular language or appointment cannot be guaranteed. CTP rehabilitation requires an appropriate referral and insurer approval before services begin.

General NSW information only. Individual medical advice, interpreting arrangements and CTP funding need to be confirmed with the relevant service.