Language Help

Please ask our staff if you’d like a language aide to help you. There is no cost to use our language aides.

Language aides are people who work at Council and can speak languages other than English.  They are not professional interpreters, but can help customers who are dealing with Council.

We currently have language aides for:

• Azeri
• Croatian
• Farsi (Persian)
• Greek
• Kurdish
• Macedonian
• Mandarin
• Polish
• Serbian
• Spanish
• Thai
• Vietnamese.

In-person

Council uses the Australian Government’s Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) to provide a free interpreter service for our customers.

When you come to our offices, tell our staff what language you speak and ask for an interpreter.

We will check if a bilingual staff member is available, or telephone an interpreting service to help you communicate with us.

Please phone us on (02) 4227 7111 first if you would like us to arrange for an interpreter to be present in-person.

By phone

If you need help talking to us over the phone in English, call 131 450.

You will need to:

• State your language.
• You will be connected to the TIS National operator.
• Repeat your language.
• Wait while the operator connects you to your interpreter.

When you are connected to an interpreter, you will need to:

• Give your name.
• Ask to be connected to Wollongong City Council.
• Tell the interpreter our phone number: (02) 4227 7111.
• Wait until the operator connects us.

This service is free for dealing with Council. For more information visit the Translating and Interpreting Service website.

Council does not provide a translation service.

If you need a personal document translated, you can visit a Service NSW Centre to submit the material for translation. Apply online for document translation services or call 13 77 88 for more information.

If you’re a permanent resident who receives Centrelink benefits, you may be able to get your document translated for free. You should contact Multicultural NSW directly to submit a document.

See our Learn English page to find local groups and resources that can support newly arrived migrants.

We also have a list of questions we are asked a lot with simple answers on our Common Questions in Easy English page.

Websites with beach safety information in different languages

• Surf Life Saving NSW's Learn & Play in Your Language page has translated information about the beach, rip currents, lifesavers, rock fishing and staying safe at our beautiful beaches.
• Royal Life Saving Australia has videos, posters and other information in several languages.

We've partnered with IMS to translate the Food Fairness Illawarra guide to low cost and free meals into several community languages.

You can also visit our Low Cost and Free Meals page for more information.

Plain English flyers

• Meals Directory - Wollongong and North  PDF, 211.46 KB
• Meals Directory - Wollongong and South  PDF, 191.78 KB