Deaf consumers who use Auslan (Australian Sign Language) or English-like signing, usually work with hearing (Auslan/English) interpreters when they need to communicate with hearing clients and professionals. However, for a variety of social, cultural or medical reasons, some Deaf consumers have extra communication needs, for example:

• Deaf immigrants and refugees

• Deaf persons who have been socially isolated (i.e. those from rural and remote areas; people who are incarcerated or living in institutions)

• Deaf persons who are mentally ill, developmentally delayed, and/or educationally deprived

• A Deaf person who is not comfortable with hearing people, or when issues of trust and culturally sensitivity are critical

• A Deaf person who is seriously ill, injured or dying (the Deaf person’s ability to produce signs clearly or use both arms when signing may be affected)

• Deaf children who have not been exposed or who may have had limited exposure to English and/or Auslan

• Deafblind consumers

• Deaf Indigenous Sign dialects/contact sign language

• Deaf people with dementia

In these situations, qualified hearing interpreters may not have sufficient skills to ensure accurate communication occurs. A Deaf (Relay) Interpreter (DRI) is used when the Deaf consumer has particular communication needs that are not easily understood by a hearing (Auslan/English) interpreter alone.

For more information please click on the brochures below

Deaf (Relay) Interpreting Information Brochure -DRI_Information.pdf

Deaf (Relay) Interpreting Guidelines -DRI_Guidelines.pdf

This information is an initiative of ASLIA Vic and developed in partnership with ASLIA National.