Language Services

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:

• AUSLAN (sign)
• Croatian
• Greek
• Indonesian
• Italian
• Macedonian
• Mandarin
• Polish
• Serbian
• Turkish.

There is no cost to use our language aides.

Please ask our staff if you’d like a language aide to help you.

Interpreters can work with you to communicate with government, community groups or private businesses. This can be for things like casework, community consultations, conferences or meetings.

The following organisations are available if you need an interpreter to help you with language support:

• Face-to-Face Interpreter Services NSW - Multicultural NSW
• TIS Online for agencies | Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)

Please note: Council no longer delivers Interpreter Services. Language aides are available to help customers who are dealing with Council - see the section above for details.

Translations are language interpretations made in writing. Our interpreter service does not offer written translations.

You can get written translations through Service NSW. For more information see their website, call 13 77 88 or visit the Wollongong office at 90 Crown Street, Wollongong.

See our English Language Support Directory to find local groups and resources that can support newly arrived migrants.

You can use the Australian Government’s Translating and Interpreting Service to deal with Council in languages other than English.

To phone Council using this service, call 13 14 50 and ask them to connect you to Wollongong City Council on (02) 4227 7111.

For more information visit the Translating and Interpreting Service website.

Our COVID-19 Multilingual Information page has links to websites and fact sheets in different community languages.

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.