Queensland Courts is committed to providing open access to justice for all Queenslanders. This information will help if you require an interpreter when engaging with Queensland Courts.
If you require an interpreter in a criminal proceeding, contact the registry in the court where your matter will be dealt with as early as possible. You should make your request in writing.
Court registry staff will engage an interpreter for criminal proceedings—from an approved service provider or other sign language interpreting service—as directed by the court.
Refer to the relevant Court practice directionsfor more information about using interpreters in criminal proceedings:
While the court is responsible for providing an interpreter at the counter, in criminal proceedings, and in domestic and family violence proceedings, this is not the case in civil proceedings.
If you require the services of an interpreter in a civil proceeding, you must engage the interpreter yourself and bear the associated cost.
When you make a Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act application, and indicate that you require an interpreter, the court will arrange an interpreter to be present at the first hearing.
The court, where possible, will have an interpreter available for the urgent application.
Registry staff will also use these interpreter services to assist court users who contact or present at a court registry—whether their enquiry is criminal or civil—and either:
request the assistance of an interpreter
appear to have difficulty communicating in English.
Professional interpreters will be engaged unless unavailable.
The registry or court will, in the above circumstances, bear the cost of engaging the interpreter.
If you arrive at the court registry counter and require an interpreter, registry staff will arrange a suitable translating and interpreting service for you. It is helpful to have the language you require written down.
If you are deaf or hearing impaired, registry staff will call Deaf Services Queensland to make an appointment for an interpreter.
If you are deaf, or hearing and/or speech impaired, and have a text telephone (TTY) machine, you can call the registry through the National Relay Service (NRS). This is a free telephone service.
The NRS operator will tell the staff member what you are typing to them and will type any replies for you.
Headsets are available for interpreters to facilitate hearing and conveying information to the person for whom the interpreter is required, without needing to sit directly next to them in the courtroom.
Interpreters can request headsets at the following court registries:
Brisbane - QEII Courts of Law complex, Brisbane Magistrates Court, Brisbane Arrest Court, QCAT Brisbane
Cairns Court complex
Ipswich Courts complex
Mt Isa Courts complex
Southport Courts complex
Toowoomba Courts complex
Townsville Courts complex.
Phone the registry in advance to confirm the availability and reservation of a headset for your allocated job. This will ensure that if any additional equipment is needed, the registry can arrange it in advance.
You may also test the headset prior to your allocated job with the court bailiff.
For all other court locations, interpreters must notify the local registry two weeks before the court listing so that the device can be made available.
