By CASEY NEILL
AID agencies are using emergency relief funds to pay for interpreters, after the Federal Government cut translation service support.
There are less vouchers, food parcels and financial support available to the community following the November announcement, South East Community Links (SECL) told a community forum at Edinburgh Hall in Springvale on Thursday 10 March.
The organisation’s CEO Dr Rhonda Cumberland called on the government to immediately reintroduce free translating and interpreting services for emergency relief and financial counselling services.
Afghan-born Sayema turned to SECL following a horrific family violence attack, seeking support to sort out legal and financial problems.
“When I came back from the hospital I thought my life was finished, it was over, that I had no choices left,” she said.
“But this community service has helped me, has assisted me with the interpreter with my banking issues.
“The interpreter service is not only important for me it’s important for the entire community.
“Australia is such a multicultural country that interpreters are very important for people to understand their rights.”
Dr Cumberland said many people turned to SECL as a last resort.
“They’re the people that we have most concern about, who will need interpreters to be able to take that next step to move on from a crisis or personal circumstance that is just simply bringing them down,” she said.
“There’s more than 40 different languages spoken in our community, in our local area, and we estimate that it will cost us close to $50,000 so it’s a substantial number of people who will miss out.
“Because you need an interpreter should not disadvantage you and you should not be punished for it.”
SECL financial counselling co-ordinator Kay Dilger said the service used interpreters several times a day.
“We’ve got such a diverse range of languages. We rely on this service,” she said.
“We got 30 days notice that the service was being discontinued. We were taken by surprise.
“It’s something that in the past has had a lot of bipartisan support from all layers and levels of government.
“We’re committed to make sure that the quality of services to clients is not affected.
“However, we have to face some realities.
“Our biggest struggle as an organisation is looking at how we can continue to provide our services, particularly in the area of emergency relief.”
Greater Dandenong Council community services director Mark Doubleday said the council was supporting the agencies in their advocacy to have the funding retained.
“Greater Dandenong has a diverse community with high needs and the loss of the service represents a loss of access for clients to this area of need,” he said.
The Journal contacted the Department of Social Services for comment but did not receive a response before deadline.
