Early Childhood Language Services

Free on-site, telephone and video interpreters are available for all department funded kindergarten services and eligible early childhood support services.

About Early Childhood Language Services

The Department of Education has engaged All Graduates to provide qualified and accredited onsite, telephone and video interpreters, and translation of written information.

Early Childhood Language Services improves communication with parents and carers who speak a language other than English or use Auslan and makes information more accessible.

On-site, telephone and video interpreters can be used for discussions and meetings with parents and carers to communicate information about a child, talk about important activities at kindergarten or understand the transition from kindergarten to primary school.

Interpreters are qualified and accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI).

Who can use Early Childhood Language Services

Victorian Government Department of Education funded kindergarten services and eligible early childhood support services can access free on-site, telephone and video interpreters.

Funded kindergarten services includes both sessional (standalone) kindergartens and kindergarten programs within long day care settings.

All department funded kindergarten services can also access translation services of written information.

The following early childhood support services can also access interpreting services:

local councils that receive funding from the department to deliver a Central Registration and Enrolment Scheme (CRES) or a program to support kindergarten and pre-prep access and participation (including the CALD Outreach Initiative)
Access to Early Learning (AEL) providers
Safe Haven providers
Early Childhood Intervention Services Continuity of Support (ECIS CoS) providers. ECIS CoS providers deliver intervention services to children not eligible for the NDIS.
ECIS CoS Department of Education central team (NDIS & Strategic Projects team). For assessment of applications for ECIS CoS, including contact with parents and carers via telephone.

Parents and carers can also access the free in-bound telephone interpreting service to contact a kindergarten or early childhood support service using a telephone interpreter in a preferred language.

All Victorian Government primary and secondary schools can use All Graduates for interpreting and translation services. Learn more: School Interpreting and Translation Services.

Interpreting

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Interpreting service hours

Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 6:00pm (Melbourne local time, excluding public holidays).

For any unplanned or urgent requests outside these hours, please call All Graduates on 03 9605 3051 to discuss your request.

Book an interpreter

To make a booking for an interpreter, eligible services need to register a user account with All Graduates.

If your service has not received login details for a user account please contact All Graduates:

Telephone: 03 9605 3051
Email: de.enquiries@allgraduates.com.au Once an account has been created, interpreter bookings can then be made online or by phone.

Online

Visit the All Graduates client portal to make a booking for:

Onsite Interpreter (face to face)
Pre-booked Telephone Interpreter
Pre-Booked Video Interpreter. Each user is required to login to the client portal using their registered user name (usually the account holder’s email address) and a password (provided by All Graduates).

On-demand telephone

To access a telephone interpreter right away, use All Graduates on-demand telephone interpreting service.

Telephone: 03 8104 9006
Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 6:00pm (Melbourne local time). Each user is required to enter their PIN number (provided by All Graduates on registration). If you forget your PIN or don’t have access to it, please contact All Graduates for assistance.

Email

de.enquiries@allgraduates.com.au.

Types of interpreting

On-site interpreting

On-site interpreting is available to support conversations with parents or carers who can personally attend a meeting or service. This can be helpful when telephone or video interpreting is not suitable, for example when the information being discussed is of a sensitive or personal nature.

A minimum 90-minute booking period applies for on-site interpreting. Where a shorter booking period is required, consider using telephone or video interpreting.

Where possible, bookings should be made at least 5 business days before the interpreter is required. Interpreting services should be arranged during normal business hours whenever possible.

When booking an on-site interpreter, please remember that there is high demand for interpreters in education and health services across Victoria. Every effort is made to support your request but please be flexible as an interpreter may not always be available right away.

Telephone and video interpreting

Telephone and video interpreting are helpful options for services, parents, and carers when on-site interpreting cannot be arranged or is not the preferred choice. They can also be practical choices in emergencies, for accessing rare languages, or for situations requiring quick decision-making.

Telephone and video interpreting is available by pre-booking online and no minimum booking period is required.

On-demand telephone interpreting

On-demand telephone interpreting provides quick access to a telephone interpreter to support short conversations or in urgent situations.

You can access an on-demand telephone interpreter using the quick dial language system. Choose from the following most requested languages:

Arabic
Dari
Vietnamese
Persian (Farsi)
Chinese - Mandarin
Hakha Chin
Burmese
Hazaragi
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic
Khmer
Turkish
Swahili
Somali
Pashto
S’gaw Karen You can access the quick dial language system by phoning 03 8104 9006 and then enter your service user PIN.

If the language you need is not one of the quick dial languages, press 0 to exit the quick dial system and say the name of the language you need. If no interpreter is available your call will be redirected to an operator at All Graduates. For other languages, we recommend booking in advance.

For more information, please refer to:

All Graduates On-demand interpreting (DOCX, 2.57 MB)
All Graduates On-demand interpreting (PDF, 284 KB) Note: A staff member must participate in the telephone interpreting call. Telephone interpreters cannot be used to pass on a message to a parent or carer.

Auslan interpreting

Auslan (Australian Sign Language) is the language of the Australian Deaf Community. It is the preferred language of the majority of Deaf Australians.

Auslan interpreters will generally interpret using simultaneous interpreting. This means that interpreting takes place at the same time as the speaker is talking.

Simultaneous interpreting is demanding for the interpreter. They need to listen and talk at the same time. Auslan interpreters will require short breaks after every 15-minute block to maintain accuracy and effectiveness.

When an appointment is longer than one-hour, more than one Auslan interpreter will attend. They will take turns to interpret.

Please allow extra time for the person to respond, as Auslan interpreting involves a slight delay. Avoid making side comments, as the Auslan interpreter is ethically required to interpret everything the deaf person would have understood if they could hear.

For further guidance please refer to:

In-bound telephone interpreting for parents and carers

Parents and carers can access free in-bound telephone interpreting to contact a kindergarten service or early childhood support service in their preferred language.

We currently offer this service in 30 languages. Each language has a corresponding telephone number that you can share with families. For more information including links to translated information for 30 languages about how parents and carers can use in-bound telephone interpreting, please refer to:

Booking procedures

To make sure you have an interpreter when you need one, make a booking as soon as possible. Try to book at least 5 business days in advance.

During busy periods, such as the end of term or year, you might need to book even earlier, for example 10 business days ahead.

What you need to make a booking

When you make a booking, you will need to select your service PIN and provide details about:

the language
dialect (if needed)
date and time
duration
purpose
exact location (if in person)
contact person at the service
any other requirements like gender or a specific interpreter you have used before. All Graduates will confirm the booking using your preferred method of communication, for example phone, email.

If All Graduates are not able to provide an interpreter, they will let you know as soon as possible so you can reschedule as required.

Cancellations

If you need to cancel an appointment, please do so with more than 24 hours’ notice to avoid any late fees. You can cancel the booking online through the All Graduates client portal.

When to use an interpreter

We recommend using an interpreter to support communication and engagement with families at the following times:

Registration and enrolment

understand the requirements and policies of the service for example proof of address, child’s date of birth and immunisation requirements
assist with completing enrolment forms.

Orientation

help new families understand the routines, expectations, and available supports
help kindergarten staff learn about a child’s strengths and interests to facilitate a smooth transition to kindergarten.

Family/Teacher discussions

communicate a child’s developmental progress, needs, and any concerns
encourage conversation to bridge gaps in understanding and build rapport
support bilingual education and language development strategies.

Emergencies

communicate real-time updates to keep families informed
procedures and protocols following an incident to reassure families that a child is safe.

Information sessions

support families to participate in information sessions and ask questions of kindergarten staff and guest speakers, for example transition to school and early learning and development topic areas.

Special events

support inclusion, facilitate participation in open days, cultural events or performances – for example sharing books, songs, stories and cultural practices in the home language.

Feedback

seek families input about a child’s abilities, interests and strengths
gather parents and carers experience and observation to improve services and address specific needs.

Briefing an interpreter

It is important to brief interpreters prior to the commencement of the meeting, whether they are attending onsite, by telephone or video. This means you should:

provide all relevant information when making the booking on the portal or speak to the interpreter just prior to the meeting
tell them who will be in the room (client, carer, support person, staff), especially for telephone interpreting
explain the purpose of the meeting
share what has happened before the meeting (e.g., pre-planning, first or second conversation)
provide any other relevant information, such as any known details about the parent, carer or family, expected communication needs, documents and any possible planned interruptions.

Translation

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Translate written information - Kindergarten services only

Funded kindergarten services can access free translation of written information in over 150 languages. For steps on submitting a translation request using the All Graduates client portal, please refer to:

Types of written information you can translate

The following categories of written information can be translated for funded kindergarten services and do not require approval by the department:

Key item for a newsletter - 500 word maximum: Key items for newsletters should provide important information which is relevant to the whole kindergarten service.
Notice - 750 word maximum: Notices might include details regarding the kindergarten service, parent information meetings and consent forms
Information on the program - 750 word maximum: This might include details about kindergarten programs, experiences, excursions, incursions or communication about individual children on areas such as learning and wellbeing.
Assessments of learning and development - 750 word maximum.
Individual child goals/learning and development goals - 500 word maximum. (Please note, lengthy documents such as parent handbooks or Transition Learning and Development Statements, are not an approved category for translation services of written information.)

Translation services are only available for approved categories unless there are exceptional circumstances. If a translation request does not meet the guidelines, All Graduates will contact the department to seek approval before accepting and completing the translation request. The kindergarten service can choose to cover the translation cost themselves if the request is not covered by the translation guidelines.

Any enquiries about the type of written information that can be translated should be directed to All Graduates:

Telephone: 03 9605 3051
Email: admin@allgraduates.com.au

Request a translation of written information – Funded kindergarten services only

To request a translation of written information, you will need to:

Follow the approved category and word limits described above.
Prepare your written information ready for All Graduates to translate:

write the information in MS Word
A4 size
write in plain English
use continuous text.

Seek authorisation for the request from your service manager or coordinator.
Complete the Kindergarten services - Translation Request Form (DOCX, 65KB) Kindergarten services - Translation Request Form (PDF, 140KB)
Submit your translation request using the All Graduates Client Booking Portal.
Keep a record of each translation request.
Allow at least 10 business days for the request to be received and processed. (However, in exceptional circumstances, and based on the urgency of the request, a shorter timeline may be approved subject to the availability of translators.)
Keep a record of your original translation request. Where a translation request meets the guidelines, All Graduates will complete the request and return the translated file in PDF format to you.

If a request does not meet the guidelines, the contact person will be notified by All Graduates. In this circumstance a kindergarten service can decide to cover any costs for translating special typesetting, layout requirements or documents with words that exceed the maximum limit. The department is unable to meet the cost of requests outside the guidelines. Arrangements should be made directly with All Graduates.

If you have any queries about translation services, please contact All Graduates via email: admin@allgraduates.com.au.

Out of scope translation requests

The department does not provide free translation of child or family personal or medical documentation or service policy documents for other government departments, e.g. immunisation history statements.

Kindergarten services should contact the respective government department to enquire if translation services are available to assist with this type of documentation.

The Department of Home Affairs offers a Free Translating Service for certain permanent residents and some temporary visa holders for translation of up to 10 personal documents. Visit the Department of Home Affairs for further details.

The Health Translations Victoria website is a free online library of high-quality translated Australian health and wellbeing information funded by the Victorian Government and provides quick access to reliable resources.

For additional translated resources about kindergarten, please see:

Resources and training

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Welcome pack for kindergarten services

The welcome pack for kindergartens services includes:

All Graduates contact directory
On-demand telephone interpreting
FAQs: Working with interpreters
FAQ: Pre-booked telephone and video interpreters
FAQ: Working with AUSLAN interpreters
Kindergarten services - How to submit a translation request
Kindergarten translation request form. Kindergarten services welcome pack (DOCX, 8.16 MB) Kindergarten services welcome pack (PDF, 8.24 MB)

Welcome pack for early childhood support services

The welcome pack for early childhood support services includes:

All Graduates contact directory
On-demand telephone interpreting
FAQs: Working with interpreters
FAQs: Pre-booked video and telephone interpreters
FAQs: Working with AUSLAN interpreters. Early childhood support services welcome pack (DOCX, 6.49 MB) Early childhood support services welcome pack (PDF, 6.84 KB)

Additional resources

Identify your language (DOCX, 252KB)
Identify your language (PDF, 318KB) Foundation House has developed the following tip sheets to support work with interpreters and families from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and refugee backgrounds:
Tip sheet – Building partnerships with families from refugee backgrounds (PDF, 480KB)
Tip sheet – Working effectively with interpreters to support families (PDF, 981KB)

Training

All Graduates offer training webinars throughout the year to support kindergarten services and eligible early childhood support services in their work with interpreters.

The webinars are tailored for staff working in Victorian Department of Education funded schools, kindergarten services and eligible early childhood support services.

Register for an upcoming webinar for the Department of Education Victoria. If you register to attend the webinar you will automatically receive a copy of the webinar recording seven days after the webinar.

Feedback

To provide feedback about the quality of interpreting and translation services you can email All Graduates feedback@allgraduates.com.au or the Early Years Management and Partnerships Unit early.years.cald.programs@education.vic.gov.au.

For more information and guidelines on using languages services in Victoria, see the Victorian Government Policy.

The Victorian Government is committed to providing accessible information. This page may not meet level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1. If you are unable to use any of the content of this page, you can contact us to request an accessible version.

Contact email: early.years.cald.programs@education.vic.gov.au Contact number: 03 9059 5340

Early childhood education and care

Updated 27 March 2026

Economic Growth Statement

Early Childhood Language Services

On this page

About Early Childhood Language Services

Who can use Early Childhood Language Services

Interpreting

Online

On-demand telephone

Email

On-site interpreting

Telephone and video interpreting

On-demand telephone interpreting

Auslan interpreting

In-bound telephone interpreting for parents and carers

What you need to make a booking

Cancellations

Registration and enrolment

Orientation

Family/Teacher discussions

Emergencies

Information sessions

Special events

Feedback

Translation

Resources and training

Feedback