VicRoads currently uses the interpreting services of Victorian Interpreter and Translating Services (VITS) to assist in licence or learner permit tests. VITS is located at:

Level 1
371 Spencer Street
Melbourne Vic 3000
Tel: (03) 9280 1955
Fax: (03) 9280 1960
email vits@vits.com.au

Interpreting by friends, relatives or VicRoads officers
Under no circumstances are friends or relatives of the applicant or VicRoads officers to act as interpreters for a knowledge or practical test. Friends or relatives may assist with making bookings, application forms or assisting with the eyesight test if they are not facing the test charts.

TTY Service (Telephone Typewriter)
Hearing impaired and speech impaired clients use a telephone with a typewriter keyboard (TTY) to communicate with other TTY telephones. For registration and licensing enquiries clients with a TTY can call VicRoads on 1300 652 321 (TTY).

Limitations on the use of interpreters
Interpreters are generally not to be provided for:

• The Computerised Licence Test (CLT) in any of the 19 languages available
• Tests in a language not accredited by National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd (NAATI)

However, if the applicant has learning difficulties, or is unable to comprehend the language available on CLT, an interpreter may be used. Auslan interpreters are also available for people with a hearing disability.

Interpreter accreditation requirements
An interpreter's credentials and identity must be verified before commencement of any test.

Interpreters must be either:

• NAATI-accredited at the Professional (Level 3) level unless accreditation for the language is unavailable at this level, or
• NAATI-accredited at the Paraprofessional (Level 2) level unless accreditation for the language is unavailable at this level, or
• NAATI Recognised as an interpreter.

The National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd (trading as NAATI) is the national standards and accreditation body for translators and interpreters in Australia. It is the only agency that issues accreditations for practitioners who wish to work in this profession in Australia.

NAATI accredited interpreters are issued with a ‘NAATI number’. If confirmation of an interpreter's credentials is required contact NAATI and quote the ‘NAATI number’.

For more information about NAATI and the levels of accreditation see www.naati.com.au.

Using a translator
Documents in foreign languages must be accompanied by an English translation. Applicants holding foreign language documents must have them translated into English at their own cost.

Translation of foreign documents must be completed by:

• a NAATI accredited (any level) translator, or
• an official translation from the country of origin, or
• appropriate consulate in Australia.

You can search the on-line directory of NAATI-accredited translators who run their own translation services. 

An International Driver Permit is acceptable as a translation of a driver licence.