Continuity of Support for the National Auslan Interpreter Booking and Payment Service program

Overview

The Australian Government is inviting applications in an open competitive process to apply to deliver services under the Continuity of Support (CoS) for National Auslan Interpreter Booking and Payment Service (NABS) program from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2022.  CoS will help existing Commonwealth clients, who are ineligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), achieve similar outcomes to those they were aiming to achieve prior to the introduction of the NDIS. The NABS program provides a national service that books and pays for an accredited Australian Sign Language (Auslan) interpreter to attend medical consultations that attract a Medicare rebate, or specified health consultations, provided in a private medical practice by a general practitioner, specialist or health professional. NABS’ objective is to ensure no deaf person is disadvantaged by not having an available interpreter when attending a private medical or specified health appointment provided in a private medical practice by a general practitioner, specialist or health professional. From 1 July 2020, funding will be available for an organisation to deliver support for approximately 600 existing NABS clients who are ineligible for the NDIS and clients who are 65 and over.