Ward Communication Tool
The Ward Communication Tool was developed to help Queensland Health staff communicate with people who do not speak English well, or at all, about simple day-to-day issues.
The tool contains words commonly used in the healthcare setting.
The tool can be used to communicate simple needs. For more complex communication, engage a professional interpreter.
How to use the tool
- Identify the correct language:
- If you don't know which language to choose, print out the language identification card (PDF 1710 kB) and show it to the person so they can point to their preferred language
- If the preferred language does not appear in the list of languages below, the imagery on the tool may be sufficient for supporting simple communication needs
- Select a card and print it out so it can be taken to the ward
- Place in front of the person and point to the relevant word and picture
Languages available
- Arabic (PDF 1889 kB)
- Auslan (PDF 448 kB)
- Bosnian (PDF 1938 kB) (may also be suitable for Croatian and Serbian speakers)
- Burmese (PDF 983 kB)
- Simplified Chinese (PDF 784 kB)
- Chin Zomi (PDF 677 kB)
- Dari (PDF 1277 kB)
- Dutch (PDF 66 kB)
- Farsi (PDF 1220 kB)
- Greek (PDF 1407 kB)
- Filipino (PDF 65 kB)
- French (PDF 66 kB)
- German (PDF 65 kB)
- Hazargi (PDF 1213 kB)
- Hindi (PDF 80 kB)
- Hungarian (PDF 66 kB)
- Indonesian (PDF 65 kB)
- Italian (PDF 66 kB)
- Japanese (PDF 80 kB)
- Karen (PDF 1174 kB)
- Khmer (PDF 846 kB)
- Kirundi (PDF 665 kB)
- Korean (PDF 700 kB)
- Lao (PDF 350 kB)
- Malay (PDF 66 kB)
- Polish (PDF 79 kB)
- Russian (PDF 80 kB)
- Samoan (PDF 1049 kB)
- Serbian (PDF 1273 kB)
- Somali (PDF 702 kB)
- Spanish (PDF 674 kB)
- Swahili (PDF 687 kB)
- Tigrinya (PDF 1247 kB)
- Vietnamese (PDF 1184 kB)
Other communication tools
Cue Cards in the Community—contains many words and languages not covered by the Ward Communication Tool. It is available without charge.