Vicdeaf -

 

Hi and welcome to our VRI News Update – June edition. Here’s some more exciting news on the roll-out of the Video Relay Interpreting service (VRI).

A DVD about the VRI service has been distributed widely through-out Victoria. The DVD explains how the service works and because it includes Auslan, captions and audio, it will be accessible to everyone. You can watch and download the DVD from the VRI service website – www.vriservice.com.au

If you would like a copy of the DVD, please email me at pharper@vicdeaf.com.au

You can now find all the information you require about the VRI service as well as the ability to download the VRI DVD at www.vriservice.com.au. The website includes information on how the VRI service works, where the VRI sites are located, how to book a VRI service, frequently asked questions (FAQs), contact information as well as some Auslan videoclips. You can also download and print information about the VRI service.

We have send news about the VRI service to two websites that focus on disability news:

• DiVine - http://www.disability.vic.gov.au/ This is a new website and you will also find an interesting story about Sofya Gollan, a well known and successful deaf actor and filmmaker from NSW.
• Disability News Infoxchange – http://www.disabilitynews.infoxchange.net.au/index.shtml

Yes – we have our own Facebook page – type in Video Relay Interpreting Service. Please tell your friends about it and we would love to hear what you think of it.

We are pleased to get out into the regional areas with some information workshops being held in Ballarat (July 2nd) and Geelong (July 13th). A presentation to the Casey Deaf Club AGM will happen in early August. Recently, we visited Traralgon and had an information stall at the Gippsland Deaf Expo. Phil Harper and Marc Curtis attended and shared information on the VRI service (see picture below).

Two new sites to go online soon:

• Victorian Council of Deaf People (VCOD) / Deaf Children Australia

• Latrobe Community Health Centre in Sale.

We will advise when they are connected to the VRI service. The other current sites are in Morwell, Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong. There are also two locations in Melbourne – Vicdeaf and OnCall. Very soon more sites will be available in other regional areas such as Shepparton and Mildura, Wodonga. Please check the VRI website for this information.

You can book a VRI service at any time between 8am – 6pm (depending on location). The booking information is as follows:

• For funded organisations with access to the DHS Language Services credit line,

bookings can be made through ONCALL.

• For all other organisations and community members, VRI bookings for:

- Auslan interpreting is delivered through SLC VIC

- Spoken language interpreting is delivered through ONCALL

SLC VIC – www.vicdeaf.com.au/interpreter-booking-interpreting or by phone on 1300 123 752 or TTY 9473 1143

ONCALL - www.oncallinterpreters.com or by phone on 9867 3788

Any questions you have about the VRI service, please contact us or the Department of Human Services (Disability) on auslanvri@dhs.vic.gov.au

Phil Harper

Promotion Co-ordinator

DHS Video Relay Interpreting Service (VRI)

SLC VIC is a division of the Victorian Deaf Society

4/340 Albert Street East Melbourne 3002

Ph: 03 9416 4473

Web: www.vicdeaf.com.au