AFCA expands support for non-English speakers
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) has improved its resources to help people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities better understand how and when to make a complaint.
New resources have been designed in languages other than English – including a series of videos featuring AFCA’s own staff speaking their first language – to make it easier for all communities to access financial dispute resolution.
Almost a third of AFCA staff were born overseas.
Chief Ombudsmen and CEO David Locke says people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities can face greater challenges when it comes to resolving financial complaints, including exclusion, discrimination and lower English literacy rates.
"AFCA is committed to providing a service that is accessible to everyone, including those who come from culturally diverse communities, or who might be vulnerable or disadvantaged,” Mr Locke said.
AFCA, which has also increased its translated resources from 14 languages to 20, offers a free interpreter in more than 75 languages. The five most frequently requested are Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese and Spanish.
The resources include information about AFCA’s service, the types of complaints AFCA considers and how to contact them using the interpreter service, as well as complaint and feedback forms and brochures.