This International Translation Day, Northern Health is celebrating the important role translators and interpreters play in supporting safe, inclusive healthcare with the launch of Nepali and Hindi in the Talk To Me app.
The new languages are the result of a collaboration between Northern Health, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Mercy Health and LanguageLoop, bringing together clinical, language and cultural expertise to expand access to trusted multilingual resources.
Originally developed by St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Talk To Me is a digital tool that supports brief, low-risk interactions through a library of professionally translated and recorded healthcare phrases in 20 different languages. Available on smartphones and tablets, the app complements, but does not replace, professional interpreters.
To add Nepali and Hindi, certified translations were completed and independently reviewed by in-house healthcare translators, with Northern Health leading the Nepali review via our in-house interpreter and translator Dipa Baral, and Mercy Health leading the Hindi review. The approved content was then professionally recorded by the translators, creating new audio resources, now available in the app.
The addition of these languages reflects the diversity of our communities and provides staff with another practical resource to support patient-centred care.
“Effective communication is fundamental to safe, person-centred care. The addition of Hindi and Nepali to the Talk To Me app provides clinicians with another practical tool to support patients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and reflects our commitment to improving access and inclusion across healthcare,” said Nirmala Abraham, Manager, Multicultural Services, Werribee Mercy Hospital and Mercy Hospital for Women.
Unlike consumer translation apps and AI-generated tools, every phrase in Talk To Me undergoes a rigorous translation, review and quality assurance process. This gives staff confidence that the content is accurate, culturally appropriate and suitable for use in healthcare settings.
“The Talk to Me app has shown us that technology and human expertise can work hand in hand. By combining our unique language expertise and cultural sensitivity with the possibilities of language technology, we can provide timely access to information for our communities while ensuring that quality, accuracy and cultural appropriateness remain at the heart of what we deliver,” said Beatrice Cann, Transcultural and Language Services (TALS) Team Leader, Northern Health.
By building on an evidence-based platform, the project strengthens access to multilingual communication while reducing reliance on unverified translation tools. It also demonstrates the value of collaboration in creating practical solutions that improve the patient experience and support equitable care.
The Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Lead at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Monita Mascitti-Meuter, highlighted the importance of partnership in delivering meaningful improvements to patient care.
“Culturally responsive and inclusive care is strengthened when we work together, bringing healthcare professionals, language experts, patients and communities into the same conversation. Through collaboration, shared responsibility and human connection, we can create safer communication, greater trust and more equitable opportunities for every person to participate in their healthcare.”
As we mark International Translation Day, we recognise the invaluable contribution of translators and interpreters whose expertise helps break down language barriers and ensure patients can participate in their care.
Explore Talk To Me and Win
To celebrate the launch of Nepali and Hindi, staff are encouraged to explore the Talk To Me app (https://talktome.svhm.org.au), and complete a short survey about their experience for the chance to win one of four prizes!
Pictured in featured image is Dipa Baral, an in-house interpreter and translator at Northern Health.