VPS Language Allowance
The Language Allowance is available to VPS staff that are fluent in English and one or more languages other than English (LOTE).

It is paid to an employee who undertakes work involving direct contact with speakers of the LOTE that they speak, and agrees to use these language skills to assist members of the public who have low English proficiency.It is an effective way of utilising existing personnel resources to meet the needs of diverse client groups. The Language Allowance is also a cost effective way of providing language services within your agency.Allowance recipients are accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI), which guarantees that recipients’ skills meet national standards for interpreters and language aides.

The Language Allowance (LA) is an annual allowance payable in fortnightly instalments according to the level of accreditation obtained by the recipient as follows (LA as of 2012):

Language aide accreditation:

• $853

Paraprofessional interpreter accreditation

• $1,173

Professional Interpreter accreditation or higher

• $1,599

If an applicant for the LA has not obtained NAATI accreditation, the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship will pay the cost of the accreditation tests, up to two tests per candidate. The candidate must attend a pre-testing workshop, the cost of which is to be paid by the candidate's department or agency.

Download the Victorian Public Service Language Allowance Guidelines 2011-12