General information
This guide is based on publicly available information from official sources, including the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, Services Australia, Healthdirect and other Australian Government health and pharmacy bodies. It is general information, not personal medical advice, and may change over time. With any medicine, always read the label and use only as directed, and if symptoms persist see your doctor or health care professional. Check anything that affects you with your pharmacist or GP. In an emergency, call 000.
About 22% of Australians, more than five million people, speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census, cultural diversity, ABS). When your pharmacist speaks your language, the instructions for a medicine land clearly the first time, and it is easier to ask about a side effect or another medicine you already take. Many pharmacies in multicultural areas have staff who speak a major community language, and for anything that cannot be covered in person, the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) offers free phone interpreting in more than 100 languages, at any hour (TIS National). For the wider picture, see our guide to finding a pharmacy in Australia.
Why does a shared language matter?
Medication instructions are precise, and small differences change what a medicine does. "Take with food" and "take on an empty stomach" work differently in the body; "once a day" and "every second day" can be the difference between a medicine helping and harming. Pharmacist counselling only does its job when you follow exactly what you were told.
A shared language lowers real risks. Doses are missed less often when the instructions are clear. The pharmacist can ask about your other medicines and catch a harmful combination. And you can describe a side effect accurately enough for them to act on it. This matters most for older people from migrant communities, for recent arrivals still building their English, and for anyone managing several medicines at once, where small misunderstandings add up over time.
How can you find a pharmacist who speaks your language?
Three approaches work well. A pharmacy's listing on Pharmacy Finder shows the languages its staff speak, where the pharmacy has provided them, so a profile is worth checking before you go. Local knowledge is often quicker: cultural associations, places of worship, and community newspapers tend to know which pharmacies serve their community, especially in areas like Sydney's Cabramatta, Melbourne's Footscray, or Brisbane's Sunnybank. The surest method is simply to call ahead and ask, because many pharmacists speak a community language that was never listed online.
If no one on shift speaks your language, the pharmacy can add an interpreter to your conversation by phone at no cost to you, through the national interpreting service, so you can still understand your medicine clearly.
How does TIS National work for a pharmacy visit?
TIS National is run by the Department of Home Affairs, and covers more than 100 languages by phone, around the clock (TIS National). It works two ways at a pharmacy. You can call TIS yourself on 131 450, ask for an interpreter in your language, and have them help with your call or visit. Or, while you are at the counter, the pharmacist can bring an interpreter onto the phone and into the conversation.
For you, there is no cost in the pharmacy setting. For the pharmacy, it is free too, where the pharmacy holds a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) approval number or employs a pharmacist registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), which covers most community pharmacies (Free Interpreting Service for pharmacies, TIS National).
TIS interpreters are general interpreters rather than medical specialists, which suits most pharmacy conversations. For a complex discussion about a chronic condition, it is worth asking whether a credentialed health interpreter is available; these are certified by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) (NAATI).
Common community languages by area
Australia's community-language map broadly tracks the migration history of each area, so the languages you are most likely to find in a pharmacy shift from suburb to suburb.
| Language | Where it is most often spoken in pharmacies |
|---|---|
| Mandarin and Cantonese | Sydney (Chatswood, Hurstville, Eastwood), Melbourne (Box Hill, Glen Waverley), Brisbane (Sunnybank) |
| Arabic | Western Sydney (Bankstown, Lakemba, Auburn), northern Melbourne (Coburg, Broadmeadows), parts of Adelaide |
| Vietnamese | Cabramatta (NSW), Footscray and Richmond (VIC), Inala (QLD) |
| Greek | Melbourne (Oakleigh, Northcote), Sydney (Marrickville, Earlwood), Adelaide (Norwood) |
| Italian | Inner Melbourne (Carlton, Coburg), Sydney (Leichhardt, Five Dock) |
| Hindi and Punjabi | Melbourne (Tarneit, Point Cook), Sydney (Parramatta, Harris Park), Brisbane (Springfield) |
| Korean | Sydney (Strathfield, Eastwood), Melbourne (Glen Waverley, Carnegie) |
Pharmacy Finder directory and ABS 2021 Census community-language data. Areas are indicative, and individual pharmacies vary. Many other languages, including Tagalog, Tamil, Spanish, Persian, Turkish, and Macedonian, are spoken by pharmacists across the country.
How do you ask without any awkwardness?
Asking whether a pharmacist speaks your language is completely normal, and in multicultural areas most expect the question, with many showing their languages on a counter sign or name badge. You can ask in a few natural ways:
- "Hi, is there anyone here who speaks [language]?"
- "Is there a pharmacist on today who speaks [language]?"
- "I would be more comfortable in [language] for this. Is that possible?"
If the answer is no, the pharmacist will usually offer to bring in a phone interpreter or point you to a nearby pharmacy where someone speaks your language. The same questions work just as well over the phone if you are calling ahead.
What can you do in an urgent situation with no interpreter?
For an urgent question when no one in person can help, there are two good options beyond the TIS line already covered. Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 has a registered nurse at any hour and can bring in an interpreter (Contact us, healthdirect); if your concern is medical rather than only about medication supply, this is often the better first call. Healthdirect advises that for a medical emergency, including chest pain, breathing difficulty, a severe injury, or a mental-health crisis, you should call 000, which can connect an interpreter in real time.
If a pharmacist cannot reach an interpreter quickly enough, it is worth asking them to write the key points down: the dose, how often to take it, what to do about a missed dose, and what to avoid. A short written list in English is something a family member, friend, or community contact can help you translate afterwards.
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Frequently asked questions
Mandarin is one of the most widely spoken community languages in Australian pharmacies, so you are likely to find one in the major cities. You can check a pharmacy's listing for the languages it notes, or call your nearest large pharmacy and ask, particularly in the Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane suburbs where Mandarin speakers cluster.
