Communication assistance is an important service for courts to ensure that defendants understand court proceedings, and defendants and witnesses (participants) can give evidence to the best of their ability. Communication assistance is provided by communication and language specialists - they assess participants' communication abilities and provide advice to the court on how to enable effective communication in court proceedings.
The communication assistance service is available nationwide in courts where the Evidence Act 2006 applies.
Communication assistants are language and communication specialists. They help the court and participants to communicate effectively in court proceedings.
Important information and resources for applying for communications assistance. Resources include the application form and guidance on applying for communication assistance.
The communication assistance quality framework describes who can provide communication assistance, how it should be delivered, and how the Ministry will support ongoing quality improvement for the service.
If you are unhappy or concerned about how well communication assistance was delivered or how a communication assistant behaved while providing the service, you can make a complaint.
Information and training modules to become a communications assistant.