It's also available to friends, family and businesses that want to connect with an NRS user.
And the calls, which can be made from anywhere in Australia, are completely confidential. There are no extra charges on top of what you would normally pay for a phone call or data. Depending on the person’s needs, this is typically done using internet-based text, SMS, captions or video. The NRS uses specially trained staff, called relay officers, who convert voice to text, text to voice, or Auslan to English. This is where the National Relay Service (NRS) comes in - a 24-hour phone service for people who are deaf, or have a hearing impairment and/or speech impairment. So, what happens when they need to make a phone call? Get connected Some people are able to speak, but are hard of hearing. Other Australians who have speech impairments can be difficult to understand on the phone, while some can hear but don't speak. And about 30,000 Australians have total hearing loss and use the national sign language, Auslan.
One in 6 Australians has some hearing loss.
