What are translation services and who needs them?
Translation services convert written content from one language into another with accuracy, cultural awareness and, where required, legal certification. In Australia, translation is essential for any organisation communicating with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. According to the ABS Census 2021, more than 5.5 million Australians speak a language other than English at home across more than 300 languages.
For government agencies, healthcare organisations, legal professionals, financial institutions and enterprises operating in multilingual environments, professional translation is not optional. It is a compliance requirement, a risk management tool and a communication standard that determines whether information reaches the people it is intended for.
This guide covers how to evaluate, procure and manage translation services. It is designed for procurement managers, communications officers, project managers and anyone responsible for multilingual content across the following sectors:
- Government and public sector: citizen-facing information, policy documents, community announcements, translated fact sheets and multilingual campaigns.
- Healthcare and medical: patient information, consent forms, clinical trial documentation and public health communications.
- Legal and justice: contracts, court documents, statutory declarations and regulatory filings requiring certified accuracy.
- Banking and finance: financial disclosures, compliance documentation, customer communications and product information.
- Education: enrollment materials, parent communications, academic transcripts and international student documentation.
- Retail, FMCG and eCommerce: product descriptions, customer support, marketing materials and multilingual website content.
- Advertising and marketing: campaign copy, brand messaging, social media content and transcreation for cultural adaptation.
- Property and construction: investment prospectuses, safety documentation, contracts and stakeholder communications.
- Travel and tourism: destination content, booking information, signage and customer service materials.
- Mining and resources: safety manuals, training materials, regulatory documentation and workforce communications.
- Community and social services: settlement information, service access guides, outreach materials and community consultation documents.
While these sectors are the most common, any organisation producing content for multilingual audiences in Australia will find this guide relevant. For key translation and localisation terms, visit our Glossary.
What types of translation services are available?
Not all translation work requires the same approach. The right service depends on the content type, audience, regulatory requirements and budget. Understanding the spectrum from fully automated translation through to human-led certified translation helps you match the right service level to each project.
Machine translation
AI-powered translation technology processes content instantly and at scale. Modern neural machine translation (NMT) engines deliver significantly better output than earlier statistical models, particularly for high-resource language pairs like English to Chinese or English to Spanish. Machine translation works well for internal communications, content triage (understanding the gist of foreign-language documents) and high-volume, lower-stakes content where speed matters more than polish.
The limitations are real: machine translation struggles with cultural nuance, idiomatic language, specialised terminology and context-dependent meaning. For any content that will be published, submitted to a government body or read by a patient, machine translation alone is insufficient.
Machine translation with human review (post-editing)
This hybrid approach uses machine translation as a first pass, followed by a qualified human linguist who reviews, corrects and refines the output. It offers a balance between speed and quality, and is suitable for content that needs to be accurate but does not require the full rigour of certified translation. Internal reports, website content for informational purposes and large-volume documentation projects benefit from this approach.
Professional human translation
A qualified translator works directly with the source content, applying linguistic expertise, subject matter knowledge and cultural understanding. The translation is then proofread by an independent linguist. This is the standard for consumer-facing materials, formal communications, published content and any material where tone, accuracy and cultural appropriateness are critical. NAATI-certified translation is available at this level for documents requiring official certification.
Premium human translation with additional review
For complex, high-stakes content such as legal documents, government policy materials, clinical information and executive communications, a third layer of checking and editing by an independent qualified translator is added. This level applies the most rigorous quality assurance process and is recommended for any content where errors carry regulatory, legal or reputational consequences.
Transcreation and cultural adaptation
When the goal shifts from conveying information to persuading, motivating or building emotional connection, word-for-word translation is not enough. Transcreation adapts the intent, tone and cultural resonance of the original content for a different audience. It is most commonly applied to marketing campaigns, taglines and health promotion materials. For a detailed comparison of when to use each approach, see our guide on transcreation vs translation.
LEXIGO offers all of these service levels through a simple per-word pricing model, with 24/7 support, dedicated project success managers and translation quality guarantees across all tiers.
What is NAATI certification and why does it matter in Australia?
NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters) is the only body in Australia that issues credentials for translators. Over 10,500 practitioners hold more than 15,000 credentials across 180+ languages.
For any document being submitted to an Australian government department, court, educational institution or regulatory body, NAATI certification is typically mandatory. A NAATI-certified translation includes the translator's credential number, a signed certification statement and a stamp confirming the translation's accuracy. The receiving body can verify the translator's credentials through the NAATI online directory.
NAATI operates three certification levels: Certified Advanced Translator, Certified Translator and Recognised Practising Translator. Recertification is required every three years to maintain currency, and all NAATI-certified translators adhere to the AUSIT Code of Ethics.
Common documents requiring NAATI-certified translation include birth certificates, marriage certificates, academic transcripts, driver licences, police checks, medical reports and corporate documents for regulatory submission.
For a complete guide to NAATI certification requirements, read What Is NAATI Certification? A Complete Guide.
When should you use AI translation vs human translation?
The choice between AI and human translation is not binary. Most organisations benefit from using both, matched to different content types and risk profiles.
AI translation is effective for high-volume, time-sensitive content with lower public-facing risk: internal emails, preliminary document review, content triage across languages and draft translations for internal reference. Modern AI translation tools, including large language models (LLMs) and neural machine translation engines, deliver faster results than ever before. LEXIGO's technology platform integrates enterprise-grade AI with human quality assurance to deliver the speed of automation with the reliability of professional oversight.
Human translation is essential for any content where accuracy carries consequences. Legal documents, medical information, government communications, published marketing materials and anything requiring NAATI certification should always involve a qualified human translator. The cultural nuance, contextual judgment and subject matter expertise that human translators bring cannot be replicated by AI alone.
The most effective approach for most organisations is a hybrid model: AI translation for speed and scale, with human translators for quality-critical content. This is the model LEXIGO operates across all service tiers. For a deeper comparison, read Human Translation vs Machine Translation: Which Is Right for You?
How do you prepare content for translation?
The quality of a translation is heavily influenced by the quality of the source content. Well-prepared source material translates faster, costs less and produces better results across every language.
Write in plain language
Use short sentences, active voice and straightforward vocabulary. Avoid idioms, slang, acronyms and culturally specific references that may not translate. If your content is easy to understand in English, it will translate more effectively into other languages. The Australian Government's plain language guidelines are a useful reference point for source content preparation.
Provide context to the translator
A translation brief outlining the target audience, purpose of the content, intended channel (print, web, social media, video), tone requirements and any terminology preferences will significantly reduce revision cycles. For government and enterprise projects, this briefing step is particularly important. Read our guide on how to write a translation brief for a practical framework.
Finalise source content before sending
Translating content that is still being revised creates rework and cost overruns. Ensure the source text is final, proofread and approved before the translation process begins.
Provide reference materials
Existing glossaries, style guides, previously approved translations and translation memory databases all improve consistency. If your organisation has worked with a translation provider before, ask whether a translation memory exists from previous projects. Translation memory stores previously approved segments and reuses them automatically, improving both consistency and cost efficiency.
Specify certification requirements upfront
If the translation requires NAATI certification, confirm this at the briefing stage. Different use cases require different credential levels, and specifying this from the outset avoids situations where a translation needs to be redone by a differently credentialed translator.
Consider text expansion and layout
Translated text is often longer than the English source, sometimes by 20 to 30 per cent depending on the language. For content destined for print, packaging, app interfaces or website layouts, account for this expansion in your design. Right-to-left languages (Arabic, Hebrew, Farsi) require different layout configurations. Chinese languages use simplified and traditional character sets, and the correct script depends on the target audience.
What quality standards should you look for in a translation provider?
Three quality frameworks matter most when evaluating translation providers in Australia.
NAATI certification
NAATI certification confirms that individual translators hold recognised credentials. Any provider offering certified translation in Australia should be using NAATI-credentialed translators whose credentials can be independently verified.
ISO 17100
ISO 17100 is the international standard for translation services. It specifies requirements for the core processes, resources and other aspects necessary for the delivery of quality translation. Certification under ISO 17100 means the provider uses qualified translators with demonstrated subject area competence, implements independent revision by a second linguist, and follows documented project management processes.
ISO 27001
ISO 27001 covers information security management. For organisations handling sensitive documents (government, legal, healthcare, financial), working with an ISO 27001-certified provider ensures that confidential content is protected throughout the translation process.
LEXIGO holds triple ISO certification: ISO 17100 for translation quality, ISO 9001 for quality management and ISO 27001 for information security. Read more about what these certifications mean for translation quality.
Beyond certification, practical indicators of quality include: a structured briefing and project management process, dedicated project managers rather than automated-only workflows, transparent pricing per word or per page, defined turnaround commitments, access to translation memory and glossary management tools, and a clear revision and feedback process.
How much do translation services cost in Australia?
Translation pricing in Australia is typically calculated per word or per page, with rates varying by language pair, service level, turnaround time and content complexity.
As a general guide, machine translation with human review (post-editing) sits at the lower end of the pricing spectrum. Professional human translation with proofreading is the mid-range standard for most business and government content. Premium translation with additional checking and editing carries a higher per-word rate that reflects the additional quality assurance layer. Certified NAATI translation for personal documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates and academic transcripts is typically priced per page, with rates starting from $69 depending on language and document complexity.
Several factors influence the total cost of a translation project beyond the per-word rate: the number of target languages, formatting and desktop publishing requirements, turnaround urgency (express service attracts a premium), and whether the project requires NAATI certification.
For organisations with ongoing translation needs, a strategic services contract provides preferential rates, a dedicated team and lower long-term costs compared to ad hoc project-by-project procurement.
Use LEXIGO's instant quote tool to get an indicative cost for your project, or contact our team to discuss requirements for complex or multi-language projects.
How do you choose the right translation provider?
Selecting a translation provider is a procurement decision that should be evaluated against several criteria beyond price.
Certification and credentials
Does the provider hold relevant ISO certifications? Do they use NAATI-certified translators? Can you verify translator credentials independently?
Language coverage
How many languages does the provider support? For organisations working across multiple CALD communities, a provider with broad language coverage reduces the complexity of managing multiple vendors. LEXIGO supports 171 languages through a single platform.
Industry experience
Has the provider worked with organisations in your sector? Government, healthcare, legal and financial services translation each carry specific regulatory and terminological requirements. Ask for relevant case studies and client references. See LEXIGO's case studies for examples.
Technology and workflow
Does the provider offer a cloud-based platform for project management, translation memory and glossary management? Technology-enabled workflows improve consistency, reduce turnaround times and lower costs on repeat projects. LEXIGO's CORE+ platform provides real-time project dashboards, automated translation memory leverage and secure file handling.
Quality assurance process
What does the provider's QA workflow look like? At minimum, professional translation should include translation by a qualified linguist followed by independent proofreading. For high-stakes content, look for an additional checking and editing step by a third linguist.
Turnaround and responsiveness
Does the provider offer express turnaround for urgent projects? Is there a dedicated project manager or account manager for your organisation?
Security and confidentiality
For sensitive content, ISO 27001 certification provides assurance that the provider has robust information security controls. Ask about data handling, storage, access controls and confidentiality agreements.
How do you manage translation as an ongoing process?
Translation is not a one-off task. For organisations producing multilingual content regularly, treating translation as a managed, ongoing process delivers better quality, lower costs and greater consistency over time.
Build and maintain translation memory
Translation memory databases store previously approved translation segments and automatically suggest them for reuse in future projects. Over time, this reduces costs (you do not pay to retranslate content that has already been approved) and improves terminology consistency across all your multilingual materials.
Keep glossaries and style guides current
As your organisation's terminology evolves, update the glossary and style guide that your translation provider works from. This is particularly important for government agencies, healthcare organisations and brands with established voice guidelines.
Gather feedback from your target audience
The most valuable quality signal for translated content comes from the people who read it. Establish a feedback mechanism, whether through community advisory groups, in-language surveys or direct feedback channels, to identify gaps or issues in your translated materials.
Audit translated content periodically
Review published translations for accuracy, cultural relevance and alignment with current source content. Outdated translations that no longer match the English source can cause confusion and undermine trust.
Plan for multilingual content from the outset
The most cost-effective and highest-quality multilingual content is produced when translation is built into the content planning process from the start, not bolted on at the end. Write source content with translation in mind, budget for translation alongside content creation and build translation timelines into your project plans.
For a deeper exploration of how cultural insight drives more effective multilingual communications, read The Authenticity Advantage, a free practical guide to culturally intelligent marketing by LEXIGO CEO Mark Saba.
Ready to get started?
Whether you are translating content for the first time or scaling an existing multilingual programme, LEXIGO is here to help.
- Get an instant quote using our instant quote tool to estimate costs for your project.
- Talk to our team by contacting our specialists to discuss your requirements.
- Get started by creating your account and submitting your first project in minutes.
LEXIGO delivers professional translation services across 171 languages, powered by triple ISO-certified processes (ISO 9001, ISO 17100, ISO 27001), NAATI-certified translators and an award-winning technology platform. Trusted by 50+ Australian government departments and agencies.
For key translation and localisation terms, visit our Glossary. For guidance on communicating with culturally and linguistically diverse communities, see the CALD Communications Guide.