Community Language Allowance (CLA) 106-01020040

CLA is a fortnightly allowance paid to eligible service delivery staff who help customers in a language other than English.

CLA is available for staff who:

• are ongoing, non-ongoing, part-time, or casual employees
• speak international or First Nations languages
• help customers who are deaf or hard of hearing, using Auslan or other sign languages
• are skilled in a role that has direct regular contact with customers. This can be over the phone or face to face
• work in a business area with an ongoing need for the relevant language
• can provide proof of language skills or pass an online CLA proficiency test

Contractors and labour hire employees are not eligible for CLA.

Note: CLA does not replace existing interpreting services provided by the agency.

Staff receiving CLA can:

• conduct their usual customer contact in the relevant language
• be the first point of contact for customers who need language assistance
• help other staff with brief customer interactions, for example telling a customer of an appointment or directing them to the correct queue

Staff receiving CLA cannot:

• be expected to handle queries in areas unrelated to their role
• be used as an interpreter in a three-way conversation
• help customers or staff with translating written material
• use their language skills in situations that exceed their skill level. If this happens, they must engage an interpreter

• For queries about CLA:
• payments, contact People Advisory Centre (PAC). The Resources page has a link.
• testing, contact Language Services
• For more information on allowances, see Allowances and reimbursements on the Resources page