We understand there has been some community concern about the immediate future of the NRS, following the Government's announcement of new measures to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Australia.
We can confirm that the recently announced restrictions do not apply to the NRS.
The National Relay Service (NRS) is an essential service, providing important assistance to people who are Deaf, have a hearing impairment and/or have a speech impairment to keep in touch—and is vital at this time.
However, the NRS is not immune from the widespread impact of COVID-19. Longer than usual wait times may be experienced due to increased call activity and reduced staff numbers.
The NRS provider, Concentrix, is already exploring ways to continue to deliver the NRS at the greatest capacity possible while protecting the health of relay officers, including delivering the service remotely.
We appreciate your patience at this difficult time.
Where do I go for more information?
The NRS Helpdesk is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm (AEST, excluding national public holidays). You can also leave a message outside these hours and a Helpdesk staff member will get back to you.
There are a number of ways to make contact with Helpdesk staff:
Phone: 1800 555 660
TTY: 1800 555 630
Fax: 1800 555 690
SMS: 0416 001 350
Online: Online form
Email: helpdesk@relayservice.com.au
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