National Relay Service
The National Relay Service (NRS) makes it easier for you to contact Centrelink if you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment.
About the NRS
The NRS is a free telephone service that helps people Australia-wide who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment to telephone the wider community through a third person. The NRS operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year. There is no cost for using this service apart from the normal call costs.
How the NRS works
There are 3 people involved in placing a telephone call through the NRS:
- yourself
- a NRS Relay Officer
- a Centrelink Customer Service Adviser.
Using a TTY or a computer with a modem, you telephone the NRS, where a Relay Officer acts as the central communication point between yourself and Centrelink. As you type your enquiry, the Relay Officer becomes your 'voice' and reads this to the Centrelink Customer Service Adviser. The Relay Officer then listens to the response and types it back for you to read.
Your information and privacy
All calls are confidential and Relay Officers are bound by similar privacy conditions to Centrelink staff.
How to use this service
To contact Centrelink using the National Relay Service telephone:
TTY users (Voice and TTY). A TTY phone is required to use this service.
- 13 3677 for all calls within Australia
- FreeCALL™ 1800 555 677 for all calls within Australia to 1800 numbers.
Speak and listen users (speech-to-speech relay)
- 1300 555 727 for all calls within Australia
- FreeCALL™ 1800 555 727 for all calls within Australia to 1800 numbers.
Internet relay users
- Visit the National Relay Service website and enter the Centrelink phone number you would like to use.