ReadSpeaker
ReadSpeaker now reads pages with an Australian voice.
on this page
Using ReadSpeaker
ReadSpeaker implements text-to-speech for the Centrelink website.
To use ReadSpeaker click the 
icon at the top of the page.
A new window will open, which will play the main contents of the page back to you as audio. You can even try it on this page.
Not all pages are suitable for ReadSpeaker so the icon may not appear on all of them.
Frequently asked questions
Downloading the audio
Once you have clicked on the listen icon you should see a "download audio" link. Right click on the link and select the save or download option depending on your browser. This will then download an MP3 of the page. The MP3 quality is 48kbits per second and is suitable for downloading over a dial-up connection. You can then load this MP3 onto your portable MP3 player for use later on or to present the information to someone that does not have an internet connection. If the contents of the page changes you will need to download the MP3 again.
ReadSpeaker on Smart Phones, PDAs or iPhones
Click on the "download audio" link in the ReadSpeaker window to use your phone's built in audio player to play back the MP3 file.
Reading only selected text
To read a part of the page or an area outside of the main content, highlight the desired text with your mouse or keyboard and then click the icon.
The ReadSpeaker window only shows 0/0 and doesn't play the audio
If the ReadSpeaker window only shows 0/0 after 5 seconds, close the ReadSpeaker window and try the icon again. This may happen if you have a slow connection or have a firewall that blocks MP3s.
Can't hear the audio
If you are having trouble hearing the sound:
- check the settings on your computer's control panel and make sure your sound and audio device is enabled and not muted
- check your computer or phone's speakers are turned on and that the volume control is not turned down
- if you still can't hear anything, open the ReadSpeaker window's own volume control in the pop up window and check that the progress bar is moving.
Feedback
Your feedback on the ReadSpeaker feature is welcome. Please send us a secure online message to the Centrelink Website Feedback mailbox.
More information
- Centrelink website accessibility - tools and tips to help you access and use our website, particulary if you have a vision impairment, other disability or technical limitation.