New National Relay Services app

: Last Updated: 22 December 2021; Hits: 7311

A video relay call, User with Auslan and Two people on mobile video call.

There is now a National Relay Service (NRS) app available for free on Apple and Android devices!

The NRS is a government initiative that helps people who are deaf and/or find it hard to hear or speak with people who use a phone. They have trained staff called Relay Officers who help change voice to text, text to voice, or AUSLAN to English, or English to AUSLAN.

The new NRS app is free to download, and any calls you make while using the app are free. However, the app requires an internet connection and uses data.

Key features of the NRS app include:

NRS Chat:
- Like instant messaging, you can type your side of the conversation to the Relay Officer, who speaks to the other person and types their responses to you.
- NRS Chat is good if you like to type and read your conversation, or if you need bigger print.
Voice Relay:
- You can speak directly to the other person while a Relay Officer listens on the other line to re-speak any of your words as required.
- Voice Relay is good if you find it difficult to use the phone because of a speech impairment or if you use a voice output device.
NRS Captions:
- You can speak directly to the other person, while a relay officer captions the other person’s responses for you.
- NRS Captions is good if you can speak but find it hard to hear clearly.
Video Relay:
- You can make a video call to a Relay Officer through Skype on the NRS app. The Relay Officer will call the other person. You can sign to the Relay Officer, who will speak to the other person and sign their responses back to you.
- Video Relay is good if you want to use AUSLAN.