The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman has announced that its website – www.asbfeo.gov.au – is now available in more than 100 languages to better assist migrant-led small- and family-business owners and leaders.
This is made possible with the addition of a translation feature powered by Google Translate and it can accessed at the top of the ASBFEO website.
“One in three small businesses are run by people who were born overseas and our culture and local business communities are enriched by their presence,” Bruce Billson, the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO), said. “But, sometimes when help is needed and people are distressed, many find it easier when the information is provided in a preferred language. I hope this new feature on our website, which can be activated by one simple click, will make it easier for migrant-led business owners to use the many helpful resources, tools and checklists available.”
Recent ASBFEO research reveals that nearly one-quarter of small-business owners use a language other than English at home and more than half of small-business owners are second-generation migrants, with a parent born overseas.
The Ombudsman also noted that around 23 per cent of small-business owners required the assistance of one of ASBFEO’s case managers in matters relating to a dispute as they spoke a language other than English at home. In almost two-thirds of these cases, the issue was about a payment dispute.
“Effort has been made to provide accurate translations, but no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace human translators,” Billson said. “When we individually assist with cases, our case managers use human translators to help ensure that translations are accurate, and meaning is well understood.”
