Outcomes and Observations. Visit to IZO Official Translation and Terminology Services Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country

The December 2023 visit to the IZO Official Language and Terminology Services in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country, presented a valuable outward facing opportunity for staff within the Department of Health and Aged Care (Health) to connect with an international government administration. This collaboration allowed the sharing of knowledge, experiences, and best practices in engaging with communities of people from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The exchange strongly aligns with the department's commitment to inclusivity and excellence in service delivery. The potential benefits arising from the visit and the ensuing observations extend beyond improved communications to influencing the intercultural reach of Health’s broader communication strategies and activities and serving as a model for other government agencies. In this report, we document the visit, our learnings, and the possible applications within Health that could be applied to benefit: • directly, Australia’s government communication • downstream, through improved access to quality health information of vulnerable groups, their health literacy, and • finally, their health outcomes across a range of preventable conditions.