Sydney-based technology firm Accelerate Tech has partnered with Multicultural NSW to develop a groundbreaking mobile application that enables NSW Police officers to access interpreting services 24/7.
The Language+ app, now deployed on 12,000 police devices across the state, features over 200 commonly used phrases translated and recorded in 29 languages.
More than 1500 officers accessed the app within the first week of its soft launch.
"This is an incredible, innovative solution for police and emergency workers to handle tricky, multilingual situations, which can be distressing when someone doesn't understand English," James Diekman, chief executive of Accelerate Tech, said.
"We love working on solutions that drive real impact for the community."
The app was developed specifically for the NSW Police Force in consultation with community members and frontline officers to improve communication with the state's diverse population.
Accelerate Tech's development team built the app using MAUI (Multi-platform App UI), enabling cross-platform functionality while maintaining security and customisation capabilities.
"Thanks to its conditional compilation features, I can securely tailor builds for each customer with minimal code changes," Safwan Karim, principal consultant at Accelerate Tech who worked on the app development, using MAUI, said.
The development process extended beyond just the police application, with the team also creating an administrative web interface for Multicultural NSW to manage languages, phrases, and client groups.
Karim said the team established an Enterprise Landing Zone in Azure as the core infrastructure layer, setting up secure connections with NSW Police Force and implementing best-practice conventions for scalable cloud projects.
Accelerate Tech's Adam Gatt led the initial setup of the app, with Karim building and maintaining it after that.
The app delivers improved access to certified interpreters, helping officers save valuable time when communicating with community members who are not fluent in English.
"The app is designed to help emergency personnel communicate with people who struggle with English. It has tailored versions for each NSW emergency service, with commonly used phrases relevant to their work," Karim said.
By offering pre-recorded phrases, the system reduces the need for interpreter calls, improving response times and lowering operational costs while ensuring legal safety through precise, approved language.
For more complex interactions, the NSW Police version connects directly to an on-demand interpreter service, bypassing automated menus to save critical time.
The current release is an Android application for NSW Police Force, with iOS versions and further rollout planned for Rural Fire Service NSW, State Emergency Service NSW, and their volunteers.
"Working with the Multicultural NSW team was an inspiring experience—their creativity, collaboration, and deep commitment to inclusivity helped shape an app that truly meets the needs of diverse communities," Jane McCarthy, engagement lead at Accelerate Tech, said.
Minister for Police Yasmin Catley praised the initiative as part of the government's commitment to supporting communities across NSW.
According to the 2021 Census, approximately 30 per cent of NSW residents were born overseas, and more than one in four speak a language other than English at home.
"Being a police officer is more demanding than ever, but with new technology, we're making it easier for them to serve and protect the community," Catley said.
The Language+ app was designed using the NSW Design System to maintain a consistent and familiar interface across government digital services.
Multiculturalism corporate sponsor and South West Region Metropolitan Region commander, assistant commissioner Brett McFadden, pointed to the app's potential to build trust with communities by minimising misunderstanding during emergencies.
"We hope this app will help build trust with communities by minimising misunderstanding and reducing stress and frustration during emergencies," McFadden said.
“The app should help officers save valuable time when communicating with members of the community.
“The phrases have also been specifically designed by certified interpreters for everyday interactions between police and people, whether they are victims or witnesses."
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