Auscript is able to provide transcripts of proceedings heard in:

• Federal Court of Australia;
• Family Court of Australia;
• Queensland Courts (Department of Justice and Attorney General) and;
• Federal Circuit Courts. Please see “Transcript Types” for further information.

Auscript is also able to provide transcription services for Private Audio and events such as:

• Depositions
• Commissions
• Arbitrations
• Conferences (including teleconferences)
• Interviews

Please contact clientservices@auscript.com.au or call 1800 287 274 for more information about Auscript’s other transcription services. Further details can also be found under Transcription Services.

Please contact the applicable Court Registry for details such as matter title, presiding judge, room, hearing date and time – this information is required before you are able to proceed with an order.

Yes – orders placed in advance are encouraged. This is particularly relevant if you require a fast turnaround (i.e. “Progressive” or “Same Day”). This can alleviate the pressure of ordering at the last minute and helps us to allocate specific resources on the day of the proceedings/event. Placing your order well in advance will help to secure the delivery you require.

In the Federal Courts all Same Day transcript orders (including Progressive) must be received by 10am, local time, on the day of the proceedings, to be produced within the required turnaround period. Please note that if you do not hold an authorised trade account with Auscript, we must also receive payment before 10am. If you miss the 10am cut-off, a Same Day request will automatically become a 24-hour turnaround.

In the Queensland Courts all Same Day transcript orders (including Progressive) must be received by 9am, local time, on the day of the proceedings, to be produced within the required turnaround period. Please note that if you do not hold an authorised trade account with Auscript, we must also receive payment before 9am. If you miss the 9am cut-off, a Same Day request will automatically become a 24-hour turnaround, from when the matter concludes on that day.

In the Family Court All Same Day transcript orders (including Progressive) must be received by 4:30pm, local time, on the day before the proceedings, to be produced within the required turnaround period.

Requests for copies of a record or document of a proceeding heard in a closed court, including the Children’s Court and Domestic and Family Violence matters in the Queensland Courts, may require Ministerial or Chief Executive approval under the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 and the Justices Act 1886.

Requests requiring approval require reasons as part of the approval process. Please provide the following information:

• Your involvement in the proceedings
• For what purpose the transcript/s are required
• When the transcript/s are required by

Auscript will forward requests requiring approval, together with the above information to the Queensland Courts Service who oversee the approval process.  Approval may take up to four (4) weeks.

In the Queensland Courts, it is mandatory that prior approval is sought from the Department of Justice and Attorney General before any transcript or audio is made available or sold to a person who is not a party to a proceeding. Auscript will forward the request to the Queensland Courts Service who oversee the approval process.  Approval may delay the production of a transcript.

Court transcripts can be purchased by the parties to the proceedings or their legal representatives. Upon request and under specific circumstances (subject to approval from the presiding Judge, Member or Officer), media organisations, law firms and other parties not directly involved in the proceedings may be able to purchase the transcript of the proceedings.

Requests for copies of a record or document of a proceeding heard in a closed court, including the Children’s Court and Domestic and Family Violence matters, may require Ministerial or Chief Executive approval under the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 and the Justices Act 1886.

Production of your transcript commences upon receipt of your payment*. Delivery due date/time is calculated based on business days (excluding public holidays) and turnaround requested.

*If ordered on a 1 Day turnaround on the day the matter is heard, the turnaround time will commence once the matter concludes for the day.

You will receive the transcript in PDF and Microsoft Word format via email. If you have placed your order using ‘MyAuscript’, you will also be able to access it when you log in.

In the first instance, please verify that the delivery requirements entered on the order are correct. If you are expecting the transcript in the mail, please make sure the postal address is correct. Auscript cannot be held responsible for delays/losses/damages that would affect the transcript in transit. If you are expecting the transcript to be delivered electronically, please check your “junk mail” or contact your IT department to make sure the transcript hasn’t been blocked by any filters.

If all of the above has been verified, please contact Client Services on 1800 287 274 who will check the status of your transcript.

Revisions – It is mandatory that transcripts for the following proceeding types in the Queensland Courts be provided to the presiding Judicial Officer before being made available for release by Auscript: Rulings, Orders, Sentences, Summing-Up/Redirections, Reasons and Judgments. Revisions may take up to seven (7) days.

• Redactions – redaction of personal information may be required after your transcript has been completed prior to release.
• Restrictions – your finished transcript may be reviewed for anything confidential or the subject of restrictions on access prior to release.
• Approvals – explanation required or see “Approvals” for further details.
• Fee Waivers – Fee waiver applications are assessed by The Department of Justice and Attorney General and it can take some time for Auscript to receive the approval. Once approval is granted, the transcript is produced on a 10 day turn around. Any documents not supplied or further information required can also further delay the process.
• Missing Information – incomplete or incorrect information provided during the ordering process may create delays in our ability to produce your transcript until such time as the relevant details are provided.
• Pre Auscript Audio (pre 2013) – requests for matters heard in the Queensland Courts prior to Auscript becoming the trusted provider of transcripts in 2013 may encounter delays whilst audio is obtained to enable commencement of the transcription.
• Folio Alerts – if during production of your transcript it becomes apparent that the folios (1 folio = 100 words) exceeds the estimate considerably, we will cease production of the transcript and contact you to confirm the additional cost. Delays may be experienced where we cannot recommence production until the additional cost is agreed to by the client.

If you have feedback regarding the quality of your transcript, please contact our Client Services Advisors via clientservices@auscript.com.au. Provide the relevant information (see below). Client Services will then liaise with our Quality department to organise resolution.

The following information will ensure a swift resolution:

• The Auscript reference number relevant to your transcript. If this information is unavailable, please provide the following:
  • Date matter was heard
  • Presiding officer
  • Matter title and/or matter number
• A detailed explanation of the error or concern.
• If the issue is regarding a particular portion of the transcript, state the page and line numbers affected.
• If the issue is regarding a potentially omitted portion of the transcript, state either the estimated time the omitted events would have occurred, or a page number the events may have been omitted from.

Providing this identifying information can ensure a fast and accurate review and reissue of your transcript.

• Normally if a speaker continues to speak for several paragraphs or pages, the speaker name is only entered when they start speaking, and each paragraph is simply a continuation of that speaker. The speaker entry next occurs when the speaker changes.
• In most jurisdictions, when a witness is being examined, the transcript style changes to an extension of the above. When the witness is answering a question, their name is not entered as a speaker entry. This format is called “Q&A”. It appears as Question?—Answer. The examiner’s name is also not entered in the speaker entry until a different speaker (other than the witness) interjects.

This can be caused by several different things. For instance:

• If [indistinct] or ….. appears in the transcript, this indicates that a word or phrase was inaudible and unable to be typed. This can be due to issues such as audio quality, strong accents, multiple speakers on the same audio channel speaking simultaneously, or a difficult scientific word being used that cannot be confirmed.
• If – – – appears in the transcript, this indicates that the speaker has been interrupted, NOT that any speech has been missed.

If there is a particular point in the transcript that appears to be incomplete, the Quality team can review the transcript against the audio to confirm what was said at that point. A page number as well as a line number are required in order to check the relevant portion of transcript.

There are different types of certification available to a client depending on their requirements.  From the following types of certification we offer, advise Client Services of your requirement:

Certification of transcript – short statement added to cover page of the transcript; no sound-check required; can be delivered electronically.

Statement of certification – full page certification as a covering page to the transcript; involves a full sound-check of the matter; signed and delivered in hard copy. Physical address and name of person to receive the transcript is required. Please note that we are unable to deliver to a PO Box.

50A certification – Department of The Attorney General (WA) DotAG only; added to the end of the transcript; involves a full sound-check of the matter; signed and delivered in hard copy.  This can only be conducted on request of the Court.  Physical address and name of person to receive the transcript is required.  Please note that we are unable to deliver to a PO Box.

Detailed Statement of Certification – Department of Justice and Attorney General (QLD) DJAG only; added to the end of transcript; involves a full sound-check; signed and delivered in hard copy.  Physical address and name of person to receive the transcript is required.  Please note that we are unable to deliver to a PO Box.

Please email clientservices@auscript.com.au and we will have our Quality Team perform a sound check on the transcript. Charges may apply, we will confirm once your transcript has been assessed.

Auscript is a trusted provider to the nation’s largest corporations, government departments and legal firms of transcriptions of highly confidential and sensitive information. Leveraging a combination of high security facilities and cloud platforms, Auscript’s emphasis on stability and availability ensures the integrity and security of your transcript.

You are able to obtain a cost estimate by going to Auscript’s Quick Estimator.
If you require a formal estimate once your order has been submitted, please call our Client Services team with your order number on 1800 287 274.

Cost estimates are calculated by price per folio (1 folio = 100 words) and the turnaround requested. Certain assumptions are made based on historical data in relation to the number of folios spoken per audio minute. Auscript take all possible steps to accurately estimate cost; however we are unable to provide an exact cost until production has concluded. Pricing increases by CPI each year and additional fees (including poor audio rates, copy fees and credit card surcharges) may apply.

To receive a multi-party discount, parties must order and confirm payment on or before the hearing date. A multi-party discount is not applied to any orders received after the hearing date. Any discount will be detailed on final invoice.

If you DO hold an authorised trade account with Auscript:

You will be invoiced upon completion of your order. The invoice will be emailed to the email address specified on the order. Please allow between 3 and 5 business days for the invoice to reach you. Each invoice provided by Auscript must be paid within 30 days of the date of the invoice.

If you do NOT hold an authorised trade account with Auscript:

Note: You will be required to provide bank details to the Invoicing Team.

The full estimated cost (including GST) must be paid prior to processing your order. You will then be invoiced upon completion of your order.

The estimated cost may include a credit card surcharge (1.5% for Visa and MasterCard or 3.33% for American Express) and copy fees if applicable.

If the invoice is less than the amount of your prepayment, Auscript will refund the difference to the credit card provided within 5 business days of transcript delivery, or in the case of payment by EFT, Auscript will refund the money to your bank account on the 10th of the month.

If the invoice is more than the amount of your prepayment, please respond to the email sent to you with the invoice to tell us:

• To debit your credit card for the balance owing; or
• That you will pay the balance by EFT.

Your final invoice may differ from the estimated cost due to the actual number of folios typed. If the deposit paid was higher than the final invoice, you will be refunded the difference. If the deposit paid was less than the final invoice, the Invoicing Team will email you the invoice showing balance owing to Auscript.

The balance owing can be paid by credit card or EFT. Auscript takes all possible steps to accurately estimate costs but is unable to provide an exact transcript cost until production has concluded.

Copy fees apply to each additional email address provided and/or each additional hard copy of requested transcripts. The rate applied for copy fees depends on the jurisdiction. For example: DJAG jurisdiction copy fees are charged per folio.

You should expect to receive your invoice within 3 – 5 business days from delivery of the transcript for the final day of proceedings. Payment terms are noted at the bottom of each invoice.

Please email your query to invoices@auscript.com.au, where it will be reviewed by our Finance Team.

For matters in the Queensland Courts the Department of Justice and the Attorney General can approve a fee waiver to clients who demonstrate financial hardship. A fee waiver application form is available via the button below. The application form must be completed and supporting documentation provided to assist in making an informed assessment of your current financial situation, so a decision can be made on your fee waiver eligibility. Auscript will forward this information to the Queensland Courts Service for their assessment.

The types of supporting documents you can provide include:

• Copy of your bank statement/s (minimum 3 months of transactions. Must include partner bank statements for married or defacto relationships).
• Pay Slips, Payment Summaries and Income Tax Assessment Notice.
• Centrelink statement that details the amount and type of benefit you receive.
• Copy of Pension card or Health Care card.
• Any other supporting documentation that may assist your application for a fee waiver.

The Fee Waiver Application Form and supporting documentation must accompany the Auscript order form.  If you are unable to provide the information required for the Fee Waiver Application Form or have any queries, please contact our Customer Support team.

Please note: Your Fee Waiver Application will be assessed regarding the requested hearing dates only. Any future requests for transcripts will require a new Fee Waiver Application to be lodged for assessment.

Per section 8A of the Recording of Evidence Regulation 2008, a victim of a personal offence the subject of a criminal proceeding in the Queensland Supreme Court or the District Court is entitled to one free copy of an existing transcript or, if a transcript does not exist, a copy of the audio recording of the proceeding.

If you meet these criteria, do not submit a Fee Waiver Application.  Please submit a Request For Transcript –Victim of a Personal Offence form available via /court-transcripts/queensland-courts/

No. Sharing transcripts is a direct breach of copyright and could lead to increases in transcript prices. In instances where transcript sharing is suspected or admitted to, Auscript reserves the right to withhold services.

Transcript copyright is and remains the property of the Court. This is stated clearly on all order forms and court transcripts, as well as in Auscript’s Terms and Conditions.

Each party must order their own copy of the transcript.

No. Auscript has the exclusive licence. Transcript copyright is and remains the property of the Court. This is stated clearly on all order forms and Court transcripts, as well as in Auscript’s Terms and Conditions.

Each party must order their own copy of the transcript.

We accept MP3, MP4, WAV, WMA and WMV. We can handle other types of audio and video files but your order might take a little longer to produce.

No. We currently only transcribe English.

You can simply mail your files directly to us by your preferred method or we can create a secure Sharefile profile for you to upload the audio.

We advise that you make a copy of your master files just in case your files are damaged during shipping.

All audio is quality checked via Auscript’s Audio Quality Assessment Methodology policy. Some factors that might make audio more difficult to transcribe include, but are not limited to: noise (background, foreground, etc.), speakers talking over each other, many speakers, specialised terminology (including technical, legal, scientific, and medical), muffled or quiet recordings, fast talking, and accents.

It is important to remember that in order for us to provide you with the most accurate transcript possible, you must provide us with a list of all the participants’ names, including given names. At the beginning of the recording, please have all participants clearly state and spell their name, state the date and time and state the location of the interview. Each participant must say more than just their name as name alone is not sufficient for voice identification purposes. After any break in the recording, participants should again identify themselves for the benefit of the transcript. Remember voice identification will need to be done if and when new participants join the discussion.

Please spell out any unusual words onto the recording as they arise in discussion and provide us with a list of terms. This ensures that that the best quality recording and subsequent transcript can be produced for you.

A verbatim transcription retains every utterance, including redundancies; false starts; filler words like, “um,” “uh,” “er,” etc., and “I mean”. Think about if you require everything to be transcribed as said, or want us to tidy up words like “yeah” to “yes”? For example, a speaker might say something like:

Yeah, yep.  Yeah.  Yep.  But – but it’s – it’s not that simple.
This could be tidied up to read:
Yes.  But it’s not that simple.

For example, if a participant named Dr John Smith is present, he may be represented as DR SMITH, MR SMITH or JOHN SMITH in the margin depending on what is requested by the client at the time of ordering.

Yes. Choose either:

Numbered question and answer format e.g.:
Q1 (No question asked)
A1 Hello?
Q2 Hello. I’m ringing to speak with Brian Williams, please.
A2 Yes, speaking.

Wall to wall format e.g.:
MR WILLIAMS: Hello?
MR SMITH: Hello. I’m ringing to speak with Brian Williams, please.
MR WILLIAMS: Yes, speaking.

If the record booking is for a conference where questions will be taken from the floor, a roaming microphone will be essential.

The room must be soundproof and located away from public meeting spaces (e.g. lunchrooms).

Please ensure that doors and windows are kept firmly closed throughout the duration of the recording. If it is necessary for people to come and go during the recording, discussion will have to be paused at points where people are leaving and entering the room to ensure that the sounds of footsteps, chairs and doors do not overwhelm the discussion.

Even mobile phones that are switched onto silent mode can still cause audio distortion. All mobile phones should remain switched off throughout the course of the day and it is suggested that a public service announcement is made to that effect if the recording booking is for a conference.

If there are a large number of participants, participants will need to take care not to talk over the top of each other.

All participants will need to speak clearly, slowly and loudly at all times. If an interviewee/ speaker has a strong accent, the interviewer should consider summarising their answers and getting the interviewee to agree to the summary. A NAATI accredited interpreter could be hired to assist where there is a significant language barrier.

Interviewers must remind interviewees that they must give verbal responses to all questions asked for the most useful transcript: “You’re nodding. If you agree, can you please say “yes” for the benefit of the transcript?”

Please make sure the monitor has a clear view of all participants at all times and that there is a name card in front of each participant so that the monitor can easily identify each speaker. If new participants enter the room at any point during the day they must notify the monitor as quickly as possible of their identity.

If so discussion should not occur at the same time that paperwork is being handled.

Audio is available subject to approval from the courts and produced on a 5-day turn around. Client Services can provide an estimate of costs or you can choose to receive the audio under your fee waiver instead of a typed transcript.

The costs for requests for Reasons for the Decision in the form of audio are covered by QCAT. All requests for reasons made by QCAT parties and stakeholders should be referred to QCAT. 

Prior approval required from the appropriate registry. You must seek this approval and then provide written confirmation to Auscript when placing the order. Once these two things are provided, Client Services can prepare an estimate of cost. Please note that audio will only be provided to listen to at the court registry upon appointment. You will not be provided your own copy of the audio.

Recordings of Federal Court proceedings are not available other than by order or direction of the Court.

Clients may have access to Court FM online for 60 days. They are charged for the first sixty (60) minutes and the remainder charged in 15 minute increments. For Court FM upload turnaround usually takes 2-5days (can be done with urgency when required). Release of audio is not allowed in cases when there is Transcript in Confidence (TIC) process and/or redaction required.