PhD Scholarship in Exploring AI-Assisted Language Tools in Urgent Care Settings

This is a joint initiative between RMIT's Translating and Interpreting program and Northern Health. Northern Health operates Victoria's busiest Emergency Department (ED) and the state-wide Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED), serving a highly diverse population. Despite this, engagement with language services remains low among CALD patients. This PhD project will investigate whether AI-assisted language tools can be used safely and equitably in urgent care settings both in-person and virtual. It will assess communication risks and benefits, explore patient and clinician perspectives, and co-design strategies to improve inclusive communication in ED and VVED environments. The research focuses on baseline analysis of CALD patient engagement in ED and VVED, evaluation of the validity, limitations, and risks of AI language tools, perspectives from CALD patients, clinicians, and interpreters, and co-design strategies for inclusive communication in urgent care.