39th AUSIT National Conference
Call for proposals

This year’s conference reframes our 2007 theme in the context of the developments and challenges of the mid-2020s.

The paramount concern for the interpreter and the translator is to transfer meaning between two parties. This is not always straightforward given the challenging cultural contexts, linguistic complexities and pressurised working environments often involved. Nor is it simply a transaction between practitioner and client: in the delivery of quality translating and interpreting, more parties play vital roles.

• Governments should strive to ensure that the highest standards of practice prevail, recognise and appropriately reward professionals, and act on their own language policies, if not legislate to enable the delivery of quality services.
• Our accreditation authority should strive to deliver a fair and rigorous system of assessment.
• Educational institutions should strive to provide the highest quality of instruction.
• In community translating and interpreting settings, language service providers (LSPs) should employ the most qualified and capable people. LSPs should also provide instructions that are clear, working conditions that assist the practitioner, and remuneration that adequately rewards their efforts to provide quality services.
• Hospital administrators, doctors, nurses, health service representatives, lawyers, magistrates and judges should understand how practitioners work and what makes for best practice so they can make the best judgements for patients and clients.

Meanwhile, interpreters and translators themselves should continually reflect on their practice and strive to improve their skills.

Interpreters and translators are currently an ageing workforce and there has been plenty of evidence over recent years to suggest our profession is in crisis. How can we ensure quality and well-remunerated services and maintain a professional industry? What do we do in the face of the pressures and competition from AI?

AUSIT’s Conference Organising Committee for 2026 invites T&I scholars, practitioners and educators, LSPs, health and legal professionals, government representatives and other end-users to submit proposals for this national gathering in Adelaide. 

Proposals addressing the conference theme / a sub-theme are welcome from individuals and groups. All aspects of topics that fall under the broad conference theme will be considered. Priority may be given to proposals that address the sub-themes listed below. If you are not sure whether your proposed presentation is directly relevant to the identified sub-themes, we invite you to submit a proposal anyway. 

We look forward to receiving your proposal, and hope to welcome you as a speaker at the 39th AUSIT National Conference!