AUSIT Webinar | 20250724 Interpreting in Maternity Care Supporting Safer Births for All

Interpreters play a critical role in delivering high-quality, culturally safe maternity care. Without timely and appropriate interpreter services, women and families from refugee and migrant backgrounds may be excluded from actively participating in their own maternity care. This exclusion can result not only in poor experiences, but also in preventable and devastating outcomes, particularly in the context of stillbirth prevention.

The Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence (Stillbirth CRE) has made addressing stillbirth inequities a central focus of its work, initiating several projects with refugee, migrant, and other priority populations. A key initiative is the Safer Baby Bundle, which aims to reduce preventable stillbirths after 28 weeks of pregnancy.

The new eLearning package, developed to support interpreters in diverse pregnancy care settings across Australia, was launched in December 2024 via social media, in collaboration with the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) and the Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators (AUSIT). The training package includes modules on:

– The design and delivery of maternity care in Australia
– Common tests and investigations during pregnancy
– Approaches to stillbirth prevention
– Interpreter wellbeing and self-care

This webinar is an opportunity to recognise the essential role of interpreters in maternity care and to equip them with tools that promote equity, safety, and respect for all families. The event will bring together interpreters and clinicians to:

– Celebrate the launch of the eLearning package
– Share the history of its development and cultural adaptation
– Explore case study–based applied learning for interpreters navigating complex maternity care scenarios