Dear Colleagues,
Happy New Year!
For those who have taken a break, I hope you feel refreshed. The National Council met on the weekend of the 36th National Conference, and last week was our first meeting of the new year. We have a great year ahead of us, and I’m grateful for the enthusiasm of colleagues volunteering to take up various responsibilities within AUSIT.
We do still have a major role vacant: VP for Communications and Public Relations, so if you’ve considered applying, there’s still time. You can read the description of the position by previous VP Vesna Cvjeticanin in my October newsletter here (scroll down to ‘AUSIT OPPORTUNITIES’ section), and you can apply via the National Council nomination form.
AUSIT recommended fee scale
Based on the results of the Remuneration Survey (see my November newsletter), the National Council has asked the Ethics and Professional Practice Committee (EPPC) to work on a recommended scale of fees for T&I practitioners, which we will publish on the AUSIT website, in line with other professional organisations. After the EPPC reports back with a draft, AUSIT will seek legal advice to ensure that we don’t breach any legal rules, and we will also seek members’ views before we adopt the final draft – so watch this space!
Mailout to courts, policymakers and LSPs about the RNS
As you may be aware, one of the priorities of my presidential term in office is getting the RNS fully implemented. To further this aim, in the last quarter of 2023, we sent a letter to all courts and tribunals in the country, law societies and bar associations (yes all! – that’s over 600 emails), plus politicians and other policymakers, and also language service providers, informing them of the results of our petition to urge adherence to the RNS (over 2100 signatures).
We’ve received a number of responses to the letter. Among them is an email from an LSP that was using it to challenge the decision of a NSW court that had refused to give the LSP background information for interpreters’ preparation.
Please feel free to forward this letter (which you can download here) to LSPs you work with, government departments and other stakeholders. Or if you would rather we send the letter directly to a third party, please email their contact details to our Communications Officer.
Implementation of the RNS entails changing the current culture. For that to happen, it is necessary to keep at it until the RNS become second nature, so please help us help you! If you are an interpreter working in courts and tribunals, please fill in an Interpreter Feedback Form after each assignment. Your feedback is used to put together reports that we can submit to authorities and stakeholders, as evidence to support our request that they put in place training and other resources to facilitate full implementation of the RNS. You can read the most recent report here.
In case you missed the conference video and photos …
Whether you attended the 36th AUSIT National Conference or not, it’s worth taking a look at the video snapshot compiled by professional photographer Matthew Georges. It’s only a minute long, and can be found here, on the AUSIT Youtube channel. Plus view and download Matthew’s photos of the event here, on AUSIT’s Flickr account. Some sessions of the conference were also filmed, and we will let you know when these become available on the AUSIT website.
Past conferences and Jill Blewett Memorial Lectures
During the slow start to the year, our Comms Team has been busy collecting material to update the website pages for Past Conferences (AUSIT’s now annual National Conferences, and the ‘mini-Conferences’ that used to happen every second year) and the annual Jill Blewett Memorial Lecture (JBML). Overviews of many past conferences, along with their programs and photos, and also most of the past JBMLs (there are around 30!), can now be read/downloaded/viewed online. Check the pages out at the links above, and if you have any information that’s still missing from them, or know someone who would have, please contact our Communications Officer.
AUSIT Language Divisions
At the National Conference in November I gave a presentation on why AUSIT needs ‘Language Divisions’. So why does it? Well, T&I practitioners working in the same language pair are – by default – competitors, and this may partly explain the isolation in which they have mostly worked to date; however, the market currently exploits this isolation to dictate poor working conditions: when one practitioner rejects an offer, another will take it.
Through getting to know colleagues working in the same language pair and/or sector (e.g. medical, legal, education, etc.), and collaborating, exchanging ideas and agreeing on the acceptable minimum working conditions, we can raise awareness of how things work differently in other geographical areas, and motivate each other to seek comparable working conditions. Together, we can change the industry.
I believe that this – together with the soon-to-be-published Recommended Scale of Fees (see above) – will help lift up our working conditions. Practitioners in some LOTEs are already interacting and working together, and the aim of the Language Divisions is to give a formal structure to those groups. Last year, AUSIT’s PD Committee hosted meet-and-greets to discuss Language Divisions in 18 languages, and we aim to expand this to more languages in 2024.
Each Language Division will be open to all AUSIT members who work in that language pair, and members can join more than one Division if they hold credentials in more than one LOTE, or are working towards an additional credential. Each Division chooses a Delegate and a Deputy Delegate (but there may be a committee supporting them). The range of activities is varied: virtual social meet-ups, language-specific talks by academics and practitioners on specific terminology, ‘Masterclasses’ and so on.
So, will you step up to the challenge and become the Delegate (or Deputy Delegate) for your Language Division? Contact me for more information, or to nominate yourself.
AUSIT rewards you for referring a friend!
AUSIT is only as strong as our membership, and we have a mandate to represent all Australian T/Is … but we can only do this if they join us. And the more of us there are, the more we will all benefit.
The biggest advertisement we have is our current members! So when talking to non-members, do encourage them to join – and you can use the ‘Reasons to be a member …’ list below to inform non-member T/I colleagues and friends of the benefits of AUSIT membership. To reward you for inviting them to join,* we’re now offering a Referral Reward: a code to watch a past AUSIT PD webinar online for free.** To claim this reward:
We’ve included a link to the Application Form at the bottom of the list below. When a colleague says you’ve convinced them to join, tell them that you will receive a ‘Referral Award’ (it’s important that you disclose your own benefit in this) and they need to include your name in the relevant box on the application form. When their application and membership fee has been processed, you will receive an email from our Admin Team explaining how to claim your reward. Happy referring!
* Only applies to new Student and Ordinary membership applications (NOT past members who are renewing/returning). Valid for applications made in 2024.
** One webinar, up to 4 hours long. Choose from the webinars that are made available here. Must be claimed within 6 months of the notification email. Maximum of 3 referrals per person.
Reasons to become a member of AUSIT
(Feel free to cut and paste this list and send to potential members)
- Professional development and keeping up to date – Enjoy preferential member rates for entry to AUSIT workshops, seminars, the National Conference, and other local and national events. Access PD info and events here.
- Representation – AUSIT is frequently invited to participate in government and other forums dealing with matters relating to the translating and interpreting profession.
- Quality assurance – By joining AUSIT, members commit themselves to upholding the AUSIT Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct, which is one of the reasons why AUSIT members are held in high regard by the clients they serve.
- Immediate PD points – You can claim 10 PD points each year for NAATI recertification, just by joining AUSIT or renewing your AUSIT membership.
- Networking – Participate in AUSIT’s regular networking sessions, workshops and seminars, where you can benefit from presentations on a range of relevant topics and meet with your fellow practitioners. In particular, now that the Language Divisions are being developed, activities that are LOTE-specific will become more frequent!
- Directory of members – AUSIT’s website includes the AUSIT Directory, which lists all fully qualified members for public viewing by potential clients.
- Links to free resources – To save you time and money, we’ve also put together an extensive list of free online learning materials. You can access these resources here.
- Member benefits – These currently include a 30% discount on professional indemnity, public and products liability insurance, covering the specific needs of interpreters and translators, with Fenton Green, and a 25% discount on Wordfast’s CAT tools: Wordfast Pro, Wordfast Classic and Wordfast Studio. Potential members can read more about these benefits here.
You can refer potential members to the AUSIT website to apply here.
Introducing another committee: meet your Professional Development Committee
One of AUSIT’s core commitments is to enhance the professional status of its members. To this end, we require that you adhere to the appropriate professional codes of conduct and ethical guidelines, and we place great emphasis on the need for, and importance of, continuing professional development (PD). You can read more about AUSIT’s commitment to PD, find out about upcoming PD events and watch recordings of past webinars here.
To organise all this, AUSIT has a Professional Development Committee on which each branch is represented. I’d like to introduce you to the current members here:
Carl Gene Fordham (Chair & National Vice President, Events & PD)
I’m a Brisbane-based court interpreter and forensic translator, and I’m passionate about helping Mandarin speakers access justice. My journey with Chinese began in primary school; In high school I was fortunate to attend a three-year Chinese immersion program, and I later obtained my master’s in T&I from RMIT University.
I then worked in T&I for 14 years (including 7 in China, where I studied ancient Chinese history and Classical Chinese documents), I’m NAATI-certified in both translation and interpreting, and I’ve taught T&I casually at the University of Queensland for 3 years.
In my new VP role I’m looking forward to expanding AUSIT’s PD calendar (see my request regarding the National PD Survey, below).
Epperly Zhang (National PD Coordinator)
I’m a NAATI-certified translator (Chinese–English), I hold a Master of Translation Studies degree from the University of Melbourne, and I’m currently pursuing a PhD in Interpreting Studies at RMIT University.
In my spare time, I enjoy watching dinosaur documentaries and attempting to learn Polish.
Jialiang (Jessie) Huang (ACT) I graduated from Macquarie University with a Master of Advanced Translation and Interpreting Studies, and I’m a NAATI-accredited translator (Chinese–English). Since graduation, I’ve been working as a translator for various Australian governmental authorities and LSPs. I joined AUSIT in 2018, and became an ACT Branch Committee member and PD Coordinator in 2020. |
Rebeca Paredes Nieto (NSW)
I’m a NAATI-certified conference T/I (Spanish–English) and T&I educator with more than a decade of experience, backed by a BA in T&I, an MA in International Relations, and the European Master in Conference Interpreting.
I’m interested in the role T/Is play as agents of change in the social fabric, and the transformative power of education and collaboration. I’m an active member of the T&I community (currently also serving on NAATI’s CCI examiner panel).
I was born and bred near Bilbao, Spain, and life took me to France, the UK, Peru and Colombia before settling on Gadigal land. My curious mind has mastered the art of tsundoku, and I plan to take pottery and Japanese classes this year – or Korean, hard choice!
Jinyue Wang (QLD) I hold a PhD from the School of Languages and Cultures at the University of Queensland, and have substantial experience as both an educator and a practitioner in translation and interpreting (Chinese–English). I’m an expert member of the Translators Association of China and the CATTI Talent Pool of the CICG Academy of Translation and Interpretation, a NAATI–accredited translator, and a member of the Editorial Board of the international journal English Literature and Language Review. |
Joe (Johannes) van Dalen (SA/NT)
I was born in the Netherlands, live in Port Elliot, SA, and have been an Australian citizen for more than 60 years. I taught French for 41 years, and still do some work for the South Australian Certificate of Education Board.
I’ve been a NAATI accredited/certified translator French>English since 1999 and Dutch>English since 2016, I practise as a freelance translator, and I’ve translated about seven books and dozens of articles related to mystical philosophy and allied topics.
I’ve been an AUSIT member since 2000 and SA/NT Branch Chair of the SANT Branch, prior to which I was Branch Secretary for two years. I’m currently also SA’s Branch Delegate to the National Council.
Martin Blackwell (TAS)
I’m a festival and event manager in lutruwita/Tasmania, and have organised multicultural celebrations and gatherings in Hobart and Launceston since 2008.
I’m also a postgraduate student – my research pursuits include linguistics, transcreation, marketing, event science and analytics – as well as an art gallery coordinator, textile artist and avid shodo calligraphist. My language skillsets include Japanese and Auslan.
Jess Shepherd (VIC) Born and raised in Melbourne, languages have been my lifelong passion. While French is my first love, I enjoy learning new languages, and attempt to learn the basics wherever I travel – at least how to say ‘Cheers’! I hold a Bachelor of Global Arts (International Studies & Philosophy), a Diploma of Languages (French) and a master’s in T&I (French translation) from Monash University, and I currently work as both a senior account manager with Oncall and a translator. When not translating, I can be found drinking iced almond lattes, reading, or hanging out with my furbaby, Zeke, a 35 kg Shepsky (Siberian Husky x German Shepherd) who believes he’s a lapdog. |
Nora Pucci (WA) I have a lifetime passion for learning, languages and grammar, and having completed a Diploma of Interpreting in Spanish, I now use this skill in the rewarding work of interpreting for non-English-speaking immigrants and refugees, predominantly in the areas of health, education and counselling. My hobbies include planning social events and pilates, and I enjoy walking and dancing while continuing professional self-development. |
AUSIT National PD Survey 2024
Our new Vice President for Professional Development and Events, Carl Gene Fordham (introduced above), has asked me to pass on the following message: ’Hello my fellow AUSIT members! Do you want more high-quality PD that meets your needs? If the answer is yes, please complete the AUSIT National PD Survey 2024 (it’s only 8 questions and should take you under 5 minutes to complete), and also share the link to the National Survey in the chat groups used by translators and interpreters in your community. With AUSIT expanding year on year, this survey will help us understand what we can do to continue to help you all become more skilled, competent and confident practitioners. I will then work with the PD Committee’s National Coordinator, Epperly Zhang, and the state branch PD Coordinators to expand AUSIT’s PD calendar that will meet the diverse needs of all members and that will excite, inspire and challenge you! Thank you in advance for your time.’ You can participate in the survey here. |
AUSIT has a motto!
Over recent years, AUSIT has developed into a much bigger organisation, more representative of the diverse range of interpreters and translators across Australia. With this in mind, the NC decided last year that we need a motto. And rather than commissioning an exterior branding organisation, we ran a competition amongst our members to choose a suitable motto for AUSIT. After all, who better to think up the motto than our language-oriented membership?!
We received the huge number of 114 entries! The Communications Committee voted on these to reduce them to a shortlist of five, and the NC voted on the shortlist to choose the winner.
The winner of the AUSIT Motto Competition is Oksana Katorjevskaya with her motto:
Innovate, Inspire, Interconnect: Advancing Translation & Interpreting Together
Oksana won a voucher for a half day (4 hrs) of PD. Congratulations Oksana!
Advertise your services with AUSIT
BRANCH NEWS
QLD Branch
… as reported by Nancy Guevara
To farewell 2023, the Queensland Branch hosted two unforgettable end-of-year events. These gatherings not only marked the end of a successful year but also strengthened the bonds between our QLD-based colleagues. Our first celebration took place on Thursday, 7 December at MU’OOZ, an Ethiopian restaurant located in West End, Brisbane. With 35 colleagues in attendance, the ambiance was filled with joy and laughter. The delicious meals prepared by the refugee women who work at MU’OOZ added a flavourful touch to the evening, creating a perfect backdrop for our collective efforts to contribute to a meaningful cause. The highlight of the night was our entertaining Secret Santa activity, which brought smiles and surprises to everyone. The festivities continued on Sunday, 17 December, at Southport Surf Club in the Gold Coast. With 25 colleagues participating, we enjoyed a delightful meal while overlooking breathtaking water views. The stunning location served as the perfect setting for reflecting on our achievements and building excitement for the year ahead. Both events were a testament to the camaraderie that defines our branch, and we very much look forward to enjoying a great variety of social and PD events with our QLD-based colleagues in 2024.
Brisbane (above and below) and the Gold Coast (right)
WA Branch
… as reported by Mary Street
The AUSIT WA Branch EOY (end of year) Party was held on the evening of 13 December 2023 at the Brisbane Hotel in Highgate.
Catherine Pfammatter, AUSIT WA Committee Chair, welcomed the members and wished them an enjoyable evening.
It was a delightful event where the language professionals met, socialised and exchanged their experiences.
The provision of finger food further enhanced the ambiance by encouraging relaxed networking among members. The inclusion of raffle gifts added an element of excitement and surprise. Everyone left the event with a wide smile on their face.
A big thank you to our colleague and PD Coordinator Nora Pucci for organising such a pleasant event.
Left: Catherine Pfammater (left) and Nora Pucci (right) present Erica Picone with her raffle prize: a panettone
AUSIT PD & EVENTS
Zoom software support for users
Please note Zoom will be enforcing minimum versions of 5.14.5 from 3 February 2024. Please make sure you have the latest version of Zoom installed (downloaded) to your device before you join AUSIT webinars, as people with outdated versions may experience difficulties in joining sessions. To download the latest version, please visit the Zoom website here.
Please make sure you use the SAME NAME in Zoom that you used to register for the event, this will ensure your attendance is noted and a certificate (if applicable) can be issued. If you need to change your name, learn how to here.
AUSIT NSW Presents Masterclass on Forensic Transcription & Translation
Friday 23 February 2024
Half Day 9.30 am – 1.00pm AEDT or
Full Day 9.30 – 4.00 pm AEDT
Registration is either half day or full day – this is an in-person event.
Interpreters and translators are often engaged by law enforcement to translate exchanges caught on voice or video recordings from other languages into English for forensic purposes.
Often the quality of these recordings is poor, and the context of the communication is unclear, making the translation extremely challenging. This masterclass is for you if you have done work in this area and felt unsure about:
- how to present what you hear, or can’t hear, on paper;
- what translation strategy should you adopt, e.g., meaning-based or literal;
- how much translator’s notes should you include;
- the amount of information the law enforcement officer gives you, e.g. too little or too much;
- whether you can identify the same speaker across different recordings;
- whether you can share insights about place of origin or accent of the speaker in the recording.
Refer to the course outline here.
For full-day registrants
- You need to bring your own laptop and earphones.
- If you bring a tablet or only have your mobile phone, it will be hard to type out your transcript. In this case, you should also bring pen and paper in order to do the transcription practice. But still remember to bring your earphones.
For further information and to register, click here.
EXTERNAL PD & EVENTS
All information below is provided by external organisations. Please register and direct any enquiries to the relevant contact outlined in each announcement, rather than to AUSIT.
CALLS FOR PROPOSALS
Lingusitica Antverpiensia, New Series – Themes in Translation Studies, special issue on Machine and Computer-assisted Interpreting, Vol. 24, 2025
CALLS FOR PARTICIPANTS
Research Project: The efficacy of post-editing machine translation on translation processes and products in translator training (Online Participation)
If you meet the following profile:
1. Native speaker of Mandarin Chinese
2. Completed middle and high school in China
3. Current undergraduate student in Australia
4. Having taken at least one translation course
Click here to find out more and to register your interest.
What do you need to know before interpreting for the family of a child who is deaf?
We are looking for interpreters to complete a 5 to 10-minute survey about what they need to know before interpreting for the families of young children with hearing loss in health and education settings. This study is aimed at interpreters who work between spoken languages, not Auslan interpreters.
Click here to complete the survey.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUSIT MEMBERS
WORDFAST subscription discount for AUSIT members
Wordfast is offering a 25% discount off a new Wordfast Pro, Wordfast Classic, Wordfast Studio, or Wordfast Server license.
To take up this offer, click on this link to Member-only Resources on the AUSIT website, log in, and scroll down to find the Wordfast discount.
If you’d like to try out Wordfast Pro before purchasing the licence, you can download and try it for free in demo mode here.
And keep an eye on the Member-only Resources page, we hope to add more discounts and benefits for AUSIT members.
EXTERNAL OPPORTUNITIES
Creative Australia’s Translation Fund for Literature
Next application round closes on 9 April 2023.
AAH Medal for Excellence in Translation (biennial)
Applications due to open in April.
AALITRA Translation Awards 2024
Focus language: French. Entries open 28 February and close 28 May.
JOB KIOSK
SIIT is Recruiting Trainers for Diploma of Interpreting Across
a variety of Language Streams
Sydney Institute of Interpreting and Translating (SIIT) (RTO no: 91490) has been delivering relevant interpreting and translating programs for more than 14 years. SIIT is looking for several aspiring interpreting trainers in different language streams to join our dynamic training team at its Sydney campus.
Key requirements:
- Certified Interpreter or Provisional Interpreter (in any language)
This position is responsible for delivering quality academic training and assessment activities as well as managing academic issues and student consultations.
Duties and responsibilities include:
1. Deliver quality trainings in accordance with unit requirements and the learning needs of students;
2. Analyse students’ assessment and provide feedback to improve their learning outcomes;
3. Report to the Academic Manager regarding students’ academic progress, course progress, attendance and other academic issues.
Successful candidates will be required to possess the following:
- A degree in interpreting with NAATI certification in interpreting at paraprofessional level or above;
- Relevant experience in training and student services, as well as industry experience as a translator or/and interpreter;
- Good public speaking and presentation skills to deliver trainings to a small group;
- Strong organizational and administrative skills to manage various teaching projects;
- Good command of interpersonal and communication skills;
- Cert IV of TAE or willing to start and complete Cert IV of TAE within 2 months from the date of appointment.
Interested applicants are invited to send in their resume and a cover letter addressing the above criteria to coordinator@siit.nsw.edu.au
Applications close: Ongoing
READING CORNER: interesting articles & journals
AUSIT is a member of the International Federation of Translators (FIT). You can read the most recent issue of FIT’s quarterly magazine Translatio here: Translatio 2023–24.
Yarning is the Australian Defence Force’s magazine for ‘all language and culture enthusiasts’. You can read their December 2023 issue here.
… and a film!
It’s been around for a few years and although it isn’t well known, expatriate AUSIT member Boris Konrad recommends this film. The main character, an on-call interpreter, encounters situations which many community practitioners in Australia will find quite familiar, and as Boris says, it would give anyone thinking of entering this area of T&I an idea of what to expect … ‘and it does include supermarket shelf stocking jobs as a part of that glorious existence.’ The film is Life Gets in the Way.
I’m hopeful that this is going to be a year of growth! The Melbourne Branch’s Conference Organising Committee is already brainstorming, and we will build on the momentum of the 2023 Conference in Sydney to create a large event with over 500 attendees! So pencil in the dates: 21–23 November 2024. We had to turn people down in Sydney, as they’d left it to the last minute and we had to close registration a couple of weeks before the event. Don’t miss out in 2024!
J. Angelo Berbotto
AUSIT National President
Supporting Professional Standards Visit our website Check our Professional Development page for upcoming PD events Read our award-winning quarterly magazine In Touch Find past newsletters and magazine articles on our blog
This communication direct from AUSIT is part of your membership benefits. |
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Copyright © 2024 AUSIT, all rights reserved
Contact AUSIT Secretariat: admin@ausit.org
Phone enquiries for members: 1800 284 181
