The first AUSIT Code of Ethics was launched in 1996. It was endorsed by
the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters
(NAATI), and over the years has been adopted by WAITI (the Western
Australian Institute of Translators and Interpreters) and NZSTI (the New
Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters) and by government and
private language service providers all over the country.
In late 2010 Professor Rita Wilson of Monash University proposed a joint
Monash-AUSIT project to review the Code and determine whether it should
be revised and updated. A review group was established, initially with
funding from Monash, and after almost two years of research and broad
consultation with members and non-member practitioners, educators and
language service providers, the new AUSIT Code of Ethics was published
in December 2012.
The document consists of two parts. The Code of Ethics sets out the
general principles that govern the practice of our profession, while the
Code of Conduct explains how those principles are to be applied. There
are additional separate sections on conduct issues specific to
translators and those specific to interpreters.
AUSIT members undertake to abide by the Code of Ethics when they join
the Institute. We hope non-members will also use it to guide them in
their interpreting and translation practice.
Previous Version
The previous version of the AUSIT Code of Ethics (pre-2012) is available from AUSIT upon request.