From your National President
Esteemed Members, Colleagues:
It is wonderful to connect with you again.
There have been some important developments this month at AUSIT.
I am thrilled to announce that the Working Group and Project Manager positions for the Code of Ethics Revision project have been filled.
On a less cheerful note, our Queensland Branch Chair position will soon become vacant as the incredible Carina Mackenzie has decided to step down from her role.
Meanwhile, colleagues have made outstanding progress in the professional development and advocacy spaces.
You can read on below to find out more.
Working Group and Project Manager appointed for Code of Ethics revision
You may recall that the Ethics and Professional Practice Committee (EPPC) has been working hard on a very important project — a revision of the Code of Ethics.
The Working Group for this project was chosen at the last National Council (NC) meeting.
Members of the Working Group include the following esteemed colleagues, who were chosen based on their expertise in various areas:
Saeed Khosravi
NAATI Certified Translator/Interpreter (Persian <> English)
AUSIT Vice President (Ethics & Professional Practice)
Dr Jim Hlavac
NAATI Certified Translator/Interpreter (Croatian/German <> English)
Chair, Ethics and Professional Practice Committee (EPPC)
Dr Sandra Hale
NAATI Certified Translator/Interpreter (Spanish <> English)
Professor, UNSW Sydney
Specialist Area: Legal Interpreting
Dr Ineke Crezee
NAATI Certified Translator/Interpreter (Dutch <> English)
Professor, Auckland University of Technology
Specialist Area: Health Interpreting
Dr Mustapha Taibi
NAATI Certified Translator (Arabic <> English)
Professor, Western Sydney University
Specialist Area: Translation
An additional seven members for the Working Group were appointed by the NC. These members represent the broader T&I practitioner base, and leverage the wide-ranging experience of the AUSIT membership. Their selection was made by a secret ballot (with Saeed Khosravi, National Vice President for Ethics & PP, opting to abstain). They are:
Dr Kirri Dangerfield
NAATI Certified Interpreter (Auslan <>
PhD, La Trobe University
Sophia Ra
NAATI Certified Translator/Interpreter (Korean <> English)
Associate Lecturer, Macquarie University
PhD, UNSW Sydney
Edward Sailor
Translator & NAATI Certified Provisional Interpreter (Yumplatok/Torres Strait Islander Creole <> English)
Business & Community Advancement Consultant, Grass Roots Advisory Services
Suzan Piper
NAATI Certified Translator/Interpreter (
Associate Lecturer, UNSW Sydney
Stefania Zen
NAATI Certified Translator/Interpreter (Italian <> English)
Manager – TALS (Transcultural and Language Services), Northern Health
Patricia Argüello de Avila
NAATI Certified Translator/Interpreter (Spanish <> English)
Chair, AUSIT Advocacy Committee
Michele Miller
NAATI Certified Translator (Japanese to English)
Board Member, Australia–Japan Society of NSW Inc.
You may also recall that we have received financial support to ensure this third version of our cornerstone document truly reflects the needs of our complex and ever-evolving profession. This funding has come from NAATI, LanguageLoop, Multicultural NSW and the South Australian Department of Human Services, as well as in-kind support from the Federal Government’s Department of Home Affairs.
With this funding secured, the National Council (NC) has been able to appoint a paid Project Manager / Research Officer position. Epperly Zhang was chosen by the NC to fill this role. AUSIT members will know Epperly well due to her tireless efforts as National PD Coordinator. Epperly is also a recent PhD graduate from RMIT University and has several years of experience as a Research Assistant there. With her involvement, the project will be in excellent hands.
On behalf of the NC, I would like to thank all colleagues who stepped up to contribute to this important stage in our profession’s advancement. We received a large number of expressions of interest, particularly for the Working Group positions. This was very encouraging to see.
However, I expect that those who were not successful may feel disappointed. I encourage these colleagues to watch for other opportunities to contribute to this important project. We will announce these as they become available.
Carina Mackenzie stepping down as QLD Branch Chair
I must now share the bittersweet news that Carina Mackenzie will be stepping down as Chair of AUSIT’s Queensland Branch at their upcoming AGM.
On a positive note, I understand that Carina will continue coordinating the Language Divisions and helping launch new divisions. She is also staying on the Advocacy Committee and will keep working on membership benefits.
Carina has dedicated four years to serving as Queensland Branch Chair and Delegate to the National Council Delegate. Anyone who has worked with her knows she is always ready to listen, learn, and support fellow interpreters.
It is remarkable how quickly Carina grew in this role. She started working as an interpreter in Queensland with limited knowledge of our professional landscape, but has since developed incredibly valuable insights into improving our industry.
Carina helped bring AUSIT into the digital age by using technology to better organize our information and make the most of virtual meeting platforms.
Behind the scenes, she has put in countless hours representing translators and interpreters on NAATI’s Reference Advisory Committee (RAC).
She has also advocated for our rights with Multicultural Affairs Queensland, Professionals Australia, and other key stakeholders.
Lastly, Carina has been instrumental in organising multiple Queensland conferences and other events that have greatly benefited our local practitioners.
Now that Carina is stepping down, we are looking for someone to step into the Queensland Branch Chair role – and this could be an incredible opportunity for you.
Serving as Chair means you will have a real voice in shaping the future of our profession in Queensland. It would be a chance to build valuable leadership experience while making genuine connections across the industry, both locally and nationally through the National Council.
You would not need to be an expert from day one – as Carina’s journey shows, this role is as much about learning and growing as it is about leading. The position comes with fantastic support from experienced committee members and the broader AUSIT network, so you would never be flying solo.
There is also something deeply rewarding about knowing your efforts are helping to strengthen and advance a profession that you are passionate about.
If you have ever thought about making a bigger impact in our community, or if you have had ideas about how things could be improved, this is your chance to turn those thoughts into action.
Queensland Branch encourages all interested members to email them directly (qld@ausit.org) to express their interest.
A landmark collaboration to support the T&I profession
AUSIT is proud to announce the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NAATI. This is an unprecedented initiative that will directly benefit translators and interpreters across Australia. It is being led by Issa He, AUSIT Vice President (Events & Professional Development), and Fatih Karakas, NAATI Project Manager (Supporting the Profession).
This MoU marks the first agreement of its kind between our two organisations. Through this partnership, NAATI has committed funding for 30 free professional development events to be delivered over a two-year period, from July 2025 to June 2027.
Whether you are an AUSIT member or a NAATI-credentialed practitioner, you will be able to access these events at no cost. This will help you enhance your skills, build resilience, and stay adaptable in an ever-evolving industry.
This collaboration is a testament to what is possible when organisations come together with a shared vision. It is also part of AUSIT’s ongoing commitment to delivering tangible value to our members and to strengthening the T&I profession as a whole.
Personally I would like to thank Issa and Fatih for making this initiative a reality. I am very much looking forward to seeing the fruits of this collaboration.
Advocacy in action: AUSIT’s submission to the Victorian Multicultural Review
AUSIT has sent a written submission to the Victorian Multicultural Review consultation, following a direct invitation from the Review Commissioner. This invitation came in response to verbal contributions made at a recent online consultation session, where AUSIT representatives shared informed and compelling insights into the state of the language services industry. The submission was coordinated by the Advocacy Committee, with key contributions from Henry Lam, Patricia Avila and Shung Lai Chiu, who all took an active role in the drafting process and related discussions. You can read this submission here.
During the consultation, AUSIT raised a number of critical concerns affecting both practitioners and the communities they serve. One of the most pressing issues discussed was the persistent use of untrained and uncertified interpreters in critical service settings. The point was made that, while no government department would tolerate sending an unlicensed tradesperson to fix electrical wiring or plumbing, many continue to contract language service providers who deploy non-certified interpreters – despite the potential consequences for individuals, service delivery outcomes and public trust.
Another key issue raised was the erosion of interpreter remuneration, which has direct consequences for talent retention and long-term workforce sustainability. Without appropriate incentives and professional respect, many experienced interpreters are leaving the field, weakening the overall quality of service provision. This concern is supported by recent findings from the Deloitte report, which estimated that suboptimal interpreting is costing the Australian government hundreds of millions of dollars, with potential long-term costs exceeding $1 billion if systemic issues are not addressed. In this context, AUSIT has emphasised that qualified interpreting services are not a discretionary extra, but a human right, and vital to social inclusion, safety and equity.
The submission also addresses procurement models, calling for reforms that recognise the professional skills, ethics and certification of interpreters when awarding service contracts. However, the drafting team took care to ensure that all recommendations were presented within a strategic, evidence-based framework. As was noted in Advocacy Committee discussions, it is essential to align AUSIT’s input with the scope of the Review while making a compelling case for reform. Framing the issues to resonate with broader policy objectives – such as access, inclusion, and effective government service delivery – will give the submission the greatest chance of impact.
In parallel, the Advocacy Committee has commenced work on building a centralised digital library of resources to support future advocacy efforts. This repository, housed within the AUSIT Advocacy Committee Drive, includes key documents such as research reports, policy submissions, survey results and consultation notes. It is designed to support continuity and knowledge sharing across committee members and future office holders.
AUSIT’s advocacy efforts rely on the knowledge, experience and collaborative input of its members. This submission represents not only a timely intervention into a high-level policy review, but also a demonstration of what can be achieved when members come together to speak with a unified and professional voice
Congratulations to Mark Painting: a decade as NAATI CEO
As I reflect on the ten years Mark Painting has been at the helm of NAATI, I am impressed by how he has transformed the organisation. When Mark arrived, he brought exactly the kind of business acumen and stakeholder engagement skills that NAATI needed to achieve financial stability and build strong relationships across the sector.
I particularly admire how Mark tackled the massive undertaking of implementing the national Certification System. His approach of listening carefully, consulting broadly and making decisive moves showed real courage and wisdom. The way he developed the training prerequisites, professional development pathways and live testing procedures has fundamentally strengthened our profession.
What strikes me most is how quickly Mark grasped the nuances and sensitivities of the multicultural sector, despite not having a translation and interpreting background himself. This understanding enabled him to make those tough but necessary decisions that have benefited everyone.
I also want to acknowledge how Mark has elevated NAATI’s profile internationally. His work in securing certification requirements with New Zealand and positioning NAATI as a leading global organisation has been outstanding. The Technical Reference Advisory Committee Mark established, with its focus on emerging challenges like AI and language technology, shows his commitment to keeping our profession ahead of the curve.
On behalf of all AUSIT members I’d like to thank Mark for building NAATI into such a professional, responsive organisation, and for his unwavering dedication to advancing the translation and interpreting profession as a whole.
As always, thank you for your continued dedication to our profession and your active participation in AUSIT.
If you have any questions about the updates shared today or would like to get involved in any of our initiatives, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or your local branch representatives.
I will be taking personal leave from Friday 1 August to Tuesday 19 August, so if you have any enquiries during that period, I encourage you to reach out to the AUSIT Office directly (admin@ausit.org).
With warmth and gratitude,
Carl Gene Fordham
AUSIT National President
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