Guidelines for Legal Settings

The Judicial Council on Cultural Diversity (JCCD) has developed Recommended National Standards for Working with Interpreters in Courts and Tribunals, to promote optimal practices for Australian courtrooms. AUSIT strongly encourages anyone working with interpreters in a courtroom setting to familiarise themselves with these Standards, below. Other guidelines, specifically for lawyers, judges and officers communicating legal rights can also be found below.

Guidelines for Lawyers on working with Interpreters in Court

Guidelines for Communicating Rights to Non-Native Speakers of English in Australia, England and Wales, and the USA, 2015

Survey on the Implementation of the Recommended National Standards for Working with Interpreters in Courts and Tribunals, November 2020

Further resources specific to State jurisdictions (NSW, SA) are available:

NSW Local Court Bench Book — Interpreters

Interpreter Protocols: South Australia

People working with interpreters in family violence settings are encouraged to read the Victorian Royal Commission Report into Family Violence, Report and Recommendations, 2017:

Royal Commission into Family Violence

A number of videos are available to assist and prepare people who will be working with translators and interpreters in legal settings:

NT Police warnings - Aboriginal languages

You Understand, Don't You? (Pintupi-Luritja)

You Understand, Don't You? Part 2 (Yolngu Matha)

Guidelines for Legal Settings

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