‘Linguistic equity and access: translating and interpreting – connecting our communities and the world ’
For the 37th AUSIT National Conference, Melbourne demonstrated its signature unpredictable weather with three days of unseasonably steamy heat.
The event was opened on the Thursday afternoon by AUSIT’s outgoing Acting National President Erika González and RMIT’s Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Ralph Horne, with a video welcome from the Honourable Julian Hill MP, Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.
The three-day program of presentations and workshops, keynotes, roundtables and more explored a wide range of subthemes, from how AI can power information access to educational collaborations and partnerships, and from bridging language diversity via plain language and translation to translation as a creative practice.
It all kicked off even before the opening, with a program of free events: open-to-all language-specific meet-and-greets, an info session by TIA (a group within the union Professionals Australia which supports T&I industry members), and several themed workshops reserved for Conference attendees.
As always, another important feature of the Conference was the range of opportunities to network and socialise with colleagues and stakeholders, and there was plenty of time for this. Attendees caught up with old friends and made new ones over drinks and canapés on the Thursday evening at Melbourne’s oldest public house, the Captain Melville (est. 1853), and also at the Conference Dinner – as usual, the main event.
Melbourne’s largest private event space, The Pavilion at Arts Centre Melbourne – with its spectacular domed ceiling, gold leaf decor and balcony with views over the Yarra River and the city’s skyline – was the perfect space for the T&I industry’s main social event of the year! The after-dinner entertainment – stirring drumming from Japanese taiko ensemble Wadaiko Windo contrasting with the mesmerising undulations of Turkish belly dancer Desert Rose – followed a meal of top tastes, and both were matched by the quality of the company around buzzing tables. And as usual, many attendees enjoyed a chance to let their hair down to the multicultural DJ set (the brief was to play a song in each language that was registered!), filling the dance floor with both energy and enthusiasm until the evening came to a close.
During dinner, the winners of the AUSIT Translation Competition 2024 were announced.
On the Saturday afternoon, after the end of the Conference, the AUSIT National Annual General Meeting 2024 was held.
During the NAGM, the Paul Sinclair Award for Outstanding Contribution to AUSIT 2024 was presented to Dr Jim Hlavac, in recognition of his leadership as Chair of AUSIT’s Ethics & Professional Practice Committee since 2021, and his distinguished contribution to T&I scholarship and industry. You can read Jim’s full citation here.
International Keynote speaker
Dr Holly Ann Silvestri, head of the T&I program at the University of Arizona and chair of a committee advocating for fair and ethical AI in interpreting
‘Adoption of AI Principles in Interpreting’
Keynote speakers
Forensic linguist Alex Bowen, Aboriginal Interpreting WA (AIWA)’s co-Chairs Robert Nanala Tjapaljarri and Valma Banks, and senior NT interpreter and translator Valda Napurrurla Shannon Warntaparri
‘Understanding our cultural way: Aboriginal interpreting on country with our people and our cultural protocols’
Susan Greenaway, a Senior Adviser in the federal Department of Health and Aged Care
‘Multilingual Health Communications’
Jill Blewett Memorial Lecture 2024
Ali Mond, Assistant Secretary for Migrant English and Language Services, Department of Home Affairs gave this year’s Jill Blewett Memorial Lecture (JBML). You will soon be able to watch it here.
