Are you bilingual? We need interpreters and translators to help South Aussies in vulnerable situations
On this International Translation Day (30 September 2023), the Interpreting and Translating Centre (ITC) has launched a state-wide search for bilingual people willing to become accredited interpreters and translators.
Imagine something as simple as a language barrier robbing you of your right to make informed decisions about your medical treatment, your child’s education or a legal matter. Unfortunately, this is a situation some South Australians are facing daily, and one that the ITC is hoping to resolve with a recruitment drive for interpreters (who interpret the spoken word in real-time situations) and translators (who translate text from one language to another).
The ITC's hunt for bilingual gems is currently focusing on the top five languages where a shortage of trained interpreters is causing South Aussies to stay ‘lost in translation’, often in situations where life-altering decisions need to be made. These languages include Greek, Italian, Spanish, Khmer and Nepali. Their hoping to recruit people who are:
- fluent in any of these languages and English
- have a passion to help others in the community
- would like to work on a casual basis
- and be willing to get officially qualified for the job.
In many cases being an interpreter can make a world of difference to a person in need. For instance, when refugees arrived from Afghanistan in 2021, it was the ITC’s interpreters who met them at the airport and helped them settle into Medi-hotels.
Teo Spiniello, an Italian interpreter and translator who works with the ITC, says that this has been an awarding career choice for him.
"Interpreting gives back in a way which empowers people to take control of their situation and make informed decisions in all aspects of life, not just in medical or legal settings, but in other areas as well. Giving people this tool, which is, I believe a right, enables them to make decisions just like English speaking citizens of this country. Being part of that empowerment is important for me as an interpreter," says Teo.
He talks about what it's like to be an interpreter for the ITC in this video (3.07mins).
While the five languages mentioned above are the ITC’s current recruiting focus, people who are fluent in other languages are also welcome to apply. The ITC covers over 100 languages and receives as many as 270 interpreting requests on any given day. They also offer translation services in over 60 languages.
Anyone interested in becoming a casual interpreter or translator for the ITC can visit the ITC website, and view the Working for ITC page for more information.